Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1920 — THE RETORT COURTEOUS. [ARTICLE]

THE RETORT COURTEOUS.

The following was a favorite story of Abraham Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, whose birthday we celebrated Thursday. - ' Lincoln was presented ( iby the toastmaster of a banquet of Illinois editors in 1856, he began । with an apology for his presence, speaking of himself as an interloper, | and then he said he was reminded of an incident. He did not say that he was giving a personal experience, but the editors surmised as much and were greatly amused. Mr. Lincoln said that the man he . was speaking of possessed features which the ladies could not call handsome. The man, while riding through the woods, met a lady on horseback. He turned out of the path and waited for her to pass. She stopped and looked tit the man a few moments. Then she sadd: “Well, for lands sake, you are the homliest man I ever saw.” “Yes, madam,” the man replied, “but I can’t help it.” “No, I suppose not,” the lady said, ‘%ut you might stay at home.”