listening to an orator we have the man himself constantly before us,
and he himself makes or mars his success.

In 1859 Lincoln delivered his second and last long occasional
address--a discussion of agriculture at the Wisconsin State Fair at
Milwaukee. This is the only important non-political speech by Lincoln
that has been preserved and it is interesting as showing his ability to
treat a subject of general interest. Here, as in his discussions of
political questions, Lincoln displayed true statesmanlike insight and
foresight, long before the time when experiment stations and farmers'
institutes began to teach the very principles that he so wisely and
effectively expounded.

In 1860 Lincoln appeared for the first time before a New York audience
and we have his own word for it that he suffered a severe attack of
stage fright on that occasion. The event showed, however, that he had
no reason to fear the judgment of one of the most critical audiences
that ever assembled in the Cooper Union. The Hon. Joseph H. Choate,
who was present, writes of his appearance: "When he spoke he was
transformed, his eye kindled, his voice rang, his face shone and seemed
to light up the whole assembly. For an hour and a half he held his
audience in the hollow of his hand." This address may be regarded as a
precursor, and a worthy precursor, of the First Inaugural, and by many
competent critics it has been given the first place among the
discussions of the political situation just before the war. After such
a performance there could be no hesitation on the part of those that
heard it in acknowledging Abraham Lincoln as one of the most powerful
speakers of his day. Before returning to Illinois Lincoln travelled
through several of the New England States, making speeches in a number
of the larger towns.