He had no illusions about his personal appearance and joked about it so often that there is reason to believe that he deliberately tried to capitalize upon his homeliness.
Speaking at a banquet held by Anti-Nebraska editors at Decatur, on February 22, 1856, he apologized for being present, explaining that not being an editor he felt out of place. He illustrated his feelings by telling of an extremely ugly man who, riding along a narrow road, was met by a woman. As she passed the woman looked at him intently and finally observed: “Well, you are the ugliest man I ever saw.”
”Perhaps so,” admitted the unfortunate fellow, somewhat crestfallen, “but I can’t help that, madam.”
”No, I suppose not,” agreed the woman, “but you might stay at home.”
Source:
Thomas, Benjamin Platt, and Michael Burlingame. “Lincoln’s Humor.” "Lincolns Humor" and Other Essays. University of Illinois Press, 2002. 12. Print.
Original Source Listed:
Manuscropt by Benjamin F., Shaw, McLean County Historical Society, quoted in Otto R. Kyle, Abraham Lincoln in Decatur [New York: Vantage Press, 1957], 76.
Further Reading:
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