Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-15
WARD
HILL
LAMON,
His Friend.
Partner
and
Bodyguard

the nine gals Of Illinois, but, according
to other authorities, he always had his
book with him when in company and
would read and talk alternately. He
carried it along in his walks to- the
woods and the river; read it in daylight
under the shade tree by the grocery and
at night by any friendly light he could
find, most frequently the one he kim
died himself in the shop of his old ben
efactor, the cooper.
Abe's progress in the law was as sur
prising as the intensity of his apphca-
ton to study. He never lost moment
that might be improved. 1t is even said
that he read and recited to himself on
the road and by the wayside as he
came down from Springfield with the
sooks he had borrowed from Stuart.
The first time he went up he had mas
tered forty pages of Blackstone before
be got back.
First Legal Work.
It was not long until, with his rest
less desire to be doing something prac-
tical, he began to turn his acquisitions
to account in forwarding the business
of his neighbors. He wrote deeds, con-
tracts, notes and other legal papers for
them, using a small dictionary and an
old form book, petifogged necessarily
before the justice of the peace and
probably assisted that functionary in
the administration of justice as much
as he benefited his own clients. This
species of country students practice
was entered upon very early and kept
up until long after he was quite dis
tinguished man in the legislature.
But in all this he was only trying
himself. AS he was not admitted to the
bar until 1887 he did not regard it as
legitimate practice and never charged
a penny for his services. Although this
fact is mentioned by great number of
persons and the generosity of his con-
duct much enlarged upon, it is serious
ly to be regretted tlekt no one has fur
nished us with a circumstantial ac-
count of any of his numerous cases be-
fore the magistrate.
But Mr. Lincoln did not confine him
self entirely to the law. He was not
yet quite through with Kirkham nor
the schooImaster. The valuable copy
of the grammar he delighted to peruse
is still in existence, with thumb marks
ali over it. He also studied natural
philosophy, chemistry, astronomy, ETC.
He had no regular teacher, but perhaps
received more assistance from Minter
Graham than from any other person.
He read with avidity all the newspa-
pers that came to New Salem, chiefly
the Sangamon Journal, the Missouri
Republican and the Louisville Journal
The latter was his favorite. It's wit and
anecdotes were after his own heart
and he was regular subscriber for ii
through several years when he could III
afford luxury so costly.
Fond of Novels.
Mr.. Lincoln was never profound
historical student. If he happened to
need historical facts for the purposes
Of a political or legal discussion he
read them on the spur Of the occasion
For this reason his opinions Of current
more upon individual observation and
reflection than upon scientific deduc.
tons from the experience of the world
Yet at this time, when he probably felt
more keenly than ever after the want
! Of a little learning to embellish the let
ters and speeches he was ambitious to
compose, he is said to have read Rol.
Inns ancient History" Gibbons "Rise
and Fall Of the Roman Empire and
similar works with great diligence and
care The books were borrowed from
William Green, Bowlin Greene and 9th
er parties in and about New Salem.
But he greatly preferred literature OF
another sort, such as Mrs. Lee Hentz's
novels, some of which he found among
the effects of Mr.. Ellis, at the time his
companion and occasional bedfellow.
''He was very fond" Mr.. Ellis de
clares, "of short stories one and two
columns long, like Cousin Sally Dill
lard,' Becky Wilson's Courtship, THE
Down-easter and the Bull'-how 9
/ bashful man became a married man
| with five little bashful boys, and how
he and his red headed wife became
Millerites and before they were to as
cend agreed to make a clean breast OF
it to each other, and how, when the
old lady was through, the down-eastel
earnestly wished that Gabriel migh1
blow his horn without delay
ffo be Cn3tiaued.@