What is the first thing you think of when you are asked to describe Abraham Lincoln?  Is it his Amish-type beard?  That he didn't grow until he ran for President in 1860 because the "beard" made him look more like a strong politician and leader.  Was it his tall and skinny exterior?  He was one of the few notable people of this time that was over six foot, let alone 6'4".  When you are asked to describe Lincoln you think of his hat.  That infamous tall black hat which ranged betweenize=+2>Wnd ended the engagement.  And like Mary Owens, Lincoln realized he loved her.  He lied in bed for over a month and was only strong enough to speak louder than a whisper.  Mary and Abraham's relationship began to build again in 1842 when a column written by the two along with Julia Jayne was published in the Sangamo Journal.  The article was about the political decisions involving banks by Democratic state auditor James Shields.  As a result to Lincoln's column,creased.

    At the same time his work was building up, his office became a catastrophe.  Lincoln shared a small one room office with Joshua Stuart, and neither one of them had any capability of filing and organizing.  As a result when Lincoln's work increased, his office became a mess and he lost all types of important documents.  It got so bad that in his office Lincoln piled a bunch of papers in the corner and hung a sign above it which said, "If you can't find it, look here."  Lincoln found his hat to be a great filing accessibility.  He would put all his important memo's and papers in his hat, so when he'd take it off the papers would be right there.  This came in handy when he would go on the trial circuit with the other lawyers and judge.  Lincoln put important materials in his hat like checkbook, pens, and letters from home.

    Lincoln wore his hat until the day he died.  It became a symbolic figure for Abraham Lincoln himself.  During his First Inauguration speech Stephen Douglas stated, "If I can't be President, I can at least hold his hat."
 

Brenner, Martha.  Abe Lincoln's Hat (Random House  New York.  1994)