New-York tribune., 1906-11-02

svHii sItHiie gs3 The Century Company
GETTYSBURG AND LINCoLN:;t :tIT1 The tSTfoNAL
THE CEMETERY A3Noc, AAp ser ! N Burrage With
three maps and twenty-sevs@n @ u p STnntnar's
photographs Svo PIP XII IT "
Believing that Iincoln's career as
has not received adequate consideration IN 'he
yoluminous works that have been written a"oNN
him. Mr.. Hill has sought in the present NoiuinO
to remedy the deficiency 1t appears u mn
that the biographies have erred III
Iancoln's long experience at the bar as oe-Ae
OF merely episode interest, lnstc&u VI q
constituting his actual training ior the sieo
task OF guiding the country through 'he
,,o,,s ro-iod Of the Civil War. The author has
fortified himself by making careIul eAalniii
ton Of the old records of the Illinois CIRCUIT
C,rte and nv Interviewing as many as pos
chile of those of Lincoln's surviving contehpo-
raries who were associated with him In ms
practce at the bar. While the book does not
add largely to facts already known, 1t performs
at least a valuable function IN correlatihg lhe
available information into well rounded study
of Lincoln as a lawyer, and in seeking 10
separate the truth from fable that mas
attached itself to that period of Lincoln's life
Although not uninfiuenced by reverent ap-
probation Of Lincolns greatness, which some
times. perhaps, inclines him to overestimate
N~-~
tain traits Of character. the authors view Is
on the whole. a sane one enabling him 10
discount the manifest exaggerations OF many
Of Itncoln's overenthusiastic chroniclers.
In Lncoln's hearty, energetic, outdoor 10Y
hood life, for instance, Mr.. Hill is aple "
detect no indications Of the Child or oesllhs'
dreamy, mysterious and miraculously en-
dowed." Nor does he think it likely as some
have asserted, that Lincoln found MS hrs'
inspiration for a legal career in the soon op-
solete COPY Of the duh and dry compilation OF
Indiana statutes which fell early into his hanos'
Far more likely, the author holds. 1t is that
Lincoln derived his inspiration for his future
profession from the debates around the stove
in the country stores which he frequented
and where he worked, and in attending the
sessions of the Circuit Court at Boonville. No
records of that court exist to-day. but we
know. writes Mr.. Hill, that he witnessed at
least one hotly contested murder trial within
its walls and that the event made pro-
found impression on his mind
The defendant in that case represented by
powerful summing up for his client that young
Lincoln. with boyish enthusiasm; sought him out
after the verdict congratulate him on the speech
and its result. u felt" he remarked to Brecken-
ridge in the White House many years afterward,
'that II I could ever make as good speech as
that my soul would be satisfied for it was the
best had ever heard
Little +OTmaIlty was observed IN those PACK
woods courts as is shown by the action of a
judge who is reported to have quelled disturb
ance during q trial by descending from the
bench and thrashing the nearest offenders "I
don't know what power the law gives me to
keep order in this court" he admitted he
resumed his coat and the bench, but I know
very well the power God Almighty gave me-"
The date Of Iincoln's admission to the bar
has been variously given. 1t is contained In
Record Of the Circuit Court of Sangamon
County. page 173, where, under the date of
March u, 1896, the Hon Stephen T. Logan
presiding, at is ordered by the court that it
be certified that Abraham Lincoln is a person
Of good moral character" It IS known how
ever that previous TO this Lincoln practised in
formally and without recompense in the justice
court of Justice Bowling Green at New Salem
His unwillingness to accept fees the author
states, should not be credited so much TO Lin
coins overfowing generosity as to the fact that
It would have been illegal for him to have re-
caived them
% Lincoln's well known unsystematic meth
oGs AIr Hill writes: "Lincoln's mind was or
derly. though his methods We're not He neg
lected details because his thought which was
as direct as light. passed instantly to the vital
spot, and all else seemed unimportant." IF I
can free this case from technicaties and get it
properly swung 10 the jury l will win it," he
used 10 say. One Of his maxims was, In law
It Is good policy never to plead what you need
not lest YOU o5lige yourself to prove what you
cannot" Many instances are given of Lincoln's
well known aptness in the use of anecdote to
illustrate point
on one OCCASION when he was defending a case
plairtI had been tie aegressor, but the opposing
counsel argued that the defendant might have
bis assli'ant That reminds me of the man who
& MaS al-aehrd ', pyy farmers dog which he killed
made you kill my dog? demanded the farmer
fender B Why ddnt You 20 at @ him e1 with he the the
end?' was the retort."
Not only did Lincoln make effective use Of
stories when addressing a jury. but he did not
disdain to employ them in arguing to the court
and he once completely refuted a contention
that custom malez law with an anecdote drawn
from his own experience
old Squire Bagley, from Menard" he began,
once came into into my qitice and said: 'LincoIn
been elected a justice Of the peace right to issue
coin I thought you was lawyer he Tetor1ed In
Bob Thomas and me Rad a bet on this thing and
opinion J don't want it, for I know a thunderin'
ssht better. I've been squire now eight wears and
I've done II all the time!
Those. however, who would denfc+ r.;,oo,, -,
the circuit "as sort Of end man with an itin-
Grant minstrel show Mr.. Hill considers have
greatly misconceived his character as =. law
Yer engaged in serious and dgnifed work and
man who felt his responsibility keenlv" He
quotes Mr.. James Ewing of the Illinois Rar oS
saying: in all my experience never heard NJ
Lincoln tell story for its own sake or sir,n,v
to raise a laugh He used stories 10 illustrate
point, but the idea that he sat around and
FatqE