Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-11

TN LIVING words Robert q. lngersou spoke
i of Abraham Lincoln: Strange mlngling
OF mirth and tears, of the tragic and gro
tesque, of cap and crown, of Socrates and
Rabelais, of Aesop and Marcus Aurelus of
all that is gentle and just, humorous and
honest, merciful, wise, laughable, lovable and
divine, and all consecrated to the use of man;
while through all, and over all, an over
whelming sense of obligation, of chivalric
loyalty to truth, and upon all the shadow of
tragic end"
We cannot look upon great man, however
imperfectly. said Carlyle, without gaining
something thereby. In the hundreds of anec-
dotes that have been told of Abraham Lin
coin we may find something of the great
mans nature and golden worth. Even those
which have been most frequently repeated
are still profitable. The few stories which
follow do not comprehend the whole man
but who, indeed, may compass his many
sided personality?
An Unfettered Lawyer.
Lincoln the lawyer was known for more
than his displays of rough and ready wit.
Says Doctor Oberholtzer, in his excellent
biography:
In cases where wrong and injustice had
been committed upon the clients whom he
represented his notes covering that portion
Of his argument were brief: Skin the de-
fendant He was a master of the flercest
invective when aroused and il he could once
rid a case of it's technicalites he and his
clients never feared the result. He could sway
a jury at will when his heart was in his work.
A lawyer who accompanied him on the cir
cult has related that Lincoln could take
greater liberties with the Court and still keep
within the bounds OF orderly procedure than
any one else then pleading at the Illinois bar,
and this was largely because of his deep sense
OF justice and his ceverness in the use of
apt and humorous anecdote.
I'm the law, as In every field he ever
entered, Lincoln was original and unfettered
by the conventions of the world To man
who entered the Office of his firm in Spring
field one day to state his case, Lincoln made
this memorable reply:
"'Yes, we can doubtless gain your case for
you; we can set whole neighborhood at log
gerheads; we can distress a widowed mother
and her six fatherless children and thereby
get for you six hundred dollars to which
you seem to have legal claim, but which
rightfully belongs. 1t seems to me, as much
to the woman and her children as it does to
you. You must remember that some things
legally right are not morally right. We shall
not take your case, but will give you a little
advice for which we will charge you nothing
You seem to be a sprightly, energetic man
we would advise you to try your hand at
making six hundred dollars in some other
way"
A Rivalry in Height
Many stories are told to illustrate the
unconventional democracy of Lincoln. The
experience of Joshua Douglas. lawyer OF
Meadeville in this State, will serve as we'll
any. Idr. Douglas had business in Wash
ington and while there he went to the White
House to pay his respects. He entered the
Presidents once, where Mr. Lincoln was
busy at a desk, Mr. Douglas was a man as
remarkable Lincoln for his height Mr.
Lincoln looked up after few moments and
saw the stranger.
'Who let you in here?" he demanded with
a fine show of indignation. 81 never let any
man come in here who is taller than I am"
Then with a smile he arose, held out his
hand, and asked, How tall are YOU any-
way7 Let's measure"
So the two stood back to back, ana another
caller acted as judge and decided that the
two men were ef the same height.
II would not have believed IT," ehuckled
the President "Well, how are you, any
way. and how did you grow so big7" ana
they sat down ana had a pleasant chat
together.
He was equally unceremonious when he
came upon George Bancroft at a reception
at the white House. He seized Baneroft's
hand in one OF his and waved the other high
in the air and shouted;
NOW. don't tell me who you are. / know
you, History-Ameriean history Bancroft
George Bancroft That's who you are
George Bancroft, author Of the History Of
America" and be beamed With delight. while
he sussls afeahd him gheuiss Win laughter