Did the educated class really speak so well in the 19th century?

[Juan Marrero]

Yes, even the small throwaway utterances have class. Lincoln's: "she will think nothing of it", so much better than, "she won't care."

And the sense of occasion: "Now he belongs to the ages [angels]", not "Let's get airborne".

LincolnToddFan, I agree that MTL was a fine writer. Herdon was no slack either. His "little engine that knows no rest" (paraphrase) is a gem.

A book I read about TR said he was a good writer but missed being a great one, noting that his work "would have double the strength at half the length." That cannot be said of Lincoln.

JFK's Inaugural is thrilling, but one senses that it was written to thrill. Lincoln's writings at their best had the magic of something naturally beautiful that could not be improved with gilding. No forced grandeur.

It would be interesting to compare Grant and Lincoln as writers. Military v. Legal writing.