Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1914-02-12

To be a front-row hrst-night patron, and, next 10
bhckface comedy, he was enamored OF magic
lantern" entertainments. He had passion for
probing into the mysteries of anything mechanical
and II he were alive today the automobile would
have given him great Joy.
When circuit riding in the antersilway days he
would utilize the OF the noon hour after lunch
con at some wayside farmhouse in crawling under
and proving over the harvest machinery, as full
OF questions as a schoolboy. more insatiaoiy
curious than any Of Ewes daughters. AS ne
walked the streets OF Springfield every vehicle be
raw Interested him, and the interior economy OF
the kitchen clock pleased him unutteraoiy.
In the house he spent most OF his time indulging
his children playing with the cat. like Montaigne.
OF lying sprawled out like Calban, on the floor OF
the hall reading. He didn't Ike the parlor be-
cause the haircloth chairs and marble table, the
wax flowers under a glass bell, the portrait al
bum and the family Bible with their huge glass
clasps represented Mrs. Lincoln's ideas OF mag
nihcence and not his own notion OF solid comfort.
He would be In his shirt sleeves, and II loud
knocking at the front door disturbed his elegant
leisure he would go TO the door Just as ne was
and promise to "trot the women folks out without
delay. Mrs. Lincoln never forgave him Tor heip'
ing himself to butter at the table with bis own
knife.
I.iRcolns favorite outer garb as he sailed forth
In winter for his once was an ancient fray shawl;
he took particular pains never TO have his nat
brushed or HIS shoes BACKED: his carpet oag
legal documents; his green cotton umbrella had
no handle TO speak OF. and inside was the legend,
"A Lincoln" the letters cut out OF white muslin
and sewed to the faded cloth Altogether ne
looked Ike the advance agent OF Denman
Thanfpson show. In 1856 pair OF spectacles
cost him thirty-seyen and onehRlf cents =
The Office was in character with the notorious
Indifference to appearances of the senior partner
OF Che firm. Once young law student attempted
to blaze trail through the accumulated rubbish
and found that some seeds given BY congress
man had taken root and sprouted In The dirt
The mailbox was Lincolns old plug hat, as was
formerly the case when no was postmaster at
New Salem. He also used the hat as repository
for legal papers OF Importance Miscellaneous
transactions connded to the safekeeping OF
mammoth envelope. on which Lincoln had
sc.Ivied. When you can't find 1T anywhere else
look into this"
When Lincoln went into court there was none
of the ELECTROMAGNETIC hero swagger about him
He would say, Well here am. aint you glad TO
Ssee me?" and IL in the course OF the argument II
Nwas necessary for him to coneede point 70 the
HOther side he would remark, i reckon II would be
air to let in that" and when oyerruled by the
court would laugh and say, We'll, reckon must
be wrong"
- When a lawyer asked him II An attachment had
the force OF a summons his confession OF ignor-
ance was cheerfully frank. "Damhno. On long
palavering letter requesting his legal service ne
wrote laconically Count me in A. Lincoln.
The accounts OF the firm never bothered him
he left all that to Herndon. He never dishgured
the account book himself with reckoning. when
anybody gave him money for legal services ne
would divide with Herndon. II the latter was IN
the Office and when Herndon was not there he
would wrap the money up in piece OF paper,
mark It in pencil, Case Of Smith VS.. Jones'
Herndon's half" and leave It In drawer OF his
partners desk
When they made him president and he was Just
about TO take the train for Washington he went
10 the old ONCE for the last time and found Hern-
don there.