Chapter 11.
- A glimpse into the law office. -- how Lincoln kept accounts and divided fees with his partner. -- Lincoln in the argument of a case. -- the tribute of David Davis. -- characteristics as a lawyer. -- one of Lincoln's briefs. -- the Wright case. -- defending the ladies. -- reminiscences of the circuit. -- the suit against the Illinois Central railroad. -- the Manny case. First meeting with Edwin M. Stanton. -- defense of William Armstrong. -- last law-suit in Illinois. -- the dinner at Arnold's in Chicago.
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
