What was the secret of Lincoln's success in dealing with people? I studied his life for ten years. I believe I have made as detailed and exhaustive a study of his personality and home life as it is possible for any being to make. I made a special study of Lincoln's method of dealing with people. Did he indulge in criticism? Oh, yes. As a young man in Indiana, he often wrote letters and poems ridiculing people. Even after he had become a practicing lawyer in Illinois, he still attacked his opponents openly in letters published in the newspapers. But he did this just once too often. In 1842, he ridiculed a vain politician by the name of James Shields in a letter published in the local journal. The town roared with laughter. Shields, sensitive and proud, boiled with indignation. He found out who wrote the letter, leaped on his horse, started after Lincoln and challenged him to fight a duel. Lincoln was given the choice of weapons. Since he had very long arms, he chose cavalry broadswords and took lessons from a West Point graduate; and on the appointed day, they met on a sandbar in the Mississippi River, prepared to fight to the death; but luckily at the last minute, their seconds interrupted and stopped the duel.