New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-01-31
ANECDOTES REPEAL MAN.
Continued from fifth page.

1udicrOuS terms of the meeting, "nOSS ih'u'N -
took the irate and literal Shields some TINE u
discover Lincoln prescribed:
"First-Weapons: Cavalry swords Of the
largest size precisely equal in all respects, ana
such as now used by the cavalry company at
jacksonville.
decentralization: n plank ten feet long ana
from, nine to twelve inches broad, to be firmly
fixed on edge on the ground, as the line between
us which neither is to pass his foot over upon
forfeit of his life. Next, a line drawn on the
ground on either side of said plank and parallel
with it. each at the distance of the whole length
Of the sword and three feet additional from the
nIanlz and the RAISING of his own such line by
either rarty during the fight shall be deemed a
surrender OF the contest.
The rreparations for the meeting actually pro-
gressed to q point where the duellists, carrying
broadswords went to an island in the Missls-
sippi There the differences of the principals
were adjusted. but the seconds later issued chal-
lenges to each other in connection with dis
mites about the proper etiquette OF such
farces" The net result was "the shedding OF
much ink and furnishing Springfield with topics
of lively conversation for a month
The incident served to bring Lincoln ana MISS
Todd in close contact again, and having been
assured by an intimate friend who had been
married eight months that marriage was step
to happfness. on November /, 1912, he took the
leap.
After T.incoln's nomination for the Presidency
g. room in the state House at Springfield, Ill.,
was set aside for his Here he received I'M
ostentatfousy the hundreds cf distinguished
visitors who came from all parts Of the country
to see him. It was noted that he talked hu-
emily on all subjects except politics, although
his opinion was asked scores of times a "eeN'
On such occasions he would say;
"Ab, YOU haven't read my speeches Let me
make you present of my speeches.
Tho earnest inquirer in a moment found nm
self the happy possessor of some old documents,
Not fnfrequently his visitors included olu
neighbors from the country district Where ne
had kept a grocery store. one day as lie was
talking to a group Of distinguished PERSONS On
cid woman in poke sunbonnet heavy pootS ana
short skirts walked into the office. In her
hands she carried something wrapped in brown
roDor Mr. Lincoln. as soon as he saw her, left
the eroup with which he had been talking ana
went over to her He shook her hand cordially
and injured for her folks" The old woman
opened her package. and taking out a pair oil
coarse wooiIen socks handed them to him
81 wanted to give you somethin', Mr., Linkin'
cold sna go take to washington, and that's all
he'd l spun that yarn and knit them SOCKS
myself"
Mr. Lincoln thanked the woman heartily, and,
holding them up bS ILlt IOSo' Oll> - ~A
before the celebrities said in a kindly ana an
amused tone THE lady got my latitude ana
1onpitude about right, didn't she, gentlemen?
IT is believed that the bearded countenance OF
lincoln which is probably more generally known
than his shaver face, was due to a snaI girl Oh
Westfeld n. Y. Up to the time OF ms eiec'ioii
he had always shaved his face smooth. one
dav n month before his election, he found IN MS
mail 2 letter from a little girl by the name Oh
Grace Bed.ll In this letter she told him how
old she was that she lived in Westheid, n "a
and that she thought he would make goou
president but that he would be better looking
If he would let his whskers grow. She also
suppested that he might have his little girl an
s1uer If he did not have time himself. In few
DAVIS she received q letter. 1t read:
Springfield, III, October 10. 1860.
Miss Grace Bedell =.
NV Dear Little Miss: Your very agreeable let
ter of the 18th is received. L regret the neces-
sity of saying that have no daughter nave
three sons-one seventeen, one nine and one
seven wears of age. They, with their mother
constitute nv whole family. AS to Whlshers'
having never worn any, do you not thlnK people
would call it silly piece of aHectatlon II 1
were to begin it now? Your very sincere wen
wisher, a LI-SOOi-->'
Lincoln passed through Westfeld on his way
to Washington to be inaugurated. When the
train reached the town he spoke a few words
from the platform and then said he would Ike
to see Grace BedelI if she were there The lit
tie maid came forward Lincoln stepped down