Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-06-19

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enthezzlements" (embellishmentsl. ami
Mr.. Lincoln had a hand in originating
it The catalogue of literature in which
he particularly delighted at New Salem
is completed by the statement of Mr.
Rutledge that he took great pleasure in
"Jack Downings Letters
Mr.. Lincoln still relished a popular
| song with broad point or a palpable
moral in it as much as he had ever en-
| joyed the vocal efforts of Dennis Hanks
and his rollicking compeers of the Gen
tryville grocery. He even continued his
own unhappy attempts, although with
| as little success as before and quite as
much to the amusement of his friends
| To the choice collection of miscella-
neous ballads acquired in Indiana he
now added several new favorites, like
"Old Sukey Blue Skin," and some selec-
tions from the ''Missouri Harmony" ;"
with variations by himself. He was
also singularly fond of an Irish song
(which tells how st. Patrick came to
be born on the 18th day of March,"
Shy Of the Ladies.
''You ask me-" says Mr.. Ellis, ..if I
remember the first time saw Mr. Lin
coin. Yes, I do. 1 was out collecting
back tax for General, James D. Henry.
L went from the tavern down to- Jacob
Bales old mill, and then 1 first saw Mr..
Lincoln. He was sitting on Sc saw log
talking to Jack and Rial Armstrong
and man by the name of Hohammer.
shook hands with the Armstrong; and
Hohammer and was conversing Wit,
them. few minutes, when we were
Joined. by my old friend and former
townsman, George Warburton, pretty
tight, as usual, and he soon asked me
to tell him the old story about Ben
Johnson and Mrs. Dales blue dye, etc.
which did. And then Jack Armstrong
said, Lincoln, tell Ellis the story about
Governor ]. Sichner, his city bred son
and his niger Bob,' which he did. with
several others, by Jacks calling for
them. found out then that Lincoln
was a cousin to Charley Hanks Of Is
land Grove. told him I knew three of
the boys-Joe, Charley and John-and
his uncle, old Billy Hanks, who lived
up on the north fork Of the Sangamon
river, afterward near Decatur"
This interview took place shortly aft
sr the Black Hawk war, but it was not
until the next year QS33), the period at
which we have now arrived, that Lin
coin and Ellis became intimate. At
that time Ellis went there to keep a
store and boarded at the same log tay-
srn where Lincoln was. Lincoln, being
in no particular business,
merely endeavoring to make lawyer,
surveyor and a politician of himself,
rave a great deal Of his tine to Ellis
Ind Ellis business.
He also used to assist me in the
tore" says this new friend, ION busy
lays, but he always disliked to wait
N the ladies. He preferred trading
With the men and boys, as he used to
ay. l also remember that he used to
leep In the store, on the counter, when
hey had too much company at the {
avern.
81 well remember how he was dress
d. He wore fax and tow linen panta- 6
'ons-I thought about five inches too !
hort in the legs-and frequently he had | a
ut one suspender; no vest or coat He r
vore calico shirt, such as he had in +
lie Black Hawk war; coarse brogans,
In color; blue yarn socks and straw r
at, old style and without band. +
"Mr. Lincoln was in those DAYS a +
cry shy man of ladies. On one occa- r
on while we boarded at this tavern h
lere came family, consisting of an ?
ID lady and her son and three stylish h
aughters, from the state of Virginia 6,
nd stopped there for two or three :,
eeks, and during their stay 1 do not n
Of Mr.. Lincoln ever eating fe
the same table when they did. 1 Il
en- thought it was on account of bis r
appearance and his wearing h,
,parel"
Ofutt "Petered Out" Ii
There lived at New Salem at this pi
ne and for some years afterward a W
stive gentleman named Kelso. a le
hoolteacher, a merchant or a vaga- OF
nd, according to the run of his some ne
lat variable luck. When other people cd
t drunk at New Salem 1t was the w
ual custom to tussle and fight and 30
mp each others. toes and. ppll each 90
lefsss nosess but when Ke3so: not #
ink he issteniehet tie rustic comri1u,, fe
81 ssith. h.cepieps dppt l1ml 3f6n RpA- be
tBusns andi W1l3iijp ~ ee 6eses @