The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-02-10

grandeur of association tnat ID dccoiu
ed to the most noted personages In his
tory, still he has never been. in any
public act Of his life, elevated ABOVE
the understandings and affections OF
the masses Of the people. Kind-hearted
and overlooking with sympathy by ma
ture, yet he was controlled by an hon
esty of purpose that kept him unyield-
ing where principle was concerned,
making him self-poised amid opposi-
ton, and perfectly self-reliant when
the hour of action arrived, yet In small
as we'll as in great matters the inner
ent humor of his mental composition
prevailed. 1t is easy, therefore, to
imagine, that If Mr.. Lincoln deemed 1t
necessary to appear as principal in a
duel, he would naturally attract to
himself such surroundings as might
turn all the intentions of tragedy In
to the realities Of farce. The year
1912 was one of great political excite
ment in the state of Illinois, and con-
6picuous among the master spirits
were Mr.. Lincoln and Gen. Shields.
Both at the time were practcing law
yers at the Springfield bar, both held
prominent official positions, and both
were accepted leaders in their respec-
tive parties. These gentlemen were
warm personal friends, though opposed
in politics, and differing as much in
their mental qualities as they did in
their personal appearance, Gen. Shields
being of medium height, Mr.. Lincoln
o. unusual altitude.
What eventually brought about
disagreement between these gentle
men, that made Gen. Shields feel 1t
necessary to send a challenge to Mr..
Lincoln, was never certainly known.
When 1t is recollected, however, that
these gentlemen, as party leaders fire.
quently came together on ''the stump"
It is not difficult to imagine that Mr..
Lincoln may have got off one of his
telling stories at the expense of his
friend that might have been at the
moment construed into a personal af-
front Whatever was the cause, it is
certain that the cartel" was seriously
written and solemnly borne to Mr..
Lincoln by Gen. Whitegides, a gentle
man then holding prominent place at
the bar and an important command in
the Illinois militia.
Up to the time of which we write
there had been but one duel fought
within the limits of Illinois, and that
occurred in her territorial condition.
One Of the combatants was shot dead
on the field. and the survivor was in
stantly hanged to the limb Of neigh
boring tree by the friends OF the slain.
Such summary punishment made the
code of honor" unpopular, and pro-
vision was consequently engrafted up
on the state constitution rendering
principals and seconds engaged in a
duel ineligible for any political Office.
This made affairs of honor" impolitic
and questionable, and all personal
difficulties were deemed honorably set
tied by rough and tumble fight, or
by an appeal for justice to the good
sense Of the community.
In society, therefore, where dueling
had been for years morally and legally
offensive, it was not easy to find a
friend" possessed of the requisite
knowledge to conduct such a proven
bially delicate affair; in fact, at this
time there was but one person in or
about Springfield who was supposed to
have the required experience. and the
reputation was founded upon vague
tradition rather than from any abso-
lutte knowledge. The gentleman al
luded to as this expert was Dr. Merry
man. q popular physician. distinguish
ed for his good nature. professional
skill and varied literary and scientific
attachments. In his youth he ran OF
to sea. Trained in this rough school.
he naturally, in his maturer years, aft
CT obtaining his diploma as surgeon.
accepted a professional position on
board of a South American privateer.
The doctor was fond of joke, and not
fndisposed, while attending to his busi-
ness calls, to tighten the gloom of the
sick room by detailing to his patients
his terrible experiences on the Span
ish n ain" all of which the honest "in-
land people" received with due awe