The Glenwood post., 1922-04-06

clared that ne was going to fight him.
Lincoln heard Of this and said IN
his speech:
"I shall not fight with Judge Doug
las. A fight could prove nothing at
issue in this campaign. 1t might prove
that he Is more muscular man than
l, or that I am more muscular man
than he, but this subject is not men
toned in either platform. Again, he
and are really very good friends and
when we are together he would no
more think Of fighting me than Of
fighting his wife. Therefore, when the
Judge talked about fighting, he was
not giving vent to any Ill feeling, but
was trying to excite-well, let us say.
enthusiasm against me on the part of
his audience"
Justice accomplished her ends now
and then with comic displays of vio-
lence in the prairie capital. One night
Abe Lincoln and certain Of his friends
captured n shoemaker who had beaten
his wife and held him at the village
pump while the aggrieved woman gave
him a sound thrashing. So this phase
of imperialism was cured in Spring
field by chair of the same dog" as
Lincoln put 1t.
One evening" while &. D. Baker was
speaking in the crowded village court
room above Lincoln's office and was
rudely interrupted and In danger of
assault, the long legs Of Honest Abe
suddenly appeared through scuttle
hole in the ceiling above the platform.
He leaped upon 1t and selling a stone
water pitcher defied any one to inter-
fere with the right Of free speech In
a worthy cause.
So it will be seen that there were
zestful moments in these sundry vindi-
cations Of the principles of Democracy
in the prairie capital.
About this time Miss Mary Todd, the
daughter Of a Kentucky banker, ar
rived in Springfield to visit her sister,
Mrs. Ninian W. Edwards. She was a
fashionably dressed, good-looking girl
of blue-gray eyes and dark hair.
"Well, Mary, haven't you found tho
fortunate young man yetT' Mr.. Ed
wards playfully asked the day Of her
coming.
"You know, my husband Is going
to be President Of the United States
and I hoped that l would find him in
Springfield" Mary answered In a like
vein.
There's great fishing here" said
Mr.. Edwards. II know the very man
you are looking for He has come up
from the ranks and Ia now the most
popular member Of the legislature. He
can make stirring speech and they
say he is going to be the President of
the United States. He's wise and
witty and straight as a string, but
rough diamond-big, awkward and
homely. You're Just the girl to take
him in hand and give him little pol
ish and push him along. His name is
Abraham Lincoln"
Speed knew the Todds. When he
called upon Mary she asked about Mr..
Lincoln and said she would like to
meet him.
"She's just the girl for you, Abe"
Speed said to him that evening. "She
Is bright and well educated and her
family has influence. She could be
great help to you"
This interested the member from
Sangamon county, who was indeed
eager to get along. The companionship
Of refined young lady was the very
thing he needed.
Let's 60 over and pay our respects
to her." Speed suggested. They went.
Lincoln being carefully dressed in hiF
first suit Of black clothes. Miss Todd
was a bright, vivacious girl Of middle
stature, twenty-five years old. She
was fashiooably dressed and carried
her head proudly smart-looxIng,
witty. wen spoken girl, but not espe-
cially handsome. Honest Abe was