WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:16.620 The DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better living 00:16.620 --> 00:22.440 through chemistry, presents the Cabocad of America, starring Raymond Massey and Richard 00:22.440 --> 00:27.440 Carlson. 00:27.440 --> 00:37.320 Tonight's DuPont play is called, A Duel with Aunt Rebecca. 00:37.320 --> 00:41.560 And here is Richard Carlson to begin our story. 00:41.560 --> 00:49.080 My name, good friends, is James Shields. 00:49.080 --> 00:51.240 As a lad I came to America from Ireland. 00:51.240 --> 00:56.280 And after 15 years of wandering, I finally came to rest in Illinois, joined the great 00:56.280 --> 00:59.560 Democratic Party and went into politics. 00:59.560 --> 01:05.240 In 1842, the time I'm remembering, the good voters of Illinois made me state auditor with 01:05.240 --> 01:10.400 a fine fancy office in Springfield and some fine fancy worries to match. 01:10.400 --> 01:13.480 The worst of them, I remember, had to do with money. 01:13.480 --> 01:18.160 That's why my old friend and fellow Democrat Whiteside had come to see me that September 01:18.160 --> 01:19.160 afternoon. 01:19.160 --> 01:23.520 Well, young man, I trust you've selected another occupation. 01:23.520 --> 01:24.520 Meaning what, sir? 01:24.520 --> 01:28.880 Meaning that after what you've done today, I wouldn't give a half cent for your political 01:28.880 --> 01:29.880 future. 01:29.880 --> 01:30.880 Then why not, sir? 01:30.880 --> 01:31.880 You know why not. 01:31.880 --> 01:36.160 This, this order you've signed making the state bank's money worthless. 01:36.160 --> 01:38.000 But the money's already worthless. 01:38.000 --> 01:40.080 It became worthless when the state bank failed. 01:40.080 --> 01:42.160 Listen to me, young man. 01:42.160 --> 01:43.960 You're in politics. 01:43.960 --> 01:47.160 And if you're a Democrat, you don't deliberately lay your head on a block and then hand the 01:47.160 --> 01:48.680 Whigs a newly sharpened axe. 01:48.680 --> 01:50.280 But I, I had no choice, sir. 01:50.280 --> 01:53.000 Oh, you had a dozen choices. 01:53.000 --> 01:55.640 Let somebody else do the dirty work. 01:55.640 --> 01:59.040 You might have made the governor sign it or the state treasurer. 01:59.040 --> 02:00.040 You might have gone fishing. 02:00.040 --> 02:04.120 Or you shall never shut up with the name of James Shields to that order. 02:04.120 --> 02:07.720 Have you any notion of what the Whigs will do to you? 02:07.720 --> 02:08.720 You'll finish, sir? 02:08.720 --> 02:09.720 For the moment? 02:09.720 --> 02:10.720 Very well. 02:10.720 --> 02:14.560 First, by law, that order had to be issued and by the state auditor. 02:14.560 --> 02:17.760 Second, I happen to believe in fulfilling the obligations of my office. 02:17.760 --> 02:20.480 Third, I have never run from a fight and I never shall. 02:20.480 --> 02:21.840 Fourth, and summon it up. 02:21.840 --> 02:23.600 I've done my duty as I've seen it. 02:23.600 --> 02:29.440 And as for the Whigs, sir, I'll let them do their worst. 02:29.440 --> 02:35.680 Well, the Whigs did their worst. 02:35.680 --> 02:37.480 Such a commotion you never saw. 02:37.480 --> 02:38.480 And I was the villain. 02:38.480 --> 02:42.840 I was worse than Satan, Benedict, Arnold and Judas put together. 02:42.840 --> 02:45.920 And every day that went by found me getting angrier. 02:45.920 --> 02:50.760 Then one morning I, I picked up a copy of that infernal Whig paper, the Sangamo Journal, 02:50.760 --> 02:53.080 and I really got mad. 02:53.080 --> 02:59.080 Thinking back on it, I must have given Whiteside quite a start that morning. 02:59.080 --> 03:00.080 Mr. Whiteside. 03:00.080 --> 03:02.080 Oh, oh, good morning, Shields. 03:02.080 --> 03:03.080 Come in, come in. 03:03.080 --> 03:05.360 I've come to ask just one question, sir. 03:05.360 --> 03:07.120 Will you serve as my second? 03:07.120 --> 03:08.120 What? 03:08.120 --> 03:09.680 Somebody's challenged you to a duel? 03:09.680 --> 03:12.160 No, sir, it's, it's I who'll do the challenging. 