WHAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS LIKE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1527, 7 April 1887, Page 2

WHAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS LIKE.

By far the most interesting contribution to a recent "Century " is the continuation of Abraham Lincoln's life, which is accompanied by many beautiful cuts and facsimiles. . There are, for instance, a drawing from a cast of his head, pages from his exercise books, his marriage bond, and specimens from his "field" (survey) book. What sort of a young man the groat President was may be gathered from this short extract :•—

There seemed to be no limit to his popularity nor to his aptitudes, m the opinion of his admirers He was continually called on to serve m the most incongruous capacities. Old residents say he was the best judge at a horserace the country afforded; he was occasionally second m a duel of fisticuffs, though be usually contrived to reconcile the adver saries on the turf before any damage was done ; he was the arbiter on all controverted points of literature, science, or woodcraft His native tact and humour were invaluable m his work as a peace* maker, nnd his enormous physical strength, which he always used with a magnanimity rare among giants, placed his off- hand decrees beyond the reach of oontemptuotiß question. He composed differences among friends and equals with good-natured raillery, but he was as rough as need be when his wrath was roused by meanness and cruelty. We hardly know whether to credit Borne of tho stories, apparently well at tested by living witnesses, of hia prodigious muacular powers. He m said to have lift*- j at Butledgo'a mill, a box oE stones* we i«l' ing over half a ton. It is also rela \. ed fa he could raise a barrel o* xvhiak from thft ground and drink from the bung j but the narrator adds Vuat he never swallowed tho whisky..