Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-02
Lincoln Melancholy Humorist Was Known for Keen Wit

presidency possible. Lincoln gleefully
described his position on the Demo
cratic fight by reference to the happy
impartiality Of the frontier wife-"Go
to it, husband; go it. bear" Every
body knew that story, and it was
very pat illustration. The more Buch-
anan set the Illinois poStmasters to
knitting Douglas. and the more Doug
| las had to say denouncing James Blu
chanan and all his works, the better
were Lincoln's chances. Let the fight
be a merry one, and he would enjoy it:
Go to it, husband; go 1t, bear!'
A few days before the election OF
| 1885, when Lincoln was q candidate for
| reelection to the Legislature, he rode
over to Springfield and made speech
No Arrangement had been made for a
reply, and the crowd was dispensing
when George Forquer assembled the
platform and made answer. Forquer
was q well known man who had long
been q Wing, but had become Demo-
crat, and Immediately been appointed
| flee, he had erected neat frame build
| ing, the best residence in Springfield,
and had placed upon 1t a lightning
rod. Lincoln had seen the rod that
day and 1t was the first one he had
ever seen. It was the sight Of that very
rod which led him to make some study
of electricity.
Forquer assumed rather high and
mighty tone, and referred to Lincoln
as a young man who was in need of
taking down, and Forquer had no
doubt of his call and ability to take
him down.
OF course Lincoln had his rejoinder,
and the crowd was eager to hear him.
He said.
1.-THE gentleman has seen At to al
lude to my being a young man; I am
older in years than am in the tricks
live, and I desire place and distinction,
but would rather die now than, like
the gentleman, live to see the day when
I would change my politics for an Of
flee worth $4,000 year, and then feel
compelled to erect lightning rod to
protect a guilty conscience from an
offended God"
THERE Is that story OF Ben Wade
coming to see Lincoln and bewan
the way the war was going. Certainly
it was going badly enough. Senator"
said Lincoln, you remind me Of
little story" "Story, story!" roared
Wade. "Mr. President, the country is
going to hell; you and your admins
tratton are not more than mile from
hell this ninutel" Senator" asked
Lincoln, isn't that Just about the dis
lance from here to the Capitol?"
Then there is the one In which Lin
coin discussed Fremont at the time
the latter was coming out as a candi-
date against him in 1854; he was like
Jim Jets little brother, of whom Jim
said that while he was the greatest ras-
cal in creation. he was providentially
harmless, because he was also the
greatest fool"
When Burnside went into East Ten
nessee on military expedition which
Lincoln highly approved, for the re-
lief and protection of the loyal people
there, and as John Hay said proved
worthless and incompetent, and there
came news Of his repulse before Knox
vile, Lincoln was reminded Of Sally
Carter who, when one Of her children
got hurt and sent out q terrifying yell,
said, "One Of my young ones; not dead
yet, thank the Lord"
Lincoln's fun was never more IN evil
dence than when he was disposed to be
| conf1dent1al. When Sherman disap-
peared in Georgia and the whole Ma
sA~AA W0AASN0 W A4AOH W14CIC 4lC WIS gu
ing and what were his plans, and an
anxious official called to inquire of Mr..
Lincoln, the President led him to the
door, and in a low tone inquired
Would you really like to know where
Gen. Sherman is just now?" The Wis
1tor Signifled his eagerneSS to be told:
well, I'll be hanged If wouldn't like
to know myself" said Lincoln.
When people whose hogs had been
stolen or fences burned or slaves run
away came to Lincoln with their tales
| Of woe, he liked to tell the story of
the steamboat going through the rap
| Ids, and the little boy running to the
captain and demanding that he should
stop the boat because the boy had lost
an apple overheard.
Among wartime pests are the self
appointed men who want to open I'M
official negotiations with the enemy
looking toward peace. In that fashion
Nicholas TriSt made himself immortal
at the end of the Mexican war. and
greatly embarrassed the United States
Government. Horace Greeley did the
same during the Civil War. But there
were hundreds of men obSeSSed with
the idea that If they could get to Rich
mond and see Jefferson Davis they
could bring back terms of peace.
These people were continually both
ering Lincoln and asking for passes to
Richmond. MY dear sir" said Lincoln,
7 have issued passes to hundred and