03:12.160 --> 03:13.160 Who? 03:13.160 --> 03:14.160 Challenge who? 03:14.160 --> 03:15.160 I don't know, sir. 03:15.160 --> 03:16.760 But I mean to find out and when I do I... 03:16.760 --> 03:18.400 Now, now, hold on, young man. 03:18.400 --> 03:19.400 What, what's all this about? 03:19.400 --> 03:22.400 You've not read the Sangamo Journal this morning? 03:22.400 --> 03:24.280 Before breakfast and spoil my appetite? 03:24.280 --> 03:25.280 Certainly not. 03:25.280 --> 03:30.320 Well, sir, in this morning's edition I am called a fool, a liar and a thief. 03:30.320 --> 03:31.820 You are, are you? 03:31.820 --> 03:32.820 By whom? 03:32.820 --> 03:34.920 The scoundrel doesn't even dare put his name to it. 03:34.920 --> 03:36.240 It's, it's odd in a letter. 03:36.240 --> 03:39.480 Here, pretended to be from a country woman named Aunt Rebecca. 03:39.480 --> 03:40.920 Aunt Rebecca is it well, sir. 03:40.920 --> 03:41.920 He won't get away with it. 03:41.920 --> 03:43.400 He'll apologize or he'll fight. 03:43.400 --> 03:45.600 Oh, now Shields, it can't be that bad. 03:45.600 --> 03:46.600 It can't, hey, here. 03:46.600 --> 03:47.600 Listen to this. 03:47.600 --> 03:52.600 Dear Mr. Editor, I'm just a simple country woman, but if anybody's planning to tire and 03:52.600 --> 03:56.360 feather the great Mr. Shields, I would sure like to donate the feathers. 03:56.360 --> 03:58.880 Ah, ah, you smile, white sir. 03:58.880 --> 04:00.560 No, no, it's just that I... 04:00.560 --> 04:01.560 And listen to this. 04:01.560 --> 04:02.560 Where is it now? 04:02.560 --> 04:03.560 Ah, here it is. 04:03.560 --> 04:08.240 Tell me, does that great financier and friend of the common people, Mr. Shields, get his 04:08.240 --> 04:10.080 salary paid in paper or silver? 04:10.080 --> 04:12.600 I bet you my prize hog he don't take paper. 04:12.600 --> 04:17.200 Even if you don't have a prize hog to bet with me, any democratic politician will do just 04:17.200 --> 04:18.200 as good. 04:18.200 --> 04:21.280 Oh, you're still thinking of using it. 04:21.280 --> 04:23.520 I'm sorry, but I do. 04:23.520 --> 04:26.680 Whoever wrote it is pretty good. 04:26.680 --> 04:28.680 Thank you for your attention, sir, and good day. 04:28.680 --> 04:32.000 Now, now, now, Shields, just a minute, just a minute. 04:32.000 --> 04:37.680 In the first place, don't forget that you and I wrote a letter like this last year, 04:37.680 --> 04:39.680 signed at Ebenezer's Slocum, you remember? 04:39.680 --> 04:40.680 Yes, sir, I do. 04:40.680 --> 04:45.200 And if the Whigs were in office, we'd still be writing them. 04:45.200 --> 04:46.200 Perhaps so, but... 04:46.200 --> 04:51.360 You know, to stay in politics, young man, you've got to control your temper. 04:51.360 --> 04:55.080 You can't fight a duel with every Whig who attacks you, even if you are a crack shot 04:55.080 --> 04:56.080 and a good swordsman. 04:56.080 --> 04:58.720 A man calls me a liar, and I'm supposed to sit by and do... 04:58.720 --> 05:01.960 Yes, sir, exactly, and do nothing. 05:01.960 --> 05:04.440 And the next chance you get, you call him a liar. 05:04.440 --> 05:06.240 That way nobody's feelings get hurt. 05:06.240 --> 05:12.240 Now, see here, a good politician takes about as much notice of slander as a... well, as 05:12.240 --> 05:13.240 efficient as the rain. 05:13.240 --> 05:20.240 You either want to be a successful politician or a stone. 05:20.240 --> 05:26.560 Well, Whiteside kept at me for a good half hour and finally calmed me down. 05:26.560 --> 05:30.040 Only a few days later, there was a second letter published in the journal attacking 05:30.040 --> 05:31.640 me, and it was a lot worse. 05:31.640 --> 05:36.320 Well, it wasn't easy, but I finally managed to ignore that one too. 05:36.320 --> 05:41.120 But then came a third, signed Aunt Rebecca like the others, and thus Sarsius most infuriating 05:41.120 --> 05:42.120 of all. 05:42.120 --> 05:44.600 After I'd read it, I exploded. 