Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-12-23

In Conversation and In Story T cling.
In conversation Mr.. Lincoln was always
instructive and entertaining, and almost
always amusing. He seemed never to talk
without some definite aim in view The
few stories | heard him relate were told
in each instance to illustrate some we'll
defined point. He was rather disposed, in
ordinary cases. to claim the larger share
of time in conversation, but he was not
only good listener, but in general an ami
mated questioner, whenever there was
information to be gained. His aptitude
for assimatng the facts of any subject
in which he was interested was only less
remarkable than the faculty he had for
retaining them in his memory.
When telling story, he had a manner
ism peculiarly his own. If he was seated
in a chair or on a dry-goods box dit was
generally one or the other. his feet would
be planted fiat upon the floor or ground,
until near the story's end at which june
ture his eyes would begin to sparkle and
mis- right leg be seen to raise slowly; sud-
denly. al the instant the climax was
reached, the right leg would be thrown
across the left, back would go his head,
and he would laugh as unrestrainedly as
any Of his auditors. There was never any
straining for effect the heartiness and
spontaneity of it all delightfully."- enhanced
the story's effectiveness.
Lincon's humor was n wellspring of
practically included all Springfield. one
specimen of 1t that has become famous |
am able to locate. Loaiing on one of the
street corners next TO the public square.
several men were wrangling one day over
the ideal length in proportion to the body
for mans leg. Lincoln came saunterng
along. ana to his decision the gang of
loafers agreed to submit the point. Abe"
called out one of them. "how long ought
mans legs to be?' "Well, gentlemen"
was the promp' reply. Il don't pretend
to know exactly. but it seems to me they
should be long enough to reach from his
body to the ground!'
The Race for Congress In 1916.
Illinois was long a Democratic state but
il contained one Congressional District
almost as stanchly Wing as Daniel Web
sters own state of Massachusetts, This
was the so-callel Sangamon District.
which in the 4O's contained more than an
ample supply of congressional timber in
Guiding John J. Hardin. afterward killed
in the Mexican War; Edward II. Baker,
who fell at Balls Bluff in the Civil War;
Abraham Lincoln, a recognized leader;
and Judge stephen ID. Logan. Lincoln s
law partner from 1871 to 1Sl3-all men of
ability and all Wings. 70 avoid strife
they agreed among themselves that If
elected each should serve but one term
and leave the field open for the next, and
toned, the Wing nominee. The confer
ences of these and other Wing leaders,
when not mere casual street meetings
were generally held in the Law Library
rooms in the State House; none of them
(unless it was Hardin. who resided in
jacksonville had an onice with chairs
enough to accommodate the most modest
caucus.
When Mr.. Lincoln in 1916. made up his
mind to stand for the nomination. the
duty fen to me of writing letters at his
dictation. to influential men in the differ
ent counties. down to even obscure pre-
cincts. Finding the task not only burden
some. but slow. I suggested the use of a
printed circular letter. but the proposal
was vetoed off-hand. \ printed letter. he
said would not have nearly the same eff
feet a written one had the stamp OF per-
sonaity was more hatterng to the re-
/ cipent, and would tell altogether more in
assuring his good will, II rot his support.
/ SO for several days the clerk was kept
/ busy in writing more letters. Young
/ and inexperienced as | was. I could
not help noticing how shrewdly they
! We're put together. no two eX-
| actly alike. He approached each cor
/ respondent in a different way. and I soon
/ reached the conclusion that the necessity
he felt for doing this was his weghtiest
reason. after all. for discarding type.
/ Discussing one day the chances for his
]
warmth TO the effect that. as rival as
plrants were using so much unfairness.
! there was small encoura cement for us to
proceed any further unless We were will
/ ing to adopt similar tactics. without the
! least sign of disconcertment, he replied.
| "Gibson. ! want to he nominated.
should like very much to go to Congress
! but unless | can get there by fair means
| shall not go. If 1t depends on some other
course. l will stay at home" That set
tied 1t. of course
Lincoln Congressman.
Lincoln received the nomination, and
when the time came was elected by a ma
jority of more than fifteen hundred (three
| times the usual Wing majority of the dis
tricD, and great was the rejoicing in oul
office. Lincolns opponent in this cam.
paign was the noted pioneer preacher
| Peter Cartwright. | never saw the two
men together, nor do l recall any stump
speaking incident more than passing in.
terest The last time ! saw Peter Cart.
wright he was exchanging condolences. r
his peculiar fortissimo, with one of hi!
late partsans, both of them berating one
| Wright for being an Abolitionist. l re
member the desire was expressed to slaI
Wrights jaws with the aVowed intention
to do just the thing if the chance evei
offered.
Mrs. Lincoln and the two children wen
to Washington with the Sangamon repre-
sentative for the first, or long session o
the Thirtieth Congress, which assembled
in December, 1877. Meantime the Mexican
War had come on. In common with thu
Wing leaders in general. Lincoln regarded
the war as unjustifiable and so declared
himself. thereby alternating many politica
friends and bringing him many fault
finding letters. Nor was this all. Dissat
isfaction with his course on this question
entailed defeat on his friend Judge Logan
who became the Wing nominee in 1S4S
Opposed though he was to the Mexican
War. on principle, Lincoln never Withheld,
his vote from measures for the supper
of the United States forces in the field
record which later stood him in excellen
stead.
Routine Life In Lincon's Office.
Lincoln & Herdnon's office consisted o
one large room on the second floor of tn
building in which was the post Office
Across the hail. and directly over the pos
office, the clerk of the United States Dis
trict Court held forth. The furniture
nearly all of it in a more or less dilapi
dated condition, comprised one small desl
and a table, both of them quite plain,
sofa, or lounge, with raised head at on
end, and half a dozen wooden chairs
over the desk a few shelves had been in
closed; this was the Office bookcase, hold
ing a set of Blackstone. Kent's Common
taries. Chitty's Pleadings, and a yer,
moderate number of other books. Their
was a fine law library in the Capito
Building, and to this the attorneys of tn
city enjoyed free access at all times TIL
floor in our Office was almost never scrub
bed, and the sweeping was done by tn