Lincoln's Laughter and His Burdens

One of the elements in Lincoln’s greatness was his ability to distribute his burdens by bringing his emotions into play. He said: “With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh I should die.” It was difficult for others to understand that quality in him. On a certain day Lincoln came to a Cabinet meeting, and asked if they had seen the new volume by Artemus Ward.

He read aloud to them from it. Secretary of War Stanton, as usual, was very critical of the President. But in a few moments Lincoln closed the book, and took from his hat a folded paper.

He read them the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln demonstrated the importance of balance. He explained his point of view as follows: “Sometimes the telling of a good story or the listening to one lightens the load of sorrow and suffering that one in my position has to bear; but it is a mistake to think that I am a humourist, or tell stories for the laugh that is in them.”