Yet he was neither ungraceful, nor awkward, nor ugly.
His large features fitted his large frame, and his large hands
and feet were but right on a body that measured six feet four
inches. His was a sad and thoughtful face, and from boyhood he
had carried a load of care. It was small wonder that when alone,
or absorbed in thought, the face should take on deep lines, the
eyes appear as if seeing something beyond the vision of other
men, and the shoulders stoop, as though they too were bearing a
weight. But in a moment all would be changed. The deep eyes could
flash, or twinkle merrily with humor, or look out from under
overhanging brows as they did upon the Five Points children in
kindliest gentleness. In public speaking, his tall body rose to
its full height, his head was thrown back, his face seemed
transfigured with the fire and earnestuess of his thought, and
his voice took on a high clear tenor tone that carried his words
and ideas far out over the listening crowds. At such moments,
when answering Douglas in the heat of their joint-debate, or
later, during the years of war, when he pronounced with noble
gravity the words of his famous addresses, not one in the throngs
that heard him could say with truth that he was other than a
handsome man.
It has been the fashion, too, to say that he was slovenly, and
careless in his dress.
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