of the truth.-A meek, quiet, unobtrusive gentleman.-His humanity.-Will power.-Want of interest in local affairs and small things.-Love for his friends.-The combination of characteristics. His intense devotion to the truth.-His weak points. Cool and masterly power of statement.- Simplicity and candor; easy of approach and thoroughly democratic. His presence a charm, and his conversation a sweet recollection.-A leader of the people.-Strong with the masses. A conservative statesman.-The central figure Lincoln's Views on the Rights of Suffrage The Burial of the Assassin Booth LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. VOL. II. Lincoln during the debate with Douglas, 1858 . Hall of Representatives, State-House, Springfield The Lincoln residence, Springfield Extract from letter to Kansas delegate, March 10, 1860 Springfield Passenger Station, Great Western Railway Ford's Theatre, Washington The Petersen House, Washington . The St. Gaudens Statue of Lincoln The Lincoln Monument in Springfield THE LIFE OF LINCOLN. CHAPTER I. A LAW office is a dull, dry place so far as pleasurable or interesting incidents are concerned. If one is in search of stories of fraud, deceit, cruelty, broken promises, blasted homes, there is no better place to learn them than a law office. But to the majority of persons these painful recitals are anything but attractive, and it is well perhaps that it should be so. In the office, as in the court room, Lincoln, when discussing any point, was never arbitrary or insinuating. He was deferential, cool, patient, and respectful. When he reached the office, about nine o'clock in the morning, the first thing he did was to pick up a newspaper, spread himself out on an old sofa, one leg on a chair, and read aloud, much to my discomfort. Singularly enough Lincoln never read any other way but aloud. This habit used to annoy me almost beyond the point of endurance. I once asked him why he did so. This was his explanation: "When I read aloud two senses catch the idea: first, I see what I read; second, I hear it, and therefore I can remember it better." He never studied law books unless a case was on hand for consideration-never followed up the decisions of the supreme courts, as other lawyers did. It seemed as if he depended for |