Lincolns Inaugurals, Addresses and Letters | Page 2

The boy Lincoln not only
read books, he made copious extracts from them, often using a smooth
shingle in the absence of paper and depending upon the uncertain light
of the log fire in his father's cabin. Such use of books makes for
intellectual growth, and much of Lincoln's later success as a writer can
be referred back to this careful method of reading.
Lincoln's later reading shows considerable variety within certain limits.
He himself once remarked that he liked "little sad songs." Among, his
special favorites in this class of poetry were "Ben Bolt," "The Lament
of the Irish Emigrant," Holmes' "The Last Leaf," and Charles Mackay's
"The Enquiry." The poem from which he most frequently quoted and
which seems to have impressed him most was, "Oh, Why Should the
Spirit of Mortal be Proud?" His own marked tendency to melancholy,
which is reflected in his face, seemed to respond to appeals of this sort.
Among his favorite poets besides Shakespeare were Burns, Longfellow,
Hood, and Lowell. Many of the poems in his personal anthology were
picked from the poets' corner of newspapers, and it was in this way that
he became acquainted with Longfellow. Lincoln was especially fond of
humorous writings, both in prose and verse, a taste that is closely
connected with his lifelong fondness for funny stories. His favorite
humorous writer during the presidential period was Petroleum V.
Nasby (David P. Locke), from whose letters he frequently read to more
or less sympathetic listeners. It was eminently characteristic of Lincoln
that the presentation to the Cabinet of the Emancipation Proclamation
was prefaced by the reading of the latest Nasby letter.
Lincoln's statement in the Autobiography that he had picked up the
little advance he had made upon his early education, or rather lack of
education, is altogether too modest. It is known that after his term in
Congress he studied and mastered geometry; and, like Washington, he
early became a successful surveyor. His study of the law, too, was
characteristically thorough, and his skill in debate, in which he had no
superior, was the result of careful preparation. During the presidential
period Lincoln gave evidence of critical ability that is little short of
marvellous in a man whose schooling amounted to less than a year. In a
letter to the actor Hackett and in several conversations he analyzed

passages from "Hamlet," "Macbeth," and other plays with an insight
and sympathy that have rarely been surpassed even by eminent literary
critics.
At an early age Lincoln's interest was aroused in public speaking and
he soon began to exercise himself in this direction and to attend
meetings addressed by those skilled in the art of oratory. Many stories
are told of his local reputation as a speaker and story-teller even before
he moved to Illinois, much of his success then as in later life being due
to the singular charm of his personality. Lincoln never overcame a
certain awkwardness, almost uncouthness of appearance, and he never
acquired the finer arts of oratory for which his rival Douglas was so
conspicuous. But in spite of these physical difficulties he was
acknowledged by Douglas to be the man whom he most feared in
debate; and Lincoln was able to sway the critical, unfamiliar audience
assembled in Cooper Union as readily as the ruder crowds gathered
about the Illinois stump.
On the subject of Lincoln's religious belief, about which such varying
opinions have been held, it is sufficient to state that, although he was
not a member of any religious body, he had a firm conviction of the
protecting power of Providence and the efficacy of special prayer. This
latter characteristic seems to have been especially developed during the
presidential period. Both in his proclamations and in many private
interviews and communications he expresses himself clearly and
emphatically upon this subject. It is probable, too, that Lincoln read
more deeply and more frequently in the Bible during the storm and
stress of the Civil War than at any other period of his life. There seems
to be no authority for the statement sometimes made that after the death
of his son Willie, Lincoln showed a tendency to believe in the doctrines
of spiritualism. He was not free, however, from a belief in the
significance of dreams as portending important events. He was also not
a little of a fatalist, as he himself once stated to his friend Arnold.
Perhaps the most striking characteristic of Lincoln's personality apart
from his honesty and sincerity was his perfect simplicity and
naturalness. Frederick A. Douglass, the great leader of the colored race,

once remarked that President Lincoln was the only white man that he
had ever met who never suggested by his manner a sense of superiority.
Not that Lincoln was lacking in personal dignity. Neither as