ussions.
They held one every day, the understanding being that if either
desired to talk anywhere else aside from the joint debate he had
a right to do so.

At one place Robinson announced that he would make a speech in the
courthouse. A large crowd greeted him, which he captured with one
of his characteristic speeches. Oglesby was sitting in front of
the hotel across the way by himself, and listening to the cheering.
He became very uneasy lest Robinson should get the best of it.

Now it chanced that Oglesby could play a violin splendidly. A man
came along with one in his hands, and Oglesby asked if he might
borrow it for the evening, to which the man consented. He commenced
playing in order to attract the crowd from Robinson, and in order
to break up his meeting. He succeeded; one by one they came out
of the courthouse, and when Oglesby swung into a stirring dance
measure the crowd at once responded with an impromptu hoe-down.

Robinson, seeing his audience dwindling, quit speaking and came
out himself. Taking in the situation at a glance, he pulled off
his shoes and became the most enthusiastic participant, dancing
first with one and then with another of his late hearers, winning
them all back again and completely turning the tables against his
adroit opponent.

This is a good illustration of early campaigning in the country
districts of Illinois. There was the utmost good feeling, and a
disposition to let the best man win.

Among the early men and incidents connected with the practice of
the law in Springfield, in the sixties, and before and during the
time I was Speaker of the House, the Rev. Peter Cartwright must
not be forgotten. He was one of the prominent figures in the
pioneer educational and religious life of the Western country, more
particularly of Illinois. He was a wonderful type of the times--
a man of great courage, of considerable ability, and most remarkable
in his capacity as a minister of the Gospel. He believed in camp-
meetings; and when Peter Cartwright conducted a camp-meeting the
loafers and rowdies inclined to interrupt the worship knew they
would invite trouble if they ventured to interfere with or annoy
the meeting. He was ready, not only to preach the Gospel but to
fight, as sometimes he felt it his duty to do. No man dared in
the presence of Cartwright to interrupt the meeting, as in those
times irresponsible parties hanging about such gatherings frequently
attempted to