05:44.600 --> 05:49.600 I wrote a letter of my own and walked over to the office of Simeon Francis, editor of 05:49.600 --> 05:50.600 the Sangamo journal. 05:50.600 --> 05:51.600 Oh, Sile. 05:51.600 --> 05:52.600 Come in, won't you? 05:52.600 --> 05:53.600 Come in. 05:53.600 --> 05:54.600 I am in. 05:54.600 --> 06:02.160 Mr. Francis, I wish to know the name of the author of the Aunt Rebecca letters. 06:02.160 --> 06:05.160 Oh, those humorous pieces? 06:05.160 --> 06:06.920 Perhaps the author thought them humorous. 06:06.920 --> 06:07.920 I did not. 06:07.920 --> 06:08.920 His name, sir. 06:08.920 --> 06:10.360 Yes, of course, his name. 06:10.360 --> 06:13.760 Well, it escapes me at the moment, but it'll come to me, I'm sure. 06:13.760 --> 06:16.880 I hope so, sir, for I shall stand here until it does. 06:16.880 --> 06:17.880 Oh, yes, certainly. 06:17.880 --> 06:20.640 Well, let me see, some young politician. 06:20.640 --> 06:22.920 No one important, you know. 06:22.920 --> 06:24.600 Grand old game politics. 06:24.600 --> 06:27.520 The Whigs attacked the Democrats, and then the Democrats attacked the Whigs. 06:27.520 --> 06:29.360 Nothing personal, you know. 06:29.360 --> 06:32.120 Attack a man one day, dine with him the next. 06:32.120 --> 06:33.120 His name, sir? 06:33.120 --> 06:34.120 Oh, yes. 06:34.120 --> 06:37.560 Well, Mr. Shields, would you mind telling me why you wish this information? 06:37.560 --> 06:39.120 Not at all, sir. 06:39.120 --> 06:40.720 I have written a letter to him. 06:40.720 --> 06:43.220 It is complete except for the name of the recipient. 06:43.220 --> 06:44.220 Would you care to hear it? 06:44.220 --> 06:46.880 Well, if you wish, sir, certainly. 06:46.880 --> 06:48.280 September 16th. 06:48.280 --> 06:53.480 Sir, I am informed by the editor of the Sangamo Journal that you are the author of certain 06:53.480 --> 06:56.840 articles which I consider highly slanderous and abusive. 06:56.840 --> 07:00.600 I will require of you a full, absolute and public apology. 07:00.600 --> 07:04.200 This may prevent consequences which no one will regret more than myself. 07:04.200 --> 07:07.560 Your obedient servant, James Shields. 07:07.560 --> 07:09.360 You're not serious, Mr. Shields. 07:09.360 --> 07:11.520 Why such a letter can only result in a duel. 07:11.520 --> 07:12.760 Yes, Mr. Francis. 07:12.760 --> 07:15.800 I shall duel with this Aunt Rebecca, whoever he is. 07:15.800 --> 07:19.720 But Mr. Shields, he's an old friend of yours. 07:19.720 --> 07:23.080 And the name of my friend, sir? 07:23.080 --> 07:25.080 Abraham Lincoln. 07:25.080 --> 07:27.080 Abe Lincoln? 07:27.080 --> 07:29.000 Yes, Mr. Shields. 07:29.000 --> 07:33.880 You see, you wouldn't think of dueling with an old friend. 07:33.880 --> 07:35.640 He was a friend, sir. 07:35.640 --> 07:37.640 He may still be if he chooses. 07:37.640 --> 07:43.040 That is a matter which will be entirely up to Mr. Lincoln. 07:43.040 --> 07:54.800 Well, my friend Whiteside tried to reason with me again, but I wouldn't listen. 07:54.800 --> 07:57.480 I'd gone too far and I was too mad. 07:57.480 --> 08:01.460 And finally, when I threatened to deliver the letter myself, he agreed to take it over 08:01.460 --> 08:05.880 to Abe Lincoln's office. 08:05.880 --> 08:12.360 Well, afternoon, Mr. Whiteside. 08:12.360 --> 08:14.080 Haven't seen you in quite a spell. 08:14.080 --> 08:15.080 Come in. 08:15.080 --> 08:16.080 Good to see you. 08:16.080 --> 08:17.080 Sit down. 08:17.080 --> 08:19.000 The leather one's the most comfortable. 08:19.000 --> 08:23.860 Thank you, Lincoln, but I'm afraid this isn't a social occasion. 08:23.860 --> 08:26.400 I'm here to deliver a letter from James Shields. 08:26.400 --> 08:27.400 From Jim? 08:27.400 --> 08:28.400 A letter? 08:28.400 --> 08:30.400 Why doesn't he just... 08:30.400 --> 08:33.440 Oh, that kind of a letter, eh? 08:33.440 --> 08:34.440 I'm afraid so. 08:34.440 --> 08:35.440 Here it is. 08:35.440 --> 08:36.440 Thank you. 08:36.440 --> 08:37.440 Well, I... 08:37.440 --> 08:39.200 No, don't go. 08:39.200 --> 08:41.600 Let's see what this is all about. 