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Show by MICHAEL DEPP Honest Jim At first glance, the similarities are as obvious as they ue uncanny (be dnunadc, angukr chin and note, deepen eye, and knky frame. But Jim Rubins remarkable resemblance to Abraham Lincoln goes beyond a e enthusiasm that helped make our superficial likeness. The same 16th president one of historys most unforgettable men has helped make Rubin one of Lincolns most talented impersonating performers. Rubin, 69, has been told he looks like Lincoln far most of his adult life, but aside from a stand-i- n role in West Virginia's tmcmnial pageant in 1963, he never thought much about making a job out of it. After retiring from a long career as a clinical psychologist and counselor, however, he began giving the comparisons another thought. Just a few years and a few hundred performances later; he's become one of the nations leading "Abe Lincolns. Connecting with Lincoln across history has been as revealing a process for him as it is fix his audience, Rubin says. larger-than-lif- tito(MnKi i0iQ0Q because I didnt know that much about Lincoln, his War. He couldn't even quote from the CrtOydarrg AdAeu. and the Gvil history, Hundreds of recitations latet; he feels closer to understanding the tuneless attributes Lincoln embodied chaiactet, honesty and high integrity; he And he also irlaces strongly to Lincoln's humble beginnings, having grown up himself the 12th of 14 children on a small farm with limited means. The business of performing die Lincoln role, which Rubin has done professionally since 1997, is a changing task. "I try to gear my presentation to the dicum- stance, he says. At a Mother's Day event last year; for instance, he focused on Lincoln's upbringing by two mothers his natural mother; who died when he was 9 years old, and his stepmother. Rubin of Prosperity, W.Va., (pop. 1310) also enjoys annual performances with die Association of Lincoln Presenters, Whose gathering he brought to West Virginia fix1 the first time last year. He has placed highly in numerous Lincoln comperitioos and has played the role as far away as California, Texas, North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. He even appeared on the in the role, and among his proudest performances was Today show and hefiae the House nfDriegaira assembly ar die Wear Vlginiatrelion-spoke for 23 minutes and gave a history of die making of the state of West Virginia," he says. Many people dont know how involved TJnmln was on that issue, so many of those legislators had a history lesson. Schoolchildren are among his favorite audiences. While older students get a detailed dose cf Civil War history; Rubin focuses oa Lincolns early life for younger gtade schoolers. Many are sufficiently impresredarith his Tincoln suit, complete with ftockcoat and Stovepipe hat, and some area liide aw rhnonghlyrnnvincBd I wallrdmwgh at the performance. One little giri said, lflrame up diem, "I he have let know to them that I'm not a ghost. you? says. Other kids have offered similar flattery, such as the who solemnly raised bet hand and inftamed him, 1 voted for you." teacher in Bcddcy;W.ViL, who has worked with Rubin Gayle Mills, a fifth-graon numerous occasions, credits his success to his extensive nrsrairh and a certain, less tangible quality. He looks special, she says. He has an aura about him thar he carries when hes in character that does reach out. His enthusiasm being infectious, Rubin recently reemited his wife, Edna, to appear beside him as Mary Ibdd Lincoln in period dress, and some of his seven grandchildren have posed for pnrtwifs chiHr- Whik he doesn't hold his frmily to the same strident seme of accuracy Rubin continues to relish inhabiting the role in all its details, tight doom to the beard. Indeed, many of his younger audience members who hare been offered a verifying tug tan attest Rubins proud daim, The whiskers are ny whiskers." At first I had to cram as. fust-grad- er de 19th-centu- o Mic&arf Dtpp is m ry rtydar cerntributar U Ameriran PmfiU |