The Yale expositor., 1919-02-06

he forsOOk farming and sought a position as
clerk in country store.
Whether Lincoln ever would have been heard
of had not the Black Hawk war occurred about
year after he went to work at New Salem Snnga-
county, remains question. 1t need not
bother any one. however, because the war did
occur and Lincoln did go into it as captain of
volunteers.
This might be said TO have been the turning
point i'm his career. Up to this time he haze not
found himself. He was studying, but drifting. He
does not appear to have had any aim in life be-
yGnd the ambition to educate himself and tC sue
coed.
Lincoln afterward said that his experience in
the Black Hawk gave him greater pleasure
than anything that had occurred to him up 10
tlat time. He had no opportunity to distinguish
himself in that little conflict. but he returned 10
New Salem a man OF more public Importance than
when he left it. He started store, but ii failed.
and the debts fell upon him. He was appointed
postmaster, the first federal office he ever held
He ran for the legislature, but defeated. But
the next election he ran again. and elected
and later returned for another term.
Law and Politics.
While he keeping IA general store he began
the study of law. He once said that one of his
first books copy of the laws of Indiara
and that about all the law he knew up to
that time.
II
that Lincoln first turned his attention to the blot
vf slavery, which he began TO oppose with all his
rlght and influence. After he decided 10 retire
from the legislature he started to practice law,
having been licensed to practice in 1887. He re-
moved to Springfield where the remainder of his
days until he went to Washington as president.
were mainly spent.
In 1916 be was elected to a seat in congress,
but he declined reelection and settled down to
the practice of his profession i'm Springfield.
Lincoln spent his spare time in the store of his
friend. JGSnua Speed, which was the rendezvous
of many prominent men in that section. He was
famed for his stories and for his keenness in de-
bate. Ii in this little general store that Lin
coin first met Douglas in debate. Douglas was
regarded far and wide a little giant in debate.
and he remarked that the store was no place for
him TO debate any question with Lincoln.
BY this time Lincoln had become something of a
politician. His party the Wing. He took a
lively interest in political affairs and finally took
part on the Wing side in joint debate with the
Democrats. Lincoln was the last speaker in that
debate but his words took the deepest hold of the
spectators and added greatly to his reputation.
1t i'm Springfield that Lincoln married Mary
Todd who it is interesting TO note, was also
sought in marriage by Douglas. who thus became
L.ncoln's opponent In love well as In politics,
bat was beaten by him in both.
AS lawyer Lincoln might have appeared lazy
disked Office work and the drawing of legal pm.
pers but when a case had to be brought to the
attention of jury court Lincoln was in his
element. He a born debater and story-teller.
He knew how to get the jury in good humor and
how TO make his point to them reach home.
He had the genius for putting the human touch to
all he did, and his homely SMILES and good stories
often went further than his opponents knowledge
of the law.
Apostle Of Abolition.
But il should not be imagined that Lincoln knew
no law for that would be a mistake. He often
would sit up to the small hours of the night read
ing law and studying case while his opponents
probably would be soundy sleeping When he
went into court he master of his case, and
that goes long way toward winning verdict.
The practice of law beginning to take n
firm hold Lincoln to the exclusion OF politics
when the Missouri Compromise enacted. That
reused him, and from that time onward he was
strongly for the abolition of slavery.
His position known throughout the coun-
try for he had stumped the East for Taylor years
before. and the stories of his quiet humor and
fund of anecdote had penetrated the East, conse-
quently when IL evident to the country that
it stood on the eve of conflict between slavery
and abolition Lincoln made the nominee of
the party that was firmly intrenched on the prin-
ciple of no compromise with Shareholders He
was nominated, and was enthusiastically elected
nj the national election in 1860
He had scarcely taken his seat when the war
burst upon the country 1t was trying time, and
no one suffered under II more than did Lincoln
himself But he meant TO do his duty and, as
always had been his habit, he did 1t then although
Il was most unpleasant and most difficult.
when the war made its inroads into many
homes, Lincoln had an unpleasant duty to per-
form He sympathlzed with the mothers left at
home and did what he could for their boys at the
front He received the mothers at the White
House. talked things over with them and nearly
every one Of them left feeling that her boy had a
friend who looked after him although he was far
away in an army corps doing his duty.
Ii was this gentle character who was codIy
struck down just when the war at an end
and the country getting ready to rejoice at
the glorious news. The whole country, South as
well as North, mourned the loss, for even In the