his speeches first to her for an opinion, as Moliere courted his
stewardess for opinions. Sumner heeded her counsel.

Abraham championed the mysterious "Aunt 'Becca," who had characterized
Shields as "a ballroom dandy floating around without heft or
substance, just like a lot of cat-fur where cats have been fighting."
Is not this quite Lincolnian?

Thus put forward, Lincoln received a challenge.

Trial by battle-personal still ruled. The politicians coupled with
the necessity of going out with weapons to maintain an assertion in
speech or publication were Jefferson Davis, Jackson, the President;
Henry Clay, the amiable; Sam Houston, Sergeant S. Prentiss, etc.

Shields naturally challenged the lady's champion. As the challenged
party, Lincoln, who had cooled in the interim, not only chose
broadswords (not at all "the gentleman's arm in an affair of honor"),
but, what is more, descanted on the qualities of the cutlas in such a
droll manner and words that the second went off laughing. He imparted
his unseemly mirth to his opponent's seconds, and all the parties
concerned took the cue to soften down the irritation between two
persons formerly "chums," and relatives so close.

The meeting took place by the river-side out of Alton, where the
leaking out of the gallantry of Lincoln in taking up the cudgels for
the lady led to an explanation, although no such enlightenment ought
to be permitted on the ground. Besides, all was ludicrous--the
broadswords intolerably broad.