The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-02-06

1t was his sense of humor that enabled him 70
bear poverty lightly. Elegant surroundings did
not appeal to him; he content in the log
cabin where he born as in the White House
The plainest suite pleased his tastes. Greediness
of wealth was wholly unknown to him; II ne was
greedy about anything it was knowledge and moth
ing more. The following story is told about him
and well proves this point He was asked TO give
a lecture in the Illinois college for the library
fund. When the lecture over and the people
passed out he went up to the librarian and SAID
81 notice that there not many listeners mere
tonight I don't think we made much on this lee
ture" In reply the official said: When we pay
for the rent of the hail. music and advertising and
your compensation there will not be much LETT lot
the library" Mr.. Lincoln replied: We'll Doys'
be hopeful; pay me my railroad fare and the nIty
cents that my supper cost and you can nave
the rest"
This joviality was largely because he felt the
sorrows and hardships that come to most men
and women, and he did everything in his power
to tighten their burden AS he said to a friend;
when I am dead wish my friends to remember
that always pluck thorn and plant rose when
possible"
He was beloved by thousands and thousands of
people. Many who believed in slavery appreciated
the grand character of the And it vas his
strong and courageous personality that converted
thousands of to believe that slavery was
wrong. But one loved him so well as the col
ored people, his words always their lips.
An old colored said at meeting IN
South Carolina: ''Brederin', you don't know nosen
what you'se ta1kin about. Now you just listen to
me. Massa Linkin he's everywhere He know
eberyting. He walk de earf like de Lord"
When his soul was most troubled he would try
and ease himself by a joke. There was much
sadness in his makeup that he found this the best
safety-valve.
, This sense of humor gave him wonderful faith
and courage. He was one of the last to advocate
drastic measures in deciding the slave question.
But when begun he never gave up hope.
There were times when situations looked
tremely dark, he could not clearly which way
was the best, but when his reason failed him his
sublime faith guided him right. He believed that
God would be the side of the just and the right
The Hon. George Curtis tells this story, which
shows the mans sublime faith:
Zone day called the president with repre-
sentative from congress Mr.. Lincoln received
in his Office, the large room on the second floor.
He dressed in black and slippers. On
a table at his side maps and plans Of the
seat Of war, and pins with blue and gray heads
representing the positions Of the soldiers both
sides.
when we arose to leave ne shook my hand with
paternal kindness and said good-by with paternal
kindness and evident proud conviction. We shall
beat them, my son; shall beat them. But the
air and tone with which he said the words were so
free from any unworthy feeling that the most
resolute and confident of his opponents would have
been deeply impressed" He believed in prayer he
believed it eased the troubled mind and soul, and
changed failure to success as much as does
healthy sense Of hun1or. One day General Sickles
called him and asked the president If he had
not been anxious during the battle of Gettysburg?'
The president thought some minutes and then
answered. Eyes, but I did not give up my faith.
1 went into my room day and locked the door
and got down my knees and prayed to him
nightly for victory at Gettysburg I told him
it was his war and our cause his cause, but that
Fredericksburg Charlottesville could not hold
another day. And then I made solemn VOW
to Almighty God that if he would stand by our
boys at Gettysburg I would stand by him, and he
did, and I will"
It this faith ia God and in all his children
that made Lincoln work, struggle and die tO-free
the slaves. As he once told friend, when he
was making trip from Louisville to St Louis by
boat there was a dozen slaves on board shackIed
together with irons, they could not get away.
He explained 81 knew that this was all wrong.
God had never intended that any Of his children
should be shackled, and 1 knew the time would
come when I should be given part in freeing
them"
These stories and humorous incidents help to
anaIyze character that might otherwise seem
strange and Inconsistent Lincoln loved his Crea-
tor and humanity He believed that with patience
all things turned out right in the end, and that
with hunor and love the trials and hardships be
come easier and far more bearabIe