08:41.600 --> 08:51.280 Sir, I have been informed by highly slanderous and abusive... 08:51.280 --> 08:54.360 full absolute and public apology. 08:54.360 --> 08:55.920 I see. 08:55.920 --> 08:58.560 So that's it. 08:58.560 --> 09:02.120 You see, Shields is a most sensitive fellow, Lincoln, and he's sort of... 09:02.120 --> 09:04.520 He's also a most belligerent fellow, Whiteside. 09:04.520 --> 09:07.080 But seeing that he's your friend, I hope that you'll be... 09:07.080 --> 09:10.680 This doesn't strike me as being particularly friendly, sir. 09:10.680 --> 09:12.920 I have been informed, he said. 09:12.920 --> 09:15.960 Suppose his informant was mistaken. 09:15.960 --> 09:18.680 Why doesn't he ask me if I wrote those letters? 09:18.680 --> 09:20.240 Well, Lincoln, it's just that he's... 09:20.240 --> 09:23.320 He says he requires an apology. 09:23.320 --> 09:24.880 He means to be my friend. 09:24.880 --> 09:26.480 Why doesn't he ask for an apology? 09:26.480 --> 09:28.720 Well, as I said, sir, he's a... 09:28.720 --> 09:30.760 And he threatens consequences. 09:30.760 --> 09:31.760 Consequences. 09:31.760 --> 09:34.680 In other words, a duel. 09:34.680 --> 09:37.000 You know, I don't think I like this letter, Whiteside. 09:37.000 --> 09:39.080 Now, see here, young man. 09:39.080 --> 09:42.240 I know Shields and I know you. 09:42.240 --> 09:44.120 You're both good men. 09:44.120 --> 09:47.020 But Shields is proud and you're stubborn. 09:47.020 --> 09:51.600 And unless one of you gives way a little, you're certain to end by fighting a duel. 09:51.600 --> 09:53.320 And I don't want to see that. 09:53.320 --> 09:54.320 Nor do I, sir. 09:54.320 --> 09:56.600 But I look at it this way. 09:56.600 --> 09:59.240 I hold nothing against Jim Shields. 09:59.240 --> 10:02.680 Those letters weren't meant to insult him personally. 10:02.680 --> 10:06.800 And if Shields were to approach me as a friend, well, now I'd... 10:06.800 --> 10:09.720 I'd give him every bit of satisfaction I could. 10:09.720 --> 10:11.280 But he hasn't, sir. 10:11.280 --> 10:16.560 He's written threatening me... threatening to kill me if I don't do as he says. 10:16.560 --> 10:20.840 Well, sir, it sort of sets my back up. 10:20.840 --> 10:22.760 And so in short, Lincoln? 10:22.760 --> 10:27.960 So in short, sir, I'm very much afraid that Mr. Shields is going to have to be the one 10:27.960 --> 10:28.960 to give way a little. 10:28.960 --> 10:31.680 But I know, Shields, it'll mean a duel. 10:31.680 --> 10:33.120 I hope not, Whiteside. 10:33.120 --> 10:35.900 I most earnestly hope not. 10:35.900 --> 10:36.900 But if it does? 10:36.900 --> 10:39.640 If it does, sir, then I shall... 10:39.640 --> 10:41.640 I shall have to defend myself. 10:41.640 --> 10:47.000 Meantime, I think I'll write, Mr. Shields, a letter that won't appear in the journal. 10:47.000 --> 10:56.680 A personal letter. 10:56.680 --> 11:01.400 September 17th, to James Shields' Esquire. 11:01.400 --> 11:07.960 Sir, you say you have been informed that I am the author of certain letters which you 11:07.960 --> 11:12.400 deem personally abusive to you, and you demand an apology. 11:12.400 --> 11:18.760 Now, sir, since you do not trouble to inquire if I actually am the author, I cannot bring 11:18.760 --> 11:22.880 myself to answer your note in its present form. 11:22.880 --> 11:30.440 Your obedient servant, Abraham Lincoln. 11:30.440 --> 11:34.120 September 18th, to Abraham Lincoln, attorney at law. 11:34.120 --> 11:37.160 Sir, Dr. Barrowman has delivered your note. 11:37.160 --> 11:41.760 In reply, I will state that in the absence of any denial from you, I must consider you 11:41.760 --> 11:44.320 the author of the Aunt Rebecca letters. 11:44.320 --> 11:50.840 I will be awaiting your apology. 11:50.840 --> 11:54.760 September 19th, to James Shields' Esquire. 