The morning times., 1896-08-16

players and bystanders ny his criticisms
and funny Illustrations. He accepted sue
cess and defeat With like good nature and
humor, and left the alley at the conclusion
OF tie game without u sorrow or disap-
pointment. When il was known that he was
in the alley there would assemble numbers
of people 10 witness the fun, which was an
tic.pated by those who knew OF his fund OF
anecdotes ani jokes
the good nature and abandon with which
lincoln played outdoor games wherever he
was, up TO the time he became President
of the United States, counted largely in his
popularity In the early days Of his polit-
ical life he was ''stumping'' the State OF
Illinois. lie was accustom edto cnga ye in all
kinds of contests with the boys and men OF
the farms and villa ges near which hc
passed. 1t is said that he once Won the
votes OF whole field OF harvesters by seiz-
ing a cradle and showing the swath he
could cut Among the Young lawyers of
Illinois weo were Beginning their practice
in the courts where he was one OF the most
able and honorcd members, he was great
fayorite. This was due not only 10 the
cordial way in which he constantly helped
them over their difficulties, but to the EN-
sports, In Springfield there was for IA
long time a 'haokyard' which the law
students used for .bail ground Lincoln
went there regularly to play with the
bays" Even as late as the winter OF
1889 and l $50, a few months before he
was nominated to the Presidency, lie fire.
quently joined in sports going on at towns
where his lectures took him. Miss Frances
L. Willard, the wellkuown reformer and
president of the Woman's Christian Tenn
pesance Union. telis sa story Illustrating his.
when my brother was a theological
student in TIE university at Evanston
1S59-6I," says Miss willard, "Abrs.
ham Lincoln, then prominently tefore the
country, came TO Evanston as guest OF
Gen. julius White. The hero OF Pea Ridge
battle Gen. White brought Lincoln to
TIE thcclogi cal departme Mt, where he
spoke briefly TO the students; but what im-
pressed them-apd i well remember my
brother telling US of il in great g,ee wien
lie came home at DCon-Lincoln invited
some OF the students VIII owcre walking
along with linn in the campus to compete
in jumping over style or fence, ] don't
remember which i. was. This they did to
the best of their ability, and al the close hc
vaulted over, as my brother said, profit
ing by his long legs and set them all into
laughter and applause by his performance"
One of tie most pleasing things about
Lircoln's love OF sports was the pleasure
he took III the skill of others. II gave him
delight TO watch a feat OF physical strength
or skill. 4 n acrobat was Il wonfer To him
and he never tired OF studying his per-
! furnances. He was particularly fond of
strong tail men and wherever lie saw a
man of unusual height he would insist on
measuring with him. An unusually tn
man one day sought the President on an
erraud. Lincoln would not allow him TO
leave until they had measured. 1t WIS
found that the visitor was the taller. The
poor fellow backed out of the room in dis
may evidently feein that he had committed
real breach of etiquette In having grown
taller than the great President of the
United States. II was not infrequent for
Lincoln when visiting the armies during
the war to call up private. whom he had
noticed in the ranks. TO me asure with him.
In the same way, If he came across strik-
iDgly strong man he would invariably see
who could lift the more or strike the harder