President Lincoln's sense of humor

[LincolnMan]

Most people think humor was one of Lincoln's way of dealing with his stress-to that I think we all agree. The following story is taken from the Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant- and illustrates so well the humor that Lincoln employed:

"Right here I might relate an anecdote of Mr. Lincoln. It was on the occasion of his visit to me just after he had talked with the peace commissioners at Hampton Roads. After a little conversation, he asked me if I had seen that overcoat of Stephen's. I replied I had. "Well," said he, "didn't you see him take it off?" I said yes. "Well," said he, "didn't you think it was the biggest shuck and the littlest ear that you ever did see?" Long afterwards I told this story to the Confederate General J. B. Gordon, at the time a member of the Senate. He repeated it to Stephens, and, as I heard afterwards, Stephens laughed immoderately at the simile of Mr. Lincoln."

[RJNorton]

Lincoln could even poke fun at his own aides. I originally heard this story from Dave Taylor, and it has stuck with me ever since. The story was related by Tom Pendel, and it's in his book titled Thirty-Six Years in the White House.

"On one occasion, President Lincoln, when riding near the Soldiers' Home, said to his footman, named Charles Forbes, who had but recently come from Ireland, "What kind of fruit do you have in Ireland, Charles?" To which Charles replied, "Mr. President, we have a good many kinds of fruit: gooseberries, pears, apples, and the like."The President then asked, "Have you tasted any of our American fruits?" Charles said he had not, and the President told Burke, the coachman, to drive under a persimmon tree by the roadside. Standing up in the open carriage, he pulled off some of the green fruit, giving some of it to Burke and some to Charles, with the advice that the latter try some of it. Charles, taking some of the green fruit in his hand, commenced to eat, when to his astonishment he found that he could hardly open his mouth. Trying his best to spit it out, he yelled, "Mr. President, I am poisoned! I am poisoned!" Mr. Lincoln fairly fell back in his carriage and rolled with laughter."

[LincolnMan]

Great story! By accounts I've read Mr. Forbes a big lovable fellow-and Lincoln liked him much. How interesting that he had such a role in the night of April 14th.

[Dave Taylor]

You beat me to it, Roger. It's one of my favorite Lincoln anecdotes as well.

[LincolnMan]

Author William Lee Miller writes about Lincoln's humor in the book Lincoln's Virtues on page 72. Miller is pulling quotes from Herndon who obtained information from Dennis Hanks:

"Telling stories was only part of it; he was also "sociable," "companionable," "amiable," "gregarious'; he "liked lively, jovial company, where there was plenty of fun and no drunkeness." "Abe was a cheerful boy-a witty boy-was humoroous always." "He made fun and cracked his jokes making all happy but the jokes were few and at no mans expense." "He was the most entertaining person I ever knew." "The more I became acquainted with him the more humorous I found him to be>" "The open frank manner of Mr. Lincoln in his youthful days coupled with a flow of good humor and great witticism, always made him a welcome member of any group."

[HerbS]

A Viet-Nam-MOH winner told me this,"In order to Live-you almost have to Die-In order to Laugh-you have to be able to Cry".Laughing and humor is a gift!

[LincolnMan]

Herb: thank you for passing that on-they are true words-and we all need to be reminded of them.

[RJNorton]

The discussion of best generals in another thread made me think of one of my favorite Lincoln jokes.

Abraham Lincoln told the following story about Ethan Allen when Allen visited England after the Revolutionary War:

"It appears that shortly after we had peace with England, Mr. Allen had occasion to visit England, and while there the English took great pleasure in teasing him, and trying to make fun of the Americans and George Washington in particular. And one day they got a picture of General Washington, and hung it up in the Back House where Mr. Allen could see it. Finally, they asked Mr. Allen if he could see it. Mr. Allen said no, but added that he thought it was a very appropriate place for an Englishman to keep it. Mr. Allen was asked why he felt this way. Mr. Allen replied that there was nothing that will make an Englishman **** so quick as the sight of General Washington. After that, they left Mr. Allen and Mr. Washington alone."

[LincolnMan]

Roger: great story! Can't hardly stop laughing.

[LincolnMan]

More on Lincoln and humor: Gene Griessman has a chapter in his book Words Lincoln Lived By regarding Lincoln's humor. He uses a quote from Lincoln:

"Laughter {is} the joyous, beautiful, universal evergreen of life."

Here is a comment from the book:

Long before scientific evidence proved that laughter can actually prevent disease and sometimes cure it, Lincoln spoke of laughter as medicine. He realized laughter could be an anesthetic that would help him bear pain. Congressman Isaac N. Arnold remembered hearing Lincoln's distinctive laughter ringing through the White House while he and a delegation waited to be admitted to the President's office. He remarked:

"That laugh has been the President's life-preserver."

[HerbS]

Bill,Don't we all need "Life Preservers"?

[LincolnMan]

Good morning Herb! Oh yeah we do! As far as humor, I enjoyed the old comedies. I'm a great fan of Chaplin-and, yes, the Three Stooges.

[LincolnMan]

Reading in the Lincoln Log, I find this entry from December 23, 1863:

Relates dream in which he is among plain people. One of them remarks: "He is a very common-looking man." President replies: "Common-looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them."
Dennett, Hay Diaries and Letters.

[RJNorton]

Good morning, Bill. Your quote made me think of a brief story which is probably apocryphal:

"One day Abraham Lincoln was riding horseback through the woods he met a woman who was also on horseback. As he stopped to let her pass, the woman also stopped and starred at him intently. She said, "I do believe you are the ugliest man I ever saw." Lincoln replied, "Madam, you are probably right but I can't help it." The woman answered back, "No, you can't help it, but you might stay at home."

[LincolnMan]

Good morning ! LOL. Gee, I hope it isn't true---poor Lincoln!