Putnam patriot., 1925-02-06
LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY
 COMES NEXT THURSDAY
Pupils In Five Schools In Lin. coin Essay Contests For
 Medals
Some Short Anecdotes of the Martyr
 President

Next week Thursday Is Lincoln's birthday Pupils in the Putnam High school, Tourtellotte Memorial High school, Woodstock Academy. Pomfret School and the Howe-Marot School, have entered a contest in writing es- says on Abraham Lincoln. In each school is a separate contest, the prize being a bronze medal given by the Illinois Watch Company of Spring field, H.. the home of Lincoln. which will be awarded the pupil in each school writing the best essay through l. L. Prince & Sons, jewellers, Put nam.
 The essay contest has been sue eessfully tried in former years. l. has been an incentive to the pupils of the school in this corner of the state Co read the various biographies of the greatly beloved martyr president This concentrated reading to be used in reproducing the desired essay will have 8 lasting effect in the minds of the pupils.
 4 number of short interesting anecdotes of President Lincoln have been prepared a few of them follow ing:
 They Said He Was Crazy
 Lincoln acquired much of hisi knowledge of the law by reading borrowed books under an old oak tree near Old Salem. Day after day and week after week he sat in the shade of this tree and moved as the sun shifted the shadows. One historian says that he was SO much absorbed that some people thought and said he was crazy.
 "i Never Drink"
 As captain in the Black Hawk war. Lincoln regaled his soldiers with stories and jests. He reeounted his adventures in Kentucky and Indiana and brought Aesop's fables down to date. Frequently his pleased auditors pressed their whiskey jug to him. but his inyariable reply was, thank you, l never drink"
 His First Dollar
 Lincoln was seventeen years old when he earned his first dollar. For several months in 1926 he was 6 ferryman on Anderson Creek at it's Union with the Ohio river. He took two passengers and their baggaEe to a steamer in the middle of the Ohio and received one dollar for the service. Telling a few friends about f in the White House. Lincoln said, '-f could scarcely credit that. |, a poor boy. had earned a dollar. The world seemed wider and fairer before me"
 For Eight Dollars a Month
 When he was nineteen years old Lincoln became a hired hand on il river boat transporting produce from Geatryville, Indiana, Go New Orleans His compensation was eight dollars d month and his passage home.
 Not Fit For the Presidency
 Early in 1860, Lincoln was often mentioned for the Republican nomi- nation for president. Though he was classed with Seward, Chase, Mclean and other celebrates. any pride he felt in the association was artfully concealed. To one man who pro- posed it, he wrote: 'l beg you will not give it further mention. Seriously l do not thing l am it for the presi- dency."
 The Ugliest Man
 Lincoln related this story: "One day. riding on the circuit, l was ae- costed by a stranger, who said, "ex- cuse me. sir. but l have an article in my possession which belongs to you" Lincoln wanted to know how that was. Then he continued; the stranger took jack-knife from his pocket" this knife" said he. twas placed in my hands sometime ago, with the injunction that was to keep it until l found a man uglier than myself Allow me tO say, sir. that think you are fairly entitled to the property
 This story frequently is related to illustrate Lineoln's appreciation of a joke, even when 1t was upon himself.