The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-02-06
That Cat S I all
An Illustrative Story Told by
Abraham Lincoln
By ARNOLD ROBINSON

can humOrlSt he would nave much
with which to enforce his argument
Mr.. Lincolns 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 formal manner that the
Prince Of Wales (afterward Edward
Wiz was about to be married, enun-
ciated the breaking down of q rever-
ence the world had always felt for
royal personages before republican SIM
plicity. When the ambassador, who
was a 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: ...v ......
Lord Lyons, go thou and do like
| wise" s.....
The story given below, contains one
of Mr.. Lincolns remarkable efforts at
concise Illustration. At any rate, it
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 point without entering upon a
lengthy explanation Of it is so effective
as that Of political oratory.
Tho oF Mr. ipoo1n 70 h;, ami
nent position as director of the nation
in the great struggle Of 1906 was
very sudden. Only two years before
his election 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 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 career for fellow citizen,
for Abraham Lincoln was nominated
Unexpectedly. However, the mans at
tention having been drawn to Mr.. Lin
coin, he remembered him, and it is not
likely that the next president was re-
markably prominent, for the same per-
! son few months later thus describes
another view of him. The former saw
a transparency set up on a church
fence announcing that lecture on in
ventors and inventions would be de-
livered that evening for the benefit Of
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: "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 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 host of Others
to offer his congratulations. He ad-
dressed the future president as Abe,
and Mr.. Lincoln called him Jim.
"See here, Abe" said Jim, II can't
see how you figure this thing out.
When you and me was Wings together
you was always happy when you was
fightin' Steve Douglas. What want
to know is how you got in with them
abolitionists.' a.. a.>
Others, including reporters, being
present, Mr.. Lincoln had the best OF
reasons for not making a reply. He
smiled good naturally and tried to put
the man off, but he was not to be put
off. Again he demanded an explana-
'tion.
"Well," said Mr.. Lincoln, ut was like
the boy and the tanner. A country
bow concluded to 60 to the city and
make something great Of himself. He
walked all day and at evening reached
the outskirts of small country town.
The first building he came across was
tannery, and through hole in the
door projected the tail Of cat that
was used as latchstring. The boy
stopped and looked at it with interest
and curiosity depicted in every feature.
Just then the tanner happened to come
out through another door and, seeing
the boy standing there wondering.
asked:
"'What is it, boy? Do you want
anythlng?' No. replied the boy, i
don't want anything. I was wonderin'
how that goldarned cat got through
that hole and what he went in for"
There was a laugh in which Jim join
ed, and he went away far better salts
fed than II his old friend had given
In detail statement Of his reasons for
"joining the abolitionists." g..
But two years elapsed between the
FIRST and last of these pictures OF
the great emancipation, and a few
months later still Mr.. Lincoln had en-
tered upon the work of carrying the
country through perhaps the most g.
gantlc struggle the world has ever
seen.
And who can estimate the value Of
the faculty just illustrated in stand
ing of thousands Of persons who be-
set the president DESTROYS to know
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