The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1922-04-20

ne ol0s n 0et1cne0 minute was 10
him Q thing to be filled with value.
Yet there were few men 20 deeply In
love with fun. He loved to laugh at
storytelling and to match his hu.
NOR with Thompson Campbell II.
nous raconteur-and to play with
children. Fun was ~ necessary to-
him ~ sleep. He searched for It In
people and in books. n
He came often to 8amson's house
to play with "Ar. Nimbfe'' and to talk
with Joe. Some Of his best thoughts
came when be was talking with Joe
and some Of his merriest moments
when he was playing with 'Nr. MIN.
ble." He confessed that It was the
latter that reminded him that he had
better be looking for wife.
Blt Lincoln was only one Of Taany
remarkable personalities In Springfield
who had discovered themselves and
were seeking to be discovered. Sun.
dry individuals were lifting their heads
above the crowd. but not with the
modesty and self-distrust Of Honest
Abe. "Steve" Douglas, whom Samson
had referred to as that little rooster
Of 4 man." put on the stills Of brave
and ponderous vigor. His hve-foot
stature and his hundred pounds ct
weight did not nt tie part u Achilles.
But he would have no other. He blus-
tered much with spear too heavy for
his hands. Lincoln used to call him
kind Of popgun.
This free-for-all 3oust Of Individual
ism-one Of the arst fruits Of freedom
In the West-gave to the life Of the lit
tie village 4 rich flavor Of. comedy.
The great talents Of Douglas had not
been developed. His character was ~
yet shifty and shapeless. Some. Of
the leading citizens openly distrusted
him. Lincoln never liked thfs little
man, In opposing whom he was to
come to the fulness Of his power on
the platform. 1t 10 evident that Lin
coin regarded him ~ an able advocate
Of small sincerity looking chiefly fos
personal advancement.
There 10 . passage In the diary
which illustrates the character Of Don.
glas and Lincoin's knowledge Of 1t.
The passage relates to . day In the
famous debates Of 1858. Lincoln had
not reached Havana in time to hear
the speech Of his opponent. A great
crowd had come BY train and in
wagons. Taking advantage Of his sb-
sence. Douglas had called Lincoln -
liar, q coward and q sneak" and de-
ciared that he was going to fight him.
Lincoln heard Of this and said In
his speech:
II shall not fight With Judge Doug
las. A night could prove nothing At
issue In this campaign. II might prove
that he 10 Q more muscular man than
I. OF that I am q more muscular man
than he. bat this subject II not men,
toned in either platform. Again. he
and I are really vsfy good friends and
when We are together he would no
more think Of fighting me than Of
Ashting his wife. Therefore. when the
Judge talked about fighting, he was
not giving vent to any m feeling, but
was trying to excits-well. let us say.
eOtnuBlu8m oBub04t INC on tue part Vi
his audience"
Justice accomplished her ends now
sad then with comic displays Of vio-
lsnce in the prairie capital. One night
Abe Lincoln and certain Of his friends
captured q shoemaker who had beaten
his wife and held him at the village
pupp while the agxrieved woman gave
him q sound thrashing. So this phase
Of imperialism was cured in Spring.
Geld By hair OF the same dog" ~
Lincoln put II.
One evening. while Z. D. Baker was
speaking In the crowded village court.
roam above Lincela's once and was
raAsly interrupted and In danger Of
assault. TIE long legs Of Honest Abe
suddsnly appeared through q scuttle
hole In the ceiling above the platform.
He lsaped upon Il and seising q stone
water pitcher dehed any one to inter
tsss With the right II free speech IN
Q worthy cause.
30 Il will b seen that there were
ssstful moments In these sundry vindi.
cations Of the principles Of Democracy
II The prairie capital.
CTo BE CONTINUITY