Once, when Lincoln was pleading a case, the opposing lawyer had all the
advantage of the law; the weather was warm, and his opponent, as was
admissible in frontier courts, pulled off his coat and vest as he grew
warm in the argument.
At that time, shirts with buttons behind were unusual. Lincoln took in
the situation at once. Knowing the prejudices of the primitive people
against pretension of all sorts, or any affectation of superior social
rank, arising, he said: “Gentlemen of the jury, having justice on my
side, I don’t think you will be at all influenced by the gentleman’s
pretended knowledge of the law, when you see he does not even know which
side of his shirt should be in front.” There was a general laugh, and
Lincoln’s case was won.