The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-02-17

10 get poor pig out OF eiOugn nOie.
In his whole treatment of mankind he
had "malice toward none and charity
for ALL"
We see his honesty illustrated by his
walking several miles to rectify mis-
take in making change and correct an
underweight, unintentionally made in a
half pound of tea.
AS a young man, he acquired the title
of Honest Abe"
His aim was high ! he certainly "hitch-
ed his wagon to STAR" On one occa-
sion, talking to friend, he exclaimed,
"Oh, how hard it is to die and not be
able to leave the world any better for
ones life in it!''
His love of books, deep study and
patient research were well known. He
loved justice and hated deceit and lie.
He never loved money nor slaved to
acquire it. Towards the latter part of
his practice, he said, 81 have my house
and about eight thousand dollars, and
when get twenty thousand will have
enough for any man."
With such characteristics as a man, it
is not difficult to picture the lawyer.
There was no place in his practice for
bullying and Dragging, nor the deceitful
tricks of the pettifugger. He did not
look upon the law as series Of sharp
practices by which the doing of the
right could be avoided, but as princi-
pie of action and rule of conduct for the
orderly, upright and just regulation of
affairs.
To the debtor who consulted him to
devise a new way of paying old debts,
he turned a deaf ear. He never stirred
up litigation. He was a weak lawyer
when engaged by the weak side. He
had genuine interest in the establish
ment of justice between man and man.
When his clients had deceived him, he
forsook their case in the very midst Of a
trial.
He was a remarkable advocate. No
man in Illinois had such power before a
jury as he. "He applied the principles
of law to the transactions of men with
great clearness and precision. He WAS
close reasoner. His mode of speaking
was generally of plain and unimpas-
stoned character, and yet he was the
author OF some of the most beautiful
and eloquent passages in our language. 4"
Judge Breese, in speaking of Mr.. Lin
coin as lawyer, said, "For my single
self, have for quarter of century
regarded Mr.. Lincoln as the finest law
yer ever knew, and of a professional
bearing SO high-toned and honorable as
justly, and without derogating from the
claims of others, entitled HIM to be pre-
sented to the profession as a model well
worthy of the closest imitation"
Judge Thomas Drummond of Chicago,
representing the bar of that city, said
81 have no hesitation in saying that he
was one Of the ablest lawyers l have
ever known" In addition, he said
"no intelligent man who ever watched
Mr.. Lincoln through hard-contested
case at the bar, questioned his great
ability" Judge Drummond's picture OF
Mr.. Lincoln at the bar, and his mode OF
speech and action is so graphic and SC
Just that it deserves to be quoted:
"With voice by no means pleasant,
and, indeed, when excited, in its shrill
tones, sometimes almost disagreeable
without any of the personal graces OF
the orator; without much in the outward
man indicating superiority of intellect
without great quickness OF perception
still, his mind was so vigorous, his COM
prehension 80 exact and clear, and his
Judgment so sure, that he easily mas
tered the intricacies of his profession,
and became one of the ablest reasoners
and most impressive speakers at our bar
With probity of character known to all,
with an intuitive insight into the human
heart, with clearness of statement
which was itself an argument, with un.
common power and felicity of illustra.
tion,-often, it is true, of a plain and
homely kind, and with that sincerity
and earnestness of manner which carried
conviction, he was, perhaps, one of the
most successful jury lawyers we have
ever had in the country. He alway:
tired case falrly ana honestly. lie
never intentionally misrepresented the
evidence of a witness or the argument
of an opponent. He met both squarely
and, if he could not explain the one OF
answer the other, substantially admitted
it. He never misstated the law accord
ing to his own intelligent view of it,"
1T is well, on these occasions, for eacl
person to take an inventory of his owl
character. And these occasions, witt
the opportunity for self-inspection anC
emulation of his virtues, will be of grea
good to all.
His simplicity of character, honesty
truthfulness, and love of right, are al
qualifications any may successfully striv
to attain, and every struggling, well
meaning man can read of him and gail
courage in his own battle in life.
His character was one which will grow
and will become the basis of an idea
man. 1t was so pure, and SO unselfish
and SO rich in its materials, that fin