11:54.760 --> 12:01.120 Sir, I am sure that this affair can be settled amicably if you will withdraw your previous 12:01.120 --> 12:06.760 notes and substitute a letter asking me to give you gentlemanly satisfaction if I am 12:06.760 --> 12:11.920 the author of the letters. 12:11.920 --> 12:15.280 September 20th, sir, I will withdraw nothing. 12:15.280 --> 12:17.000 I will substitute nothing. 12:17.000 --> 12:21.120 If I do not receive satisfaction from you in one way, I shall be forced to seek it in 12:21.120 --> 12:26.240 another. 12:26.240 --> 12:34.000 September 21st, sir, I regret that I must consider your note a challenge to a duel. 12:34.000 --> 12:37.040 Therefore, I specify the following. 12:37.040 --> 12:43.600 Weapons, cavalry broadswords of the largest size to be supplied by me. 12:43.600 --> 12:48.880 Time and place will be decided by our seconds in which capacity Dr. Maryman has consented 12:48.880 --> 12:51.440 to serve me. 12:51.440 --> 12:55.400 Your obedient servant, A. Lincoln. 12:55.400 --> 13:02.440 Well, so there it was. 13:02.440 --> 13:04.400 We were going to fight a duel. 13:04.400 --> 13:08.160 It may sound presumptuous, me being ready to put an end to the life of the great Mr. 13:08.160 --> 13:12.960 Lincoln, but do not forget Abe was just a 33-year-old Springfield lawyer then. 13:12.960 --> 13:17.760 As for Doolan, I was a pretty good swordsman and Abe was not, but then he was a full foot 13:17.760 --> 13:22.480 taller than me and his arms were so all fired long he could hug a hog's head and still twiddle 13:22.480 --> 13:23.480 his thumbs. 13:23.480 --> 13:25.400 So we looked to be about equal. 13:25.400 --> 13:31.000 Anyway, the 24th of September found Whiteside and me at the Doolan place, an island in the 13:31.000 --> 13:32.640 Mississippi. 13:32.640 --> 13:39.080 Sure owns some out here. 13:39.080 --> 13:40.640 What time is it now? 13:40.640 --> 13:44.520 Five minutes to five. 13:44.520 --> 13:47.400 Thinking any second or two here at five. 13:47.400 --> 13:50.080 Still no boat in sight. 13:50.080 --> 13:51.080 I wonder. 13:51.080 --> 13:54.160 Now you don't suppose that maybe Mr. Lincoln's got... 13:54.160 --> 13:57.000 Wait, wait, what's that there coming around the riverbed? 13:57.000 --> 13:58.000 Yeah. 13:58.000 --> 14:00.760 It's a boat. 14:00.760 --> 14:02.680 And there's two men in it. 14:02.680 --> 14:03.760 That answer your question? 14:03.760 --> 14:08.960 My question, sir, concerned Mr. Lincoln's watch, not his courage. 14:08.960 --> 14:12.160 He's a wig and therefore a fool, but that doesn't mean he's a coward. 14:12.160 --> 14:14.240 You see, you do like the man. 14:14.240 --> 14:16.280 For the hundredth time, will you listen to me? 14:16.280 --> 14:20.840 I'm sorry, Whiteside, but I'm afraid I'm a little deaf to everything except an apology 14:20.840 --> 14:21.840 for Mr. Lincoln. 14:21.840 --> 14:23.840 Therefore, the duel is on? 14:23.840 --> 14:46.360 Yes, Mr. Whiteside, the duel is on. 14:46.360 --> 14:52.320 The DuPont Cavalcade continues, starring Raymond Massey as Abraham Lincoln and Richard Carlson 14:52.320 --> 14:55.600 as James Shields. 14:55.600 --> 15:03.840 Shields, a fiery young Illinois politician, angered by a series of published letters attacking 15:03.840 --> 15:09.120 him, has challenged another Illinois politician, Abraham Lincoln, to a duel. 15:09.120 --> 15:11.920 The dueling place is an island in the Mississippi. 15:11.920 --> 15:17.520 Shields' second, Whiteside, now meets Lincoln and his second as they arrive at the island. 15:17.520 --> 15:22.720 Good day, Mr. Lincoln. 15:22.720 --> 15:25.280 How are you, Whiteside? 15:25.280 --> 15:26.280 Afternoon, Merriman. 15:26.280 --> 15:27.280 Good day, sir. 15:27.280 --> 15:29.000 You brought the weapons? 15:29.000 --> 15:30.000 Certainly, certainly. 15:30.000 --> 15:31.000 I have them. 15:31.000 --> 15:34.240 Mr. Lincoln, I suggest that you wait here. 15:34.240 --> 15:39.520 Dr. Merriman and I will take the broadswords to Mr. Shields for his choice, as agreed. 15:39.520 --> 15:43.000 He's at the duel in place beyond Yonder Thickets, about the center of the island. 