The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1913-07-24
That Cat S Tail
An Illustrative Story Told by
Abraham Lincoln
By ARNOLD ROBINSON

II any one should assert that Abra-
ham Lincoln was the greatest Ameri-
can humorist he would have much |
with which to enforce his argument |
Mr.. Lincoln's humor, judged as TO Its |
effectiveness In concise illustration, GER
tainly stands very high. For instance,
his reply to the British ambassador, |
Lord Lyons, when that functionary an
nounced In a formal manner that the
Prince OF Wales (afterward Edward
VII.) was about to be married, enun-
ciated the breaking down Of a rever-
ence the world had always felt for
royal personages before republican sim
plicity. When the ambassador, who
was bachelor, had made his an
nouncement and awaited the formal re-
ply Of the head Of the American ma
ton. Mr.. Lincoln. with twinkle In his
eye, said:
Lord Lyons, go thou and do like
WISE"
The story given below contains one
OF Mr.. Lincoln's remarkable efforts at
concise illustration. At any rate, 1t
served a purpose-an avoidance Of en-
tering upon an untimely explanation
1t was this power that rendered Mr..
Lincoln such an effective public speak
err, for there is no field wherein an
ability for concise illustration or to dis
miss a point without entering upon
lengthy explanation Of It is so effective
as that OF political oratory.
The rise of Mr.. Lincoln to his emil
nent position as director Of the nation
In the great struggle OF 1S61-65 was
very sudden. Only two years before
his election a gentleman stood talking
with the clerk OF hotel In Springfield.
ILL.,, when the latter said:
"Do you see that tall, lean man sit
ting over there reading a newspaper
That man is going to be the next pres
ident of the United States"
The remark was doubtless the result
of that local pride which leads one to
predict a career for a fellow citizen,
for Abraham Lincoln was nominated
Unexpectedly. However, the mans at
tention having been drawn to Mr. Lin
coin, he remembered him, and II is not
likely that the next president was re-
markably prominent, for the same per
son a few months later thus describes
another view OF him. The former saw
transparency set up on a church
fence announcing that lecture on In
ventors and inventions would be de-
livered that evening for the benefit or
the church by A. Lincoln.
Remembering what the hotel clerk
had said about Mr.. Lincoln, the man
went TO hear the lecture and thus de-
scribes the scene: 1.-THE lecture room
was a dingy. drafty loft. There were
forty or fifty persons in the body OF
the house scattered about and looking
exceedingly uncomfortable. At the end
of the hall was a rickety deal table on
which stood two candles and leaning
on this table on his long thin arm,
reading occasionally from a pile OF
manuscript, was the lecturer"
When Mr.. Lincoln was nominated
for the presidency one OF his old
chums called among a host OF others
10 offer his congratulations. He ad'
| QTeSSeQ Iue piNoANSHN ~
and Mr.. Lincoln called him Jim.
See here, Abe" said Jim, Il can't
see how you figure this thing out
When you and me was Wings together
you was always happy when you was
arhttn' Steve Douglas. What 1 want
to know is how you got In with then
abontonists."
Others, including reporters, beins
present. Mr.. Lincoln had the best o.
reasons for not making a reply. H'
smiled good naturally and tried to pu
the man of, but he was not TO be pu
off. Again he demanded an expiana
ton.
"Well," said Mr.. Lincoln, 1T was lik'
the boy and the tanner A country
boy concluded to go to the city ant
make something great of himself. ID
walked all day and at evening reached
the outskirts of small country town
The first building he came across wa
a tannery, and through hole In TN
door projected the tall OF cat ina
was used as a latchstring. The DO.
stoned and looked at 1t with interes
and CURIOSITY utRASith ~ 800
Just then the tanner happened to com
out through another door and, seein
the boy standing there wondering
asked:
"eWhat is It, boy? Do you wan
anythingp No. replied the boy,
don't want anything. was wonderir
how that goldarned cat got throug
that hole and what he went In for
There was laugh in which Jim join
ed. and he went away far better salts
fed than IL his old friend had give
In detail statement of his reasons 70
Joining the abolitionists."
But two years elapsed between tn
first and last OF these pictures O
the great emancipation, and a FEY
months later still Mr.. Lincoln had Ell
tered upon the work Of carrying tn
country through perhaps the most 6
gantIc struggle the world has eve