The Scoop - February 17, 2014
Posted by Cynthia Wood
on Feb 27, 2014
Who knew President Lincoln had such a great sense of humor?
Father Ross led a rousing fellowship/song effort, with stories of Presidents and Abe Lincoln’s favorite song, Dixie.
Drew Fields, on behalf of the Rotary Holiday Party committee, presented over $5,000 to the Salvation Army. The other half of the proceeds from the festivities went to the Lima Rotary Foundation.
The club welcomed Jim Tallman as a speaker. A retired pharmacist, he has had 40 years perfect attendance in the Niles, Ohio, Rotary Club. Mr. Tallman and Mr. Lincoln are both descended from one Samual Lincoln (approx. 1637). He took over 1000 stories from Lincoln’s life and boiled them down into a few favorites. One was about him meeting a woman rider.
Woman Rider: You are the ugliest man I have ever met.
Lincoln: You are probably right, but I can’t help it.
Woman Rider: No, you can’t, but you might stay home.
Lincoln was a great trial lawyer, using stories as a way to get his point across. During one such trial, he had to argue two cases on the same day, both on the same point of the law, in front of the same judge. In one case he represented the defense; in the other, the plaintiff. The judge, in the afternoon case, asked why he had a change of heart. Lincoln’s reply: “I may have been wrong this morning, but I know I am right this afternoon.”
Lincoln was a wise, clever, and understanding leader. Mr. Tallman had many other stories to relate, to numerous for this note-taker to accurately capture. He also had several artifacts to share, which included the only remaining picture of Lincoln in his coffin and both 1860 and 1864 election ballots.