15:43.000 --> 15:46.240 When we're ready, I'll give you the signal to join us there. 15:46.240 --> 15:47.240 I'll whistle. 15:47.240 --> 15:54.240 As you say, sir. 15:54.240 --> 16:00.200 Mr. Shields, you have the choice of weapons. 16:00.200 --> 16:01.200 I have. 16:01.200 --> 16:03.120 And are they a sharp sword? 16:03.120 --> 16:04.120 As scalpel, sir. 16:04.120 --> 16:06.200 A sharp sword means a clean wound. 16:06.200 --> 16:08.800 They are precisely equal in all respects. 16:08.800 --> 16:09.800 Your choice, sir. 16:09.800 --> 16:12.000 There there'll do. 16:12.000 --> 16:13.000 This one. 16:13.000 --> 16:14.000 Thank you. 16:14.000 --> 16:15.000 Thank you, sir. 16:15.000 --> 16:26.520 Then, while I was thrashing the air with mighty strokes, getting ready for the coming mortal 16:26.520 --> 16:31.960 combat, Merriman bids me bide my time, and off he goes with Whiteside to, he says, make 16:31.960 --> 16:33.440 the necessary preliminaries. 16:33.440 --> 16:38.640 So there's Abe down at the water's edge waiting, and there's me up in the middle of that island 16:38.640 --> 16:44.800 waiting too, while our seconds decide to hold up the proceedings for a parley. 16:44.800 --> 16:46.560 Merriman, this is ridiculous. 16:46.560 --> 16:47.560 I know. 16:47.560 --> 16:49.000 We've got to stop it. 16:49.000 --> 16:52.960 Neither man can win because if one is killed, the other's career is ruined. 16:52.960 --> 16:53.960 You're right, sir. 16:53.960 --> 16:54.960 Quite right. 16:54.960 --> 16:56.520 But what can we do? 16:56.520 --> 17:01.560 I've been working on Lincoln for a week, but he no more tells Shields he didn't really write 17:01.560 --> 17:02.560 those letters. 17:02.560 --> 17:04.640 What did you say, Merriman? 17:04.640 --> 17:05.640 He didn't? 17:05.640 --> 17:07.320 I said he didn't really write those letters. 17:07.320 --> 17:11.600 Well, he wrote the first one all right, but that was the mild one. 17:11.600 --> 17:16.360 The others, well, they were written by, well, by a young lady of his equities. 17:16.360 --> 17:17.360 By a young lady? 17:17.360 --> 17:20.360 Whiteside, where are you going? 17:20.360 --> 17:24.000 That's right. 17:24.000 --> 17:27.760 By a young lady, Shields. 17:27.760 --> 17:28.760 By a young lady. 17:28.760 --> 17:31.000 Now, what have you got to say to that? 17:31.000 --> 17:34.280 Well, sir, that's most interesting. 17:34.280 --> 17:38.600 And if Mr. Lincoln would come down off his high horse long enough to tell me that, well, 17:38.600 --> 17:40.920 it'd make a considerable difference. 17:40.920 --> 17:42.280 His high horse. 17:42.280 --> 17:44.040 All you have to do is ask him. 17:44.040 --> 17:46.480 And all he has to do is tell me. 17:46.480 --> 17:52.760 I hope Merriman is having more luck with Lincoln than I'm having with you. 17:52.760 --> 18:01.080 For the last time, Lincoln, it's not going to kill you to tell Shields the truth, man. 18:01.080 --> 18:03.760 When he asks me, Merriman, I'll tell him everything. 18:03.760 --> 18:05.120 Also, I'll apologize. 18:05.120 --> 18:09.480 But if I back down now, it'll appear an act of cowardice. 18:09.480 --> 18:11.560 In whose eyes, young man? 18:11.560 --> 18:14.560 In my eyes, sir. 18:14.560 --> 18:21.280 I guess that's the signal for the duel. 18:21.280 --> 18:24.600 Come. 18:24.600 --> 18:32.840 Here they come now. 18:32.840 --> 18:35.240 Good evening, Mr. Shields. 18:35.240 --> 18:36.240 Mr. Lincoln. 18:36.240 --> 18:37.960 Any luck, doctor? 18:37.960 --> 18:38.960 No. 18:38.960 --> 18:39.960 Well, then? 18:39.960 --> 18:46.080 Well, then the two biggest fools in Illinois may proceed to destroy each other. 18:46.080 --> 18:49.200 Gentlemen, will you take your places? 18:49.200 --> 18:52.160 At the count of ten, you may begin. 18:52.160 --> 18:54.360 Are you ready, Mr. Shields? 18:54.360 --> 18:55.360 I am, sir. 18:55.360 --> 18:56.360 Mr. Lincoln? 18:56.360 --> 18:57.360 Ready, sir. 18:57.360 --> 18:58.360 Very well. 18:58.360 --> 19:01.960 Mr. Whiteside and I will count in unison. 