bounded it South, and bounded it East, and bounded it West. Perhaps that accounts for the characteristic you observe in my speeches, though I never put the two things together before.’

“ ‘Mr. Lincoln, I thank you for this. It is the most splendid educational fact I ever happened upon. But, let me ask, did you prepare for your profession?’

“ ‘Oh, yes! I “read law,” as the phrase is; that is, I became a lawyer’s clerk in Springfield, and copied tedious documents, and picked up what I could of law in the intervals of other work. But your question reminds me of a bit of education I had which I am bound in honesty to mention. In the course of my lawreading, I constantly came upon the word demonstrate. I thought at first that I understood its meaning, but soon became satisfied that I did not. I said to myself, “What do I mean when I demonstrate more than when I reason or prove? How does demonstration differ from any other proof?” I consulted Webster’s Dictionary. That told of “certain proof,” “proof beyond the possibility of doubt”; but I could form no idea what sort of proof that was. I thought a great many things were proved beyond a possibility of doubt, without recourse to any such extraordinary process of reasoning as I understood “demonstration” to be. I consulted all the dictionaries and books of reference I could find, but with no better results. You might as well have defined blue to a blind man. At last I said, “Lincoln, you can never make a lawyer if you do not understand what demonstrate means;” and I left my situation in Springfield, went home to my father’s house, and stayed there till I could give any proposition in the six books of Euclid at sight. I then found out what “demonstrate” means, and went back to my law-studies.’

“I could not refrain from saying, in my admiration at such a development of character and genius combined: ‘Mr. Lincoln, your success is no longer a marvel. It is the legitimate result of adequate causes. You deserve it all, and a great deal more. If you will permit me, I would like to use this fact publicly. It will be most valuable in inciting our young men to that patient classical and mathematical culture which most minds absolutely require. No man can talk well unless he is able first of all to define to himself what he is talking about. Euclid, well studied, would free the world of half its calamities, by banishing half the nonsense which now deludes and curses it. I have often thought that Euclid would be one of the best books to put on the catalogue of the Tract Society, if they could only get people to read it. It would be a means of grace.’

“ ‘I think so,’ said he, laughing; ‘I vote for Euclid.’

“As we neared the end of our journey, Mr. Lincoln turned to me very pleasantly, and said, ‘I want to thank you for this conversation. I have enjoyed it very much.’ I replied, referring to some stalwart denunciations he had just been uttering of the demoralizing influence of Washington upon Northern politicians in respect to the slavery question, ‘Mr. Lincoln, may I say one thing to you before we separate?’

“ ‘Certainly, anything you please.’

“ ‘You have just spoken of the tendency of political life in Washington to debase the moral convictions of our representatives there by the admixture of considerations of mere political expediency. You have become, by the controversy with Mr. Douglas, one of our leaders in this great struggle with slavery, which is undoubtedly the struggle of the nation and the age. What I would like to say is this, and I say it with a full heart, Be true to your principles aud we will be true to you, and God will be true to us all!’ His homely face lighted up instantly with a beaming expression, and taking my hand warmly in both of his, he said, ‘I say Amen to that—AMEN to that!”’

The National Republican Convention assembled in Chicago on the 16th day of June, 1860. A mammoth “Wigwam” was erected to accommodate the delegates and crowd of spectators. It was estimated that twentyfive thousand men attended that convention. Fifteen hundred of them slept under the roof of a single hotel.

The candidates for President were William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, Judge McLean, William L. Dayton, Simon Cameron, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin F. Wade. It must be conceded,