Abraham Lincoln was fond of telling "lawyer stories" -- According to legend one of his favorites involved his days back in Springfield, Illinois. On one particularly cold and dank wintry eve, Lincoln had to travel to Salem and stay overnight on one of his client's cases. Arriving at the local inn, he found several other lawyers interested in the case already arrived and huddled around the tavern fireplace for warmth.
"Really cold out there, heh?" asked one of the bystanders.
"Colder than hell," replied our future president.
"You've been to hell then, Mr. Lincoln?" asked the innkeeper.
"Oh yes," Abe Lincoln smiled, ". . . and just like here, all the lawyers are nearest the fire."