19:01.960 --> 19:02.960 Ready? 19:02.960 --> 19:03.960 One. 19:03.960 --> 19:04.960 Two. 19:04.960 --> 19:05.960 Three. 19:05.960 --> 19:06.960 Four. 19:06.960 --> 19:07.960 Five. 19:07.960 --> 19:08.960 Six. 19:08.960 --> 19:09.960 A moment, gentlemen. 19:09.960 --> 19:10.960 Yes, Mr. Lincoln. 19:10.960 --> 19:23.200 Tell me, since the seconds have had a bit of a plover, do the rules governing these affairs 19:23.200 --> 19:28.160 prevent the two principals from having a word together before the beginning of hostilities? 19:28.160 --> 19:29.840 Well, sir, I... 19:29.840 --> 19:30.840 Just a moment, please. 19:30.840 --> 19:31.840 Certainly. 19:31.840 --> 19:32.840 Certainly. 19:32.840 --> 19:41.720 The consensus, Mr. Lincoln, is that such a procedure is irregular but permissible. 19:41.720 --> 19:47.200 In that case, would you gentlemen be so kind as to withdraw to the far side of the island? 19:47.200 --> 19:48.200 As you wish, sir. 19:48.200 --> 19:49.200 Come along now. 19:49.200 --> 19:50.200 Yes. 19:50.200 --> 19:53.200 Well, Mr. Shields? 19:53.200 --> 19:56.760 Well, Mr. Lincoln? 19:56.760 --> 20:06.640 It just occurred to me that a few minutes from now, one of us may no longer be in the 20:06.640 --> 20:09.000 best of health. 20:09.000 --> 20:10.880 And remembering our... 20:10.880 --> 20:14.560 Do I presume if I say our friendship? 20:14.560 --> 20:18.920 I've always considered you my friend, Mr. Lincoln. 20:18.920 --> 20:20.360 Until recently, of course. 20:20.360 --> 20:22.040 Yes, of course. 20:22.040 --> 20:27.000 Well, remembering our previous friendship, then, it... 20:27.000 --> 20:33.520 Well, in short, Mr. Shields, I should merely like to say goodbye to you as an old friend. 20:33.520 --> 20:35.520 That's not necessary, sir. 20:35.520 --> 20:37.520 I have no intention of killing you. 20:37.520 --> 20:40.520 In all frankness, I only mean to disarm you. 20:40.520 --> 20:44.020 Well, sir, that is likewise my intention. 20:44.020 --> 20:48.240 But with swords so sharp, the slightest slip may mean almost instant... 20:48.240 --> 20:51.600 Well, sir, I believe you know my meaning. 20:51.600 --> 20:53.640 Yes, yes, I see. 20:53.640 --> 20:59.520 Well, with that unfortunate possibility in mind, I should also like to say goodbye to 20:59.520 --> 21:00.800 you too, Mr. Lincoln. 21:00.800 --> 21:01.960 Thank you, sir. 21:01.960 --> 21:02.960 Thank you kindly. 21:02.960 --> 21:11.360 You know, Mr. Shields, I was just thinking how unfortunate it is that even now, in 1842, 21:11.360 --> 21:15.560 men don't seem yet to have found a way to settle their differences peaceably. 21:15.560 --> 21:16.560 I agree. 21:16.560 --> 21:18.880 But it is indeed unfortunate. 21:18.880 --> 21:24.400 Why, when you consider all that could be avoided by the simple thing as an apology, it... 21:24.400 --> 21:26.400 Well, it makes you wonder. 21:26.400 --> 21:28.680 Yes, yes, of course. 21:28.680 --> 21:36.240 But I must tell you that regardless of the outcome of this encounter, I will at least 21:36.240 --> 21:39.040 have learned two most valuable lessons. 21:39.040 --> 21:45.520 For one, I doubt that I shall ever again resort to personal attacks on my political opponents. 21:45.520 --> 21:46.520 Hmm. 21:46.520 --> 21:48.520 The most commendable resolve, I'm sure. 21:48.520 --> 21:55.040 And second, I assure you that in the future, I shall think twice before writing a series 21:55.040 --> 21:56.600 of anonymous letters attacking... 21:56.600 --> 21:57.600 A series? 21:57.600 --> 21:59.880 But Whiteside said you wrote only one of the letters. 21:59.880 --> 22:07.320 Mr. Shields, could that remark of yours be construed as an inquiry into the authorship 22:07.320 --> 22:08.320 of those letters? 22:08.320 --> 22:09.320 Well, sir, I... 22:09.320 --> 22:15.480 Well, sir, I suppose that it might possibly be so construed. 22:15.480 --> 22:18.560 Then I shall so construed. 22:18.560 --> 22:25.360 And since you have inquired, I can tell you that I was the author of only the first letter. 