The morning times., 1896-08-16
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BY IDA n. TARgELL.

BY IDA NJ TARBELL-
A BOYS enthusiasm for roliicsing out
Of doors was one OF Abraham Lincolns
most pleasing characteristics He was SO
hic and strong, he had so healthy 4 pas
sion for fresh air and exercise, that any
game which brought his muscles into play
and gave him Il chance to show his endrr-
ance aud ssil WIS u delight TO EinL
His circumstances in early life gave Il line
opportunity Tor pr;ictciug his natural love
cf athletes. From the time he Was seVen
wears old until he was twenty -one lie
lived in Southern Indiana, then IA rude
and uucullivated. though rather thickly
settled part OF the country. Tue boys
OF the reir6aorhood spent much oil their
leisure in outdoor sports. Necessarily
these sports Were crude compared TO
those of to-day, for tie boys had neither
time to devote to training nor money ior
Iarapherna H. The implements they usec
were frequently the very toolS OF their
labor: thus "tirowing the niair' was
common game, was pitching qGoifs'
and pushing weights Tie 'mali' came
from the carpenters hcnch, the "qucits'
were hcrscshoes, the weights any heavy
hammers or pieces of iron they could tiud.
Frequcitly they made the articles for their
sports from wood. as in the old English
game Of cat or ''tip-cat,' which Lin
coin often played. For ''tip-cat' Il piece
OF wood perhaps two feet long was sharp
encd TO a point at each cad. and thei AS
IL lay on the ground was tipped or
struck at one cud with a second suck.
As il flew into the air the same player
was 10 knock 1t as far as possible. II
be missed he was out
More popular than any Of these games
was wrestling, and here, Lincoln cXceilcd
All his comrades. Six feet four inches i'll
height. weighing about $50 pounds, hav-
Ing unusually long arms, and muscles Ike
iron. he could throw any man or boy who
challenged him to a ''tussle.' as they called
IL in Southern Indiana His prowess in
wrestling made HIM the hero and boast OF
all his ac.uaiutances. ana often Lincoln
found he was obliged to engage in ''wol-
lug and pulling because OF the vaingiotious
beasts of his mates. who hal, unknown 10
him. pitted him against the champion Of
some rival corner or hollow"
AT least once in his life his skill in wrest-
ling served him an excellent turn. He left
Indiana when twenty-one years old, and
going To Illinois. started ont for himself.
Finding work in the little town Of New
Salem. he settled there. Now, Salem was
under The despoJic rule of a gang Of young
rufflans known as the Gary Grove boys.
For months they hal been the champions of
ali the county races, cock fights andsparring
matches. and they were so Jealous of their
leadership that they promptly drove out
any man who was even runlored to be a
sport Lnccln's skin at wrestling sCon
came TO their ears, and they went with
their champion to end his fame. Lincoln
tried good d-naturedly to avoid the bout, but
finding there was no escape took hold of
the man. and before he let go he had salts
fled not only the champion but I he entire
settlement of Ciary Grove boys. Itmade his
future in the community, for from that day
lie had no better friends in Illinois than
this troop of young desperadoes.
sport of which Lincoln was very fond
al! his life was playing ball. The game
of fIvcs." or "handbali,'' as many called
IT. was the favorte outdoor diversion in
his tane. 1t required a high dead wall.
with black line drawn horizontally
across it about 90 feet from the ground
and another line near the bottom. in
front of this wall were two ranks of
men a front and Il rear rank, five men
In each rank. A man in the front rank
would start the ball, throwing il against
the wall. between the black lines. in any
way that pleased his fancy. As the bail
rcbouDded it was the business of the rear
rank to knock it. with their lands OF
feet, back to the wall; and as II again
rebounded the front rank had 10 put il
back in the same fashion. The process
alternatcd until the ban fell TO the
ground or failed 10 strike the wall he
tween the back lines. This wds a hand
out" and ten handouts Oh either side
decided the game. About S5S and s59."
says rrof. Brooks OF Springfield. Ill, Il
often saw Mr.. Lincoln engaged in this
game. lie appeared TO enjoy il Immensely.
The game required welltrained eye.
quickly responsive nerves. and great agil-
ity and strength of muscles: bat, although
fifty years old, there was no better player
at the game of fivcs' in Springfield than
MIR Lincoln"
The length OF Lincoln's arms and legs
made him "A very amusing figure when
thrdwing a ball. and he rarely failed TO
make the most of his limbs, throwing him
self about in the most srotesque attitudes.
seemingly enjoying his own awkwardness
S much as the spectators. When bowling
he was accustomed to 20 through the same
antics. DR.. Busey. of Washington, d. c..
one of the few persons living who remember
Lincoln during his one term in Congress, in
1S4S, and Who. in fact. boarded in the same
mess withhim atthautime, says: Congress
man Lincoln was very fond of bowling.
and would frequently join others of the
mess, or meet others members in n match
game, at the alley of James Casparis which
wasnear the eboardIng house. Hewas a very
awkward bowler, but played the game
with great zest and spirit. solely for ex-
ercise and amusement, and greatly TO the
enjoyment and entertainment of the other