The National tribune., 1909-02-25

thing. Among the interesting things
of Lincoln's owned by a Philadelphia
| law firm is one of the notes with which
| Lincoln used to annotate a bundle of
papers in his office at this time: when
you can't find it anywhere else, look in
| this" Lincoln seems not to have liked
''detaiP' at any time or anywhere 1t
is said he never acquired any sense of
order. The drudgery of routine was
| irksome to him.
LincOln's Methods.
| Lincolns private correspondence was
carried on in the loosest fashion imag-
Unable. He wrote on whatever happened
to be handiest, and most of the notes
for intended speeches or on cases or
legal points were annotated on the
backs of envelopes, edges of newspa-
| pers, or on bits of wrapping paper He
would make these notes. and then shove
| them under the inside hatband of his
''stovepipe."
While Lincoln's business methods
were lax enough, he had the very clear
est and most orderly methods OF think
! ing He went directly TO the point. IF
can free this case from technicaiities
and get it properly swung to the jury
I'll win it," he used to say Lincoln
always wanted to know what line of
argument his opponent would follow.
and so studied both sides OF the case
assiduously, and if possible gave ava;
to the jury ali the strong points in the
| other side of the case, and then pro-
ceeded to knock them down like a
house of cards. He felt that he must
know exactly what the argument of the
other fellow would be that he might be
able TO meet it. Lincoln was pre-emi-
nently Jury" lawyer His dislike of
detail made him an Indifferent case
or 'office" lawyer, but when he got a
chance to handle the jury he was at
home. and his opponent had 10 hustle
| to keep even "tail-holt,' as Lincoln
would have pu: it.
One of the incidents of Lincoln's
practice in 1889 is related by that prince
| of players, Joe Jefferson, who was, how
ever. but 10 years old when it occurred.
| Transforming" as it is called now,
was really the Legitimate" at that time.
Jefferson was with a company which
had built a theater in Springfield and
which expected to entertain the Lsgisla-
| ture and make good deal of money,
when religious revival caused the city
| fathers to raise the theatrical license.
Jefferson writes: Here was a terrible
state of affairs. All our available funds
| invested, the Legislature in session. the
town full of people, and we by a heavy
| license, denied the privilege of opening
the new theater. In the midst of these
troubles a young lawyer called upon
| the. manager. He had heard of the in
justice. and offered, if they would place
the matter in his hands, to have the
| license taken off, declaring he only de-
sired to see fair play, and he would
accept no fee. whether he failed or sue
ceeded. The young lawyer began his
| harangue. He handled the subject with
tact skill and humor. tracing the his
| tory of the drama from the time when
Thespis acted in a cart to the stage of
to-day. He illustrated his speech with
a number of anecdotes, and kept the
Council in a roar of laughter. His good
humor prevailed, and the exorbitant
tax was taken off. This young lawyer
| Continues Mr.. Jefferson) now lies bur-
| led near Springfield under monume ent
commemorating his greatness and his
| virtues, and his name was Abraham
Lincoln"
| ITO he continued \