The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-07-05
Go he eoutinued.}
RIDING THE CIRCUIT.


How Lincoln Made the Best of It's
Annoyances and Discomforts.
The custom of riding the circuit was,
Of course, born of necessity, for In the
early days there was not sufficient le-
gal business in any one of the small
communities to support lawyer, to say
nothing Of a law firm People who
wanted to begin lawsuits usually
sought their advisers In the largest
town in their vicinity, or waited the
arrival of the circuit judge and the at
tendant bar. when they could look over
able champion. Frequently, however,
the local attorneys were retained to
prepare the papers, with instructions to
select good man for the court work
when the circuit-riding bar arrived on
the scene There was, therefore, an ex-
cellent chance Of securing good business
by constant attendance on the itinerant
court, and the lawyer who visited all
the counties was certain to be more
widely known than any Of his fellow
practitioners. At the time of Linccln's
second partnership with Herndon, how
ever, such work was more a matter of
choice than necessity. Doubtless the
firm could have made a satisfactory in
come had the senior partner devoted
himself to the courts nearest his home
and maintained branch Office In the
distant counties, as other lawyers did
but he liked the freedom Of the road,
and the happiest days Of his life were
those be- passed on these long legal
tours.
Travelling the circuit was compare
lively comfortable in the fifties, but 1t
still lacked something of the luxuries.
and at times 1t involved hardships,
which could be surmouuted only by the
best of health and spirits.
The inconvenience and discomforts of
the life were at times almost unbear-
able, but Lincoln was never known to
Join in the frequent protests and COM
plants OF his associates Indeed, bis
sense OF humor often saved the sltua-
ton and made it tolerabre, IL not enjoy
able, for himself and others. He saw
the comic side Of all that irritated men
of more nervous temperament, and he
disposed of annoyances with laugh so
hearty and infectious that even the dis
gruntled victims OF petty misfortunes
had to join In his mIrrn. In an indo-
lent easy manner he studied the various
types of human nature encountered on
the road, took a direct personal inter
est in the people he met, and made
friends at every stopping place. All the
court clerks and county officials were
clad to see him come and sorry to have
him depart; he had a warm welcome
at every tavern door, ana all sorts and
conditions of men claimed his close
acquaintance. But, despite this general
popularity, Lincoln was not, as he has
frequently been depicted, irresponsible
afl-fellow-well-met, Familiarity known
as "Abe," who went about slapping peo-
Die on the back and encouraging SINH
lar salutations. Nothing could be fur
Their from the truth than this Judge
Weldon informed the writer that In all
his acquaintance with Lincoln on the
circuit the only person he ever heard
address him by his first name was a
street urchin whose impertinence as
tonished the future President quite as
much as 1t amused him. and there Is
no reason to believe that lie courted
such familiarities after he reached ma
turity.-From Frederick Trevor Hills
Lincoln the Lawyer in Century.