That Lincoln had an abundance of physical courage, and was well able to defend himself when necessity demanded, is clear from the incidents just given.  Mr. Herndon, his intimate friend, adds his testimony on this point.  As Lincoln was grand in his good nature, says Mr. Herndon, so he was grand in his rage.  “Once I saw him incensed at a judge for giving an unfair decision.  It was a terrible spectacle.  At another time I saw two men come to blows in his presence.  He picked them up separately and tossed them apart like a couple of kittens.  He was the strongest man I ever knew, and has been known to lift a man of his own weight and throw him over a worm fence.  Once in Springfield the Irish voters meditated taking possession of the polls.  News came down the street that they would permit nobody to vote but those of their own party.  Mr. Lincoln seized an axe-handle from a hardware store and went alone to open a way to the ballot-box.  His appearance intimidated them, and we had neither threats nor collisions all that day.”

An unsuspected side of Lincoln’s character was shown, at this period of his life, in the affair with General Shields.  With all his gentleness and his scrupulous regard for the rights of others, Lincoln was not one to submit to being bullied; while his physical courage had been proved in many a rough—­and—­tumble encounter, often against heavy odds, with the rude and boisterous spirits of his time.  These encounters were usually with nature’s weapons; but in the Shields affair—­duel, it was sometimes called—­he showed that he would not shrink from the use of more deadly weapons if forced to do so.  In judging this phase of his character, account must be taken of his Kentucky birth and origin, and of the customs and standards of his time.  James Shields (afterwards a distinguished Union General and U.S.  Senator) was at this time (1842) living at Springfield, holding the office of State Auditor.  He is described as “a gallant, hot-headed bachelor, from Tyrone County, Ireland.”  He was something of a beau in society, and was the subject of some satirical articles which, in a spirit of fun, Miss Mary Todd (afterwards Mrs. Lincoln) had written and published in a local journal.  Shields was furious, and, demanding the name of the writer, Lincoln sent him word that he would assume full responsibility in the matter.  A challenge to a duel followed, which Lincoln accepted and named broadswords as the weapons.  General Linder states that Lincoln said to him that he did not want to kill Shields, and felt sure he could disarm him if they fought with broadswords, while he felt sure Shields would kill him if pistols were the weapons.  It seems that Lincoln actually took lessons in broadsword exercise from a Major Duncan; and at the appointed time all parties proceeded to the chosen field, near Alton.  But friends appeared on the scene while the preliminaries were being arranged, and succeeded in effecting a reconciliation.  Major