The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1909-02-11

k-------.k-a-Aa-AinI coins way was
Il DID NOT COME TO better and saner
HEAB sToRIEs.s than most OF
these methods, possibly than all OF
them. He told stories.
Mr.. lincoln once expressed this idea
g. an important congressman that call
I'd full Of business. The president, be-
pan sons Innocent story, just by way
II saying 'GOod morning" There
upon the congressman puffed himself
up. "Mr. President" he said, II did
not couEe here this morning to hear
stories. Il f. too serious a time"
The smile faded from the presidents
SAGE. lincoln was ever gentle, truly a
gentle man. Dividing that word de-
hnes a. But for tails quality ne would
have terminated the interview with
Che bore then ana there. As It was, he
asked him quietly 10 sit down. II re.
Npect you as an earnest, sincere man."
De said 70 the congressman. you can.
not be more aAxious than I have been
eonstantly Since the beginning Of the
war, and I say to you now that were
II not for this occasional went I should
die"
. Tie president had another object ia
giving way 10 the snecdOte habit.
Everybody else did IT, OF tried to, and
be was - mpanionable man that
he wanted to be Lire other people
TELLING stories was a national dlssi-
patton. Lincoln naturally fell into it,
only be did IL better chan others. He
} iFnised n into an art.
ltwaaihis pastims. ,He'dld not drink
or play cards. AZ for autOmobIIlng,
afinltieA and buying Legislatures, these
diversions had not been invepted, at
least under these names. IL they had
been, Mineoln would not have had any
thing do'dO with them. They are che
lpastimeE Of ths rich, and he was al.
ways poor. He had NO vices, wish the
possible exception of talking pOlitics.
50 Ills sport was telling stories. 1t
bsguilsd bis own thours and made 9TH
sr people happy. 1t was his method
eflteaching lessons. giving mental med
ieine and spreading sunshlns.
The beauty OF q lincoln narrative
y that II invariably has q point. In |
this It does not resemble all latter day |
hnn0s. A collection Of Individuals |
enc day visited the White House, and |
'one grew rather familiar and asked /
the president 10 tell story. Lincoln |
turned bis back on the fellow and
quietly remarked 20 the Best OF the
group that he never told stories just
fOrthe sake Of tolIing stories Through
outlhie'life, whatever the reports might
be. he had always told stories TO illus.
ltrnte'a truth or enforce an argument.
Lincsin often put more int story
or int a pat phrase than sSme men
put into n sermon--more, indeed, ,thanI
some authors put fEtO a book. For ,ex-
ample, when one editor made a great
cutlery against the administration with
out adducing any facts to back Il up
Mr.. Linooln was reminded Of story!
A man travelling through Kansas on
'heFssbaek was ovsrtaken by a terrino |.
To make matters worse,
niGht came on. there was no house seem
ingly IN males. and the traveller lest HIS
way A. the storm grew more violent he
and led HIS horse, stuuabling
along N the mud. tho rain and tbs in
ereasing din of the thnndsr. Il was now
the blackness OF darkness except G0r Ia
sermittent iiaahes OF iiaitning ana the
lraveleT became terrified bv ths fact that 4
be could not Ind the ROAD. euddenlV a
Tremendous thunder crash brought htfn
= hie knees In ahis frightened prayer.
20 Lord, II It's all the asme TO you,
xiNe noe = little more light and \ iiothe
lo1e nolSe.''
A farmer 0noe came 10 the president ,
Hith the complaint that the Soldiers .
had stolen his horse and he wanted .
ne government 60 pay him At once.
lincoln replied that II he attended ia 9
lach case like this he would have Q
'nougb work for twenty presidents =
This recalled a steamboat pilot story, q
In oDs portion OF his gourney this pilot ,
lad 10 steer the boat through a most u
erilous stretch OF rapids. One DAY while "
light In the middle OF this boiling stretch Al
Z water he felt tug at his coattail. q
Hey, mister" piped a small hoy. stop ~
our boat minute. I've lost my apple y
gerboard."
This recalls the time that the pres- q
ent turned on one committee OF high ~
r0wed Knockers who came 10 com a,
lain OF the way be was running the ~
oycrnment. After listening 70 them On
! patience he sald n
Qpotlsmsn suppose an the property you vi
Q1e worth wss Ia sold and you mad put 40
3lntc the hGDds OF Biondin 10 carry 90
'lfaa efc Nifgara river on lSfs. w0ald ia
~ shasf lle cable og keep shouting a
idsaiin, stand ~ 3 hiile rfraight- ~