Evening Star Newspaper, February 9, 1930, Page 101

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FEBRUARY 9, 1930. 19 W here Abraham Lincoln Began His Career as Legziv/dtor BY H. O. BISHOP. AVE you ever heard of the village of New Salem, Il.? That is the place where Abra- ham Lincoln discovered himself. Here he spent six momentous years of his life—from 1831 to 1837. During these years great dreams were un- folded, new worlds were opened, ambition was fired, and the greatest sorrow of his life came to him. Lincoln arrived at New Salem when he was a gangling country boy of 22. New Salem at that time contained not more than a hundred inhabitants. Nevertheless there were sufficient opportuni- ties in this tiny country town to enable Lin- coln to discover himself and lay the founda- tions for his subsequent matchless fame. In this little backwoods town in just a few years he rose from an unknown stranger to one of the most popular and reliable citizens in the town and county. I'l‘ was in this settlement that he met, loved and lost his first sweetheart—the lovely and gentle Ann Rutledge. It was here that he was postmaster, surveyor and storekeeper. Here he had his first experience as a candidate for a political office. ‘The Lincoln family had moved to Illinois from Indiane in 1830 and settled about 10 mies west of Decatur. Bad health had beset them for several years, and they had gone Illinois- ward in search of a healthier locality. A man named Denton Offut was responsible for Lincoln’s first view of New Salem and its people. Offut, who was a hustling young busi- ness man of that section of Illinois, was am- bitious to do a little speculating by sending a cargo of produce down to New Orleans in a flatboat and selling it to the people of that far-away metropolis. After careful inquiry he decided to employ Dennis Hanks, his young nephew; Abraham Lincoln and John D. John- ston, Lincoln’s stepbrother, to pilot the boat Hanks, however, was and loaded with a cargo of cured: meat, flour, wheat and other products of the surrounding The ecruise was most delightful until New Salem was reached. Here the young sallors struck a little*temporary hard luck. All of a sudden they found their boat stuck on the dam which had been built at this village. It was a tense situation. The bow stuck high in the air and the stern where the cargo had shifted was filled with water. the entire population of New Salem, including watch the excitement. The cargo transferred to small boats and Then a tall, raw-boned A month passed—a happy, exciting month— before the boat reached New Orleans. Here another month slipped by while Lincoln and his mates were disposing of the cargo, and inci- dentally taking in the sights of this immense town. An auction sale of slaves was witnessed by Lincoln for the first time in his life. He was deeply impressed with the sadness and roughness of the proceeding. When leaving the scene he said to his companions, “If I ever get a chance to hit that thing I'll hit it hard.” Onunnt«umtflpunoolnstoppedoflm Coles County, Illinois, to make a little visit with his father and stepmother. This step- mother, by the way, loved young Lincoln as a real son, and was of great help and encour- agement to him. In the latter part of July, 1831, he started for New Salem, where he had contracted to clerk in a store that was to be started by his friend Offut. While putting in time around the town waiting for construction work on the store building to get under way an incident happened that started Lincoln on his career of popularity. On election day, early August, Mentor Graham, the school teacher, Lincoln if he could write. “I can make few rabbit tracks,” he smilingly replied. He as asked to keep tally, the regular clerk hav- ing failed to put in an appearance. Now and then, when there was a lull in the voting, Lincoln regaled his companions on the elec- tion board with amusing tales of his past ex- periences, and thus won new friendships. The fact that he possessed sufficient ‘learning” to officiatc at an election attracted the attention of substantial citizens From this time on Lincoln was a regular New Salemite. He was “one of them.” He helped Offut build his new log store and as- sisted in putting the goods on display. William Green, “a likely lad of 18 years,” was made assistant clerk to Lincoln. He knew the finan- cial standing of the countryside and could tell Lincoln whether to trust or ask cash, Offut soon learned that Lincoln was abso- lutely reliable in every sense of the word. He became so proud of his clerk that he mot only bragged about his business ability, but, unknown to Lincoln, made a bet with William Clary that his man could outrun, outlift and outwrestle any man in the community. Jack Armstrong, champion wrestler of Clary’s Grove, was selected to throw Lincoln. At first Lincoln objected to any such arrangement. This sort of thing was repugnant to him. But Pretty mucl\ During the Six Years He Spent at New Salem, 1ll., the Youthful Abe, Then in His Twenties, Rose From an Unknown Stranger to One of the Most Popular Citizens in the Town and County. when he realized that he would be considered & coward if he refused to wrestle, he reluctantly consented. The match was staged near the Offut store. Practically every man and boy for miles around was present. There was consid- erable betting, including. jack-knives, cheese and crackers and small sums of cash. When Arm- strong found that he could not work his usual tricks on the long-armed Lincoln he lost his temper and tried to sink his heel into his opponent’s instep. Naturally this aroused the ire of the young backwoodsman, and with light- ning rapidity he grabbed Armstrong and threw him heavily on his back. Armstrong and his friends were stunned with surprise. They could hardly believe their eyes. Jumping to his feet, Armstrong extended his hand and publicly an- nounced that Lincoln was the best man “in the hull State of Illinoy.” Abe thereafter was the hero of the Clary Grove boys. He was their friend and adviser and was appealed to to decide all their disputes. FINDING that he had considerable spare time at the Offut store, Lincoln resolved to im- prove his mind. He was particularly anxious to improve his English and made inquiries for & grammar. His new acquaintance, Mentor Graham, the schoolmaster, told of a fellow named John Vance who owned such a book. Vance lived six miles out in the country. But a little jaunt like that meant nothing to Lincoin. It was just like walking around the block to a man of today. Lincoln walked out to see Vance, and either borrowed or bought his grammar, At any rate, he had it under his arm when he returned. He then put his whole