Sketch of the life of Abraham LincolnArnold, Isaac N.
History
Sketch of the life of Abraham Lincoln
Arnold, Isaac N.
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865
[8] The substance of what follows is from chapter 29th of "The History
of Abraham Lincoln, and The Overthrow of Slavery," by Isaac N. Arnold.
In the remaining pages, I shall attempt to give a word-picture of Mr.
Lincoln, his person, his moral and intellectual characteristics, and
some personal recollections, so as to aid the reader, as far as I may be
able, in forming an ideal of the man.
Physically, he was a tall, spare man, six feet and four inches in
height. He stooped, leaning forward as he walked. He was very athletic,
with long, sinewy arms, large, bony hands, and of great physical power.
Many anecdotes of his strength are given, which show that it was equal
to that of two or three ordinary men. He lifted with ease five or six
hundred pounds. His legs and arms were disproportionately long, as
compared with his body; and when he walked, he swung his arms to and fro
more than most men. When seated, he did not seem much taller than
ordinary men. In his movements there was no grace, but an impression of
awkward strength and vigor.
He was naturally diffident, and even to the day of his death, when in
crowds, and not speaking or acting, and conscious of being observed, he
seemed to shrink with bashfulness. When he became interested, or spoke,
or listened, this appearance left him, and he indicated no
self-consciousness. His forehead was high and broad, his hair very dark,
nearly black, and rather stiff and coarse, his eyebrows were heavy, his
eyes dark-gray, very expressive and varied; now sparkling with humor and
fun, and then deeply sad and melancholy; flashing with indignation at
injustice or wrong, and then kind, genial, droll, dreamy; according to
his mood.
His nose was large, and clearly defined and well shaped; cheek-bones
high and projecting. His mouth coarse, but firm. He was easily
caricatured--but difficult to represent as he was, in marble or on
canvass. The best bust of him is that of Volk, which was modeled from a
cast taken from life in May, 1860, while he was attending court at
Chicago.
Among the best portraits, in the judgment of his family and intimate
friends, are those of Carpenter, in the picture of the Reading of the
Proclamation of Emancipation before the Cabinet, and that of Marshall.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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