Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1897 — LINCOLNS PLUG HAT. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LINCOLNS PLUG HAT.

ODD HEADGEAR WORN BY THE GREAT EMANCIPATOR. Tall and Big Enoagh for a Giant— Serve! aa a Storage Place Tor Hia Papers—Now on Exhibit in Washington. Abe's Famous Tile. Abraham Lincoln's silk tile was more remarkable than a storied urn, for Abe’s plug was about three stories high and always full of jocular stories from brim to crown. The hat that Lincoln was accustomed to wear seemed to be a foot high, with a brim almost as big aB a Southern sombrero. It was a 7% size, a heavy, cumbersome affair, and never a thing of beauty. In his debates with Douglas the hat fairly loomed into space. The smallness of the stature of the latter is well known, and when Lincoln stood beside him with his hat on the appearance they presented was that of a boy and a giant standing together. And curiously enough, when Lincoln came to be inaugurated at Washington, Douglas held the high hat in his owu baud, that no careless person might put his foot in it. The reader can readily imagine the appearance of Lincoln when arrayed in his favorite plug, if a few well-known fncts are borne in mind. The President had a gannt and grotesque frame, and stood six feet four inches in his stocking feet. His strength equaled his length, for he could lift n cask full of beer and drink out of the bung hole. It was such herculean feats as this that made him the hero he was in the eyes of the Clary Grove boys. Mr, Lincoln’s hat played a very important part in his career when he was postmaster at New Salem. It was before the days of the railway mail service oil steam or street cars. There were no “special delivery” carriers at that time. But Lincoln was equal to the demands of the situation, and became a peripatetic postoffice. As soon ns the letters were received each day lie would put them iu his hat, and stroll through the town. His tall, gaunt form could easily be descried from all quarters, and everybody was more or less concerned in the contents of the hat. Upon being questioned as to what the mail had brought, Lincoln would re-

move his tile*and enrefully look over the lot of letters. Iu this way he not only became acquainted with his neighbors, hut his unique nnd utilitarian hut became almost an object of revereuce. It was, however, on the' night of his election to the presidency that the noble tile served to bring about a football game, which, for genuine excitement and the prominence of the parties engaged, has never been surpassed. The news had just come to the old homestead in Illinois that Lincoln was elected. Here is the story as told by an eye witness: “A few ladies, his neighbors, went over and helped Mrs. Lincoln prepare a little

supper for friends, who hud been invited in to hear the returns. Every half hour or so we would pass around coffee and cakes. About 1 o’clock in the morning enough had been learned to warrant the belief that the ‘Rail Splitter’ had been elected. I think it was when we heard the news from New York. The men rush-, ed on Mr. Lincoln nnd shook his hands, while the women actually hugged him. Then some one went, into the hall and took from the rack that old silk hat which he wore, as long as a joint of a stovepipe, and about ns shapely, to my mind, and it was thrown up to the ceiling. As it came down some one gave it a kick; then the women joined in the fun, and we played football with that hat until it was an unrecognizable mnss. We were simply beyond control. What a ridiculous scene it

would have been to one looking in without knowing what prompted it!” Lincoln’s hat was the most indispensable part of his whole outfit. It was, in fact, a sort of file rack. Here were all the briefs of his various law cases. Curiously enough, he carried the accounts in his head, and that is why he lost so much money. Had he reversed (be process and .kept his accounts in his hat and the cases Ih his head, he would have been better off. His hat served for Jdp satchel on a journey, and ail that was needed besides this were his saddle bags and hid horse.

THE LITTLE GIANT HELD HIS HAT.

FROM AN OLD CARTOON.

LINCOLN'S HAT WAS HIS FILE RACK.