Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-02-02
lincoIn's Keen Sense
Of Humor Endeared
Him to Countrymen

This b a tribute TO Abraham Lin
coins sense Of humor. Because he
was great American, Americans hon
or his memory each year by observing
his birthday as q legal holiday. Be
cause he was one Of Its greatest Pres
fdenta the country has preserved his
name and his fame by erecting an i'm
posing memorial In the national capt.
enL writes Marjorie Elaine Porter in
ne Detroit News.
Bfeause he was intellectually great,
De work of his pen still lives In our
edueutional institutions, where his
speeches are studied as examples of
The 6uest and purest of English prose.
Because of his undying patriotism, he
Il r9Sered because Of his noble man.
hood. be Is respected; because of his
rexnarkable attainmelts. he Is adj
nirod: but because of his sense of
huunof. he is beloved. and endeared
% the hearts of his countrymen as a
man, who with all his greatness was
huupn enough to tell a good joke or
70 laugh at one.
Indeed Lincoln could tell good jokes,
Xx0 NC Stciiitt w nave dH iiA~A-'t'NSN
lbIe suppy Mt his command. There
afe volumes of them now published
which prove amusing and profitable
reading matter. But Lincoln's Jokes"
ccnsfsted Of more than mere comedy.
They were generally told for some pur-
pose-fo clinch an argument, prove
Hnfement. or point out moral
nhann1n<s In, HE Lur1nr
II many a trying crisis he showed
h1nNeR to be master of the situation
By relating some humorous anecdote
thst helped to carry his point and
irving sentiment in favor Of the cause
be esp0used Under the stress of emo
don or excitement, he relieved the
strain Of his nerves by giving vent to
his Irresistible sense Of humor In
telling some funny story. When he
was waiting for the returns from the
Republican convention In Chicago in
1850. he was under great nervous ten
sion, but he amused himself and en-
tertained the staff OF the Springfield
Journal by telling one good one after
another. until he received the telegram
announcing his nomination.
There was never time. his biog
raphers claim. when Abe Lincoln was
too gKve or TOO melancholy to fail |
70 see The humor Of situation. Even |
at times when he seemed most care !
worn, and weighed down by the great |
problems and responsibilities with
which he was struggling. he would sud +
denly chnckle to himself. twinkle (
I'M. 1T h
~reminded' of some anecdete that ap-
Piled to the case in question.
Had to Laugh Occasionally.
On one occasion ii is told of how
very sad and solemn member of
congress paid visit to President Lin
coin at the White House during one
Of the darkest periods of the Civil
war. The member seeme, deeply de-
pressed So lid the President. who
nevertheless found his sense of humor
suficienty active 10 think Of n funny
story. lie hogan 70 tell II when he
WAS Interrupted by the member. who
aaid he was there on important nation
a business and not TO hear funny
stories.
Mr.. Lincoln. II is recorded. looked
mi. the twinkle departed from his
49, but he mofi0ned fie member a.
&eair. and said. "Sif down sit down
Jet me explain. | have the very
hesf respect for yOu. G9d regsrd
- much less then your own, ! guess,
- the nation at large; bur n ! didn't
~ chance 90 laugh sometimes "a
H. IN my tracks. ! can be Ms SER.
es you ars. but not oil the time
4 4eb reminds me-" and lie con.
3 ped with the story he had begun
X mere were Others. too, who did
Z seem 10 understand tlaf f.inoolns
~ bumor was noi only . strong
plant for Mn in times ~ stress
'Nn' y Nnf Hlso p powerful weapon
"h'ch he aiiaoled MS enemies
~ '''rNNed DIE nnnse On ono ooce
- NlfN a mnl0r nlln VAS calling
~ ve prsf0u NIl fn sUm W
go lainr'fi 'N0r Nf plpfifm
n 'f fN' W 1'F uYi snr|fa' NIn
Fl .'Hf nrHH. n IW "mulr
lfmH fHnim lt REPUTATION
fNN ifi PA mIlNs
h Hfu nfi p rHneH
Il Nh'r ( I|N lIN lN0n'W nu0 f
4 |E NH Ie b
A NI'N IH IN N All .N.a|