heart and soul in the task of mastering its contents. He worked on it early in the morn- ing, during the day and far into the night. Young Green, his fellow clerk, would hold the book and read the questions to see whether Abe could give the correct answers. The answer to one of them was the following definition of a phrase: “A phrase is an assemblage of words, not constituting an entire proposition, but per- forming a distinct office in the structure of a sentence or of another phrase.” Every little while he would call upon his friend Graham The Man of the Ages. Abraham Lincoln As He Appeared in 1858. Etching by Otto Schneider From an Ambrotype. to explain certain propositions. During this period he also tackled mathematics, often work- ing the greater portion of the night over some knotty problem. In the Winter of 1832 a debating club was organized at New Salem. Lincoln was invited to become a member. His initial effort as a debater has been described as follows: “As he rose to speak, his 8all form towered above the little assembly. Both hands were thrust down deep into the pockets of his pantaloons. A perceptible smile at once lit up the faces of the audience, for all anticipated the relation of some humorous story, but he opened up the discussion in splendid style, to the infinite astonishment of his friends., As he warmed to his subject his hands would forsake his pock- ets and would enforce his ideas by awkward gestures, but would soon again seek their rest- ing place. He pursued the question with reason and argument so pithy and forcibly that all were amazed. The president of the society, at his fireside after the meeting, remarked to his wife that there was more than wit and fun in Abe’s head; that he was already a fine speaker; that all he lacked was culture to enable him to reach the high destiny that he knew was in store for him. From that time the president took a deep interest in him.” Lincoln’s friends, in February, 1832, urged him to announce himself as a candidate for the Legislature, In March he had some hand- bills “struck off” setting forth his platform, the concluding paragraph being: “Every man is said to have his peculiar ambi- tion. Whether it be true or not, I can say for one that I have no other so great as that of being truly esteemed by my fellow men by ren- dering myself worthy of their esteem. How far I shall succeed in gratifying this ambition is yet to be developed. I am young and un- known to many of you. I was born, and have ever remained, in the most humble walks of life. I have no wealth or popular relations or friends to recommend me. My case is thrown exclusively upon the independent voters of the country; and, if elected, they will have con- ferred a favor upon me for which I shall be unremitting in my labors to compensate. But if the good people in their wisdom shall see fit to keep me in the background, I have been too familiar with disappointments to be very much chagrined.” . IN the meantime the Offut store, as Lincoin expressed it, “petered out,” and he was out of a job. It looked as though he had reached a turning point in his carcer. He was trying to decide whether it would be best to remain in New Salem and make a living at odd jobs or to strike out for a more promising field. The question was decided for him in a most unexpected manner. A messenger from the governor posted handbills in New Salem asking for volunteers for the war against Black Hawk. Lincoln was the first to voluntesr his services, and he was made captain of the local com- pany. He served in that capacity from April 21, 1832, until May 27, 1832, th= end of the term of enlistment, when he immediately rg- enlisted as a private for 20 days. He was finally mustered out at Whitewater, Wis., July 10, 1832, On account of his horse having bzen stolen Lincoln was obliged to walk from there to Peoria, from which place he paddled down the Illinois River to Havana in a canoe, and then “hoofed it” across the country through the woods and ficlds to New Salem. Upon reaching home he resumed his cam- paign for the Legislature. His opponent was Rev. Peter Cartwright, a Methodist preacher. Lincoln was defeated, but his vote in and around New Salem was remarkable. He re- ceived 277 of the 290 votes cast. He was greatly encouraged by this showing and decided to try his political fortunes at anoth:r time. In the meantime it was necessary to get a job. He took advantage of an opportunity to go into partnership in the grocery business with Wil liam F. Berry, under the firm name of Berry & Lineoln. Lincoin had no monsy to put into the enterprise, but gave his note in payment of his share. This venture into the mercantile field did not pan out profitably. Berry be- came entirely too much interested in liquor to suit Lincoln, and he therefore sold out his in- terest to the senior member of the firm, taking Borry's notes in payment. Thes: notes were never paid. When he returned from the Black Hawk War, Lincoin began boarding at the Rutledge Hotel, ‘The proprietor had a daughter named Ann, She had beautiful blue eyes, fair complexion, light golden hair and a dainty figure. She wks 18 when Lincoln first saw her standing on the bank of the river when his flatboat stuck en On May 7, 1833, Lincoin was appointed post- New Salem and held the office as He would often walk sev- & letter that he kmew ily was anxiously expecting. As post- Lincoln not help but observe that Ann’s promised husband. After several months of silence Ann and her P to doubt his sincerity. the bank of the river. After that little con- versation they were frequently seen together. They met at church, at the town pump and various other places. They roamed through the grassy fields and along the tree-fringed river. Ann’s brother urged her to marry Lincoln. Ann, however, was anxious to obtain a little more education and decided to spend a year in school. In the meantime Lincoln was to do was, perhaps, the happiest period of Lincoln’s entire life. The salary from the postmastership was not nt to pay Lincoln’s board. It was neces- e work on the side. There wsis ne in his body. He split rails, gristmill and sawmill, harvested studied day and night and was almost a phys- ical wreck at the end of that time. Who wouldn't work day and night for a girl like Ann Rutledge? Lincoln somehow managed to obtain a compass, but at first couid not afford a chain. This lack was overcome through the use of a carefully measured grapevine. Two deerskins were received in payment fer his first job of surveying. These were sewed on his pants by a kindly neighbor. They made a fine protection against briars and brush through which he made his way while survey- Continued on Twenty-third Page