22:25.360 --> 22:30.640 Inspired by its success, a high-spirited young lady of my acquaintance wrote the others. 22:30.640 --> 22:31.640 What is it you said? 22:31.640 --> 22:34.440 I may have helped with some of them a little bit. 22:34.440 --> 22:39.280 But I can inform you that they were written solely for political effect and that no personal 22:39.280 --> 22:41.000 offense was intended. 22:41.000 --> 22:42.960 I see. 22:42.960 --> 22:49.760 And tell me, sir, what you have just said, might that possibly be construed as an apology? 22:49.760 --> 22:51.880 Well, sir, I... 22:51.880 --> 22:56.120 Yes, I suppose it might be so construed. 22:56.120 --> 22:59.280 Well, sir, then I shall so construed. 22:59.280 --> 23:01.520 And so accept it and so thank you for it. 23:01.520 --> 23:03.560 You're most welcome, sir. 23:03.560 --> 23:07.600 And now, Mr. Shields, may I make an inquiry of you? 23:07.600 --> 23:10.160 You may, Mr. Lincoln. 23:10.160 --> 23:15.560 And will you tell me, Jim, why in heaven we are standing on this dad-blasted island in 23:15.560 --> 23:18.000 the middle of this dad-blasted river? 23:18.000 --> 23:19.000 Ha! 23:19.000 --> 23:20.000 Ha-ha-ha! 23:20.000 --> 23:21.160 I'll tell you why, Abe. 23:21.160 --> 23:23.920 It's because we're a couple of dad-blasted fools, sir. 23:23.920 --> 23:25.000 Very well, then. 23:25.000 --> 23:26.080 Come on, Jim. 23:26.080 --> 23:27.080 Let's get out of here. 23:27.080 --> 23:29.280 Oh, there, gentlemen, to the boats! 23:29.280 --> 23:34.960 Mr. Shields and I are exceedingly hungry. 23:34.960 --> 23:43.000 Well, good friends, that's the story just as it happened. 23:43.000 --> 23:44.560 I'm not apologizing either. 23:44.560 --> 23:49.400 As I said, how was I to know that Abe Lincoln would turn out to be a great man? 23:49.400 --> 23:50.400 Hmm. 23:50.400 --> 23:54.120 I've come to think of it, maybe I should have known at that. 23:54.120 --> 23:59.920 It took a lot of courage and a lot of goodwill and wisdom getting us out of a situation like 23:59.920 --> 24:00.920 that. 24:00.920 --> 24:04.080 Yes, I guess I should have known, shouldn't I? 24:04.080 --> 24:10.080 And to know, Abe Lincoln didn't forget that almost-dual of ours either. 24:10.080 --> 24:16.280 Years later, he said to me, the young lady that I was standing up for, the mysterious 24:16.280 --> 24:17.280 Aunt Rebecca? 24:17.280 --> 24:21.320 You never knew who she was, Jim? 24:21.320 --> 24:24.960 Well, she was a young lady in Springfield. 24:24.960 --> 24:29.120 Her name then was Mary Todd. 24:29.120 --> 24:51.000 Six weeks later, she became Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. 24:51.000 --> 25:09.680 More thanks to Raymond Massey, Richard Carlson, and the Cavalcade players for tonight's story. 25:09.680 --> 25:13.920 Next week, the star of the DuPont Cavalcade will be Margaret Sullivan. 25:13.920 --> 25:20.520 Our play, Militant Angel, a story of a great woman, Annie Warburton Goodrich, and her exciting 25:20.520 --> 25:21.800 crusade for humanity. 25:21.800 --> 25:23.880 Be sure to listen. 25:23.880 --> 25:28.400 Tonight's DuPont Cavalcade starred Raymond Massey and Richard Carlson, and featured Charles 25:28.400 --> 25:29.400 Dingle. 25:29.400 --> 25:31.380 It was written by Warner Law. 25:31.380 --> 25:34.880 Music was composed by Arden Cornwell and conducted by Donald Borey. 25:34.880 --> 25:37.080 The program was directed by John Zoeller. 25:37.080 --> 25:43.760 This is Cy Harris speaking. 25:43.760 --> 25:47.400 Don't forget, next week, our star, Margaret Sullivan. 25:47.400 --> 25:49.880 Our play, Militant Angel. 25:49.880 --> 25:53.840 The DuPont Cavalcade of America comes to you from the Velasco Theater in New York and is 25:53.840 --> 25:57.800 sponsored by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, makers of better things for better 25:57.800 --> 26:02.400 living through chemistry. 26:02.400 --> 26:04.800 Baby Snooks has a good time at daddy's expense. 26:04.800 --> 26:21.880 Listen on NBC.