What did Mr. Lincoln enjoy doing?

[Liz Rosenthal]

As for the fire - just about 2 months ago, a cargo aircraft with 49,000 baby chickens loaded on board burned entirely down at the airport in Leipzig. I love all animals, especially birds. A German proverb says: "all birds sing in major" (referring to the musical key, thus happily), they always sound so positive. Even chickens. That was so sad!!! 49,000 innocent, fluffy, lively little creatures! They were caged and had no chance to escape! I still tear up when I think about that. Yes, they were bred for hatching and probably wouldn't have had a pleasant life at all, that's another sad story, but it's such a cruel ending.

Gee. I'm sad to read this. I kind of wish I hadn't. But so many terrible things happen to chickens and other domestic (farm) animals every day. One hopes, however, that the little chicks died of smoke inhalation before the flames overtook everything.

By the way, I read in the New York Times the other day that baby chickens show signs of intelligence that in some ways exceed their human counterparts (i.e., baby humans).

Lincoln seems to have had a soft spot for all animals. That may have been a bit unusual for his time. When young John Hay was sent on a mission to islands off South Carolina - I can't remember what the mission entailed - he amused himself by shooting not only at birds but at dolphins and was unhappy if he missed. Hay definitely lacked that special something that set Lincoln apart in the humane department.