The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-10-20

-HIS little curtain raiser to the
character of Abraham Lincoln has
waited forty years before taking
Its place In the repertoire of plays
which have come out Of that dramatic
career. For it's preservation. lovers of
Llncolnian lore are indebted to attorney
C.. NJ. Hardy. of the Chicago bar, whose
fortune IT was to witness the incident.
Sometime in 1859 or 1860 Mr.. Hardy.
then a law student residing in Rock Is
land. Illinois, visited Chicago. Moved
by the natural interest of a student for
stellar performances in his chosen pro-
fession, he found his way to the United
states Court for the Northern District
Of Illinois.
Honorable Thomas Drummond was
presiding, and an ejectment case was on
trial involving the title to lands in the
old military tract down about Gales
burg, Knox county. Illinois.
The trial was a very important one.
as may be known from the counsel en-
gagged. William G. Goudy, O. III.
Browning. Archibald Williams. Benja-
min s. Prettyman and Abraham Lin
coin, were the attorneys, all famous In
their time, none OF whom are now liv-
ing. The case had been on trial for
several days, and. before court adj
journed on Saturday evening, Judge
Drummond reminded the attorneys that
the court would open promptly at
o'clock on Monday and requested then
to be prompt In their attendance al
that hour. Monday dawned fair and
free. An early sun. as IL to spur the
Industries of the day. sped its light
darts through the old-fashioned court
windows. The room was In its best de-
corlIm, with it's quaint neatness appeal
ing to the favor of the stern Judge who
sat erect upon the bench a half hour
before the old court clock counted nine
The lawyers were all present, dutifu
/ to his honor's Injunction, save the lead
ling counsel. Abraham Lincoln O
Springfield.
A half hour passed nine and the fac,
OF the Judge grew a shade paler. Hi.
dignity had been wounded, his authori
Nv had been rebuked, and IL could b'
seen, as he busted his hands In a pil'
lof legal papers, that his mind was tur
bidly engrossed In maledictions upor
the absent lawyer An hour wore OF
and the strain wore heavier. The room
held a cavernous silence that was al
most audible.
| AN ANGRY JUDGE.
Suddenly, the judge. after clearing hi
throat, addressed the attorneys re
lquesting them to proceed without Mr.
Lincoln. One of Mr.. Lincoln's asso
lciates replied, to the effect that his alb
sent comrade had with him certain it'll
papers In the case, and that they coult
not 20 on without them.
Again the tenure OF punctilio becam
Oppressive, until the iour Of eleven
the strain was raised by the entrance
LOT Mr.. Lincoln. While the frame OF tn
ldelinuuent marked Its usual rugged
ness. his face was pale, his eyes bleal
from exhaustion. 1t was plain as tn
lday that he was disturbed by some un
usual happening. He bowed to tn
court. as was HIS manner. and took hi
seat at the long table Just beneath tn
bar rail.
Almost Immediately the Judge arose
his face saddening by the pail of SOM
aern idea. his voice husky as II from
!. parched threat and with almost bonn
bastic emotion, said:
The court would have the attorney
20 understand that they are officers o
this court. Servants OF the common
wealth II you will. and the time OF thi
court belongs TO not any particula
: member OF the bar 10 be used for con
veniences of his own. IL Is quite as II
legal TO rob the court OF its time b,
such dereiiction as Il Is TO transgres
. any Of Its written laws.