The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-12
A Story of Lincoln's Physical Strength.
By Elinor Marsh.

If Abraham Lincoln had lived till his
birthday falling due in February, 1916,
he would have been LOT years old
lHad he not fallen in his prime at the
hand of an assassin or been taken off
in some other unnatural way he would
doubtless have lived to great age, for
he was physically very strong man.
We may well wonder how Abraham
Lincoln endured the strain of four
years of civil war, millions of people
looking at him to bring about a resto-
ration of the Union, foreign nations
threatening TO intervene, thus insuring
the division of the country; vainly try
ing to find generals who could accom-
plish results, and constantly abused
for what was considered his misman-
agement. 1t would seem that no man
without herculean strength could live
through such an ordeal
That the physical structure of Abra-
\ ham Lincoln was equal to the require
ments is made plain by the following
story told of him many years ago by
a friend of his boyhood who was en-
ployed in the same store with Lincoln.
BILLY" said Abe one day, what
makes you bet with Enoch? You ought
to know better than to bet with a man
on his own tricks. If he didn't know
he had a sure thing he wouldn't bet"
The advice was given because this
Enoch would come into the store in
the evening ostensibly for the purpose
of loafing, but really to win small bets
by a number of tricks. One of these
was doubling up his hand so es to hide
one of his fingers. He would bet that
Billy couldn't mark that particular fin
ger. OF course Enoch always won
such bets. When Abe advised Billy
! Ito stop betting the latter told him that (
he had lost nearly dollar TO Enoch
and he didn't wish to stop till the /
money was won back,
"Will you promise me-" said Abe, /
''that you'll never bet any more if !
put you in a way to win back what
you have lost and great deal more?"
you betr' replied Billy.
How would you like a plug hat to
wear with your Sunday clothes? 1t
would set you up with the. girls
I'D like plug hat first rate, but
how am going to get one, seeing that
1t would cost me 81? 1t would take
pretty nigh weeks salary"
Il reckon | can help you to one. At
any rate, we can try the next time
Enoch comes around and wants to bet
you on his tricks. Tell him that you've
got tired betting picayune amounts,
but If he really wants to bet something
worth while you'll go him; then, If he
agrees, you offer to bet him that Abe
Lincoln can take forty gallon barrel
of whisky OFF the floor and drink out
of the bunghoIe."
"Can you do that, AbeT
Reckon 1 can. After the store
closes tonight I'll try it,
AS soon as the proprietor had gone
home for the day the two clerks shut
up the store, and there was a re-
hearsal, at which Abe convinced Billy
that he would risk nothing provided
be could get Enoch to take the bet.
The next day Enoch came into the G
store and had not been there long be-
'ore he called to Billy an offer to bet
him on some new trick that had not
Tet been demonstrated. Billy was 9
weighing out some sugar at the time K
ind said he hadn't time to do any fool
ne. But Enoeh hung around till Billy u
lad finished what he was doing. when
lie renewed his offer. Billy consented =
o talk with him and during the inter- <
lew said: y
do you know, Enoch, how strong n,
Abe Lincoln is?' m
mo, don't, but reckon he's pretty m
trong."
Il shouldn't be surprised if Abe could
1t up one of those barrels of whisky X
yer there in the corner and take a re
rink out of the bunghole" Bl