The Portland daily press., 1877-06-29
from the Boston TranscI. It.I
DIR. John Dunlap Lincoln.
An OId-s se-.oI village Pby.iciau

i ~ A"' HaA 1ne advantages or disadvantages
Wsach the Inhabitants of one accords to the
Ither. The city has more houses more inhabi
tants more culture and knowledge, but the
INDIVIDUAL is not directly interested in the mass
save % as IL reacts on and affects his own person.
AMY, ana IL Is not true, certainly in this land
that the average wealth or culture or morals Of
tue city are 10 advance of the country, but
rather the rich are richer, and the poor pooreri
that knowledge and ignorance have their ex-
tienes' ana virtue and vice, too, in populous
cities. 1t is true that the influence of the citv
on the individual intensfies his nature for bet
ter or worse, and that its possibilities of power
anu wealth are in advance of the village, But
IL Is not true that the individual can influence
so ueeply and lastingly large city as a small
Town. Inc dead statesman is not such a per-
sonal loss to nation as a dead father to his
family. Love is stronger and more pervad-
| ing passion than patriotism, although not 90
l conspicuous in its expression. 1t requires,
| however, opportunity and knowledge, and the
| opportunity to know people in the city is per-
/ maps less than in the town, for life is more
complex and busy, the formalities and ceremo-
| mails OF life, all of which take time more ex-
| acting, and the hours in the day but twenty
| four the world over. The fact is, human ma
entity comprehensive to admit of great elastieI-
". Wnat is, is inherent. The nature which
IS strong and true may be repressed or intensi-
ned Dy climate or circumstances; but it Is all
sHeASB anu Ou anu opportunity VIII
shine forth. The opportunities for a strong,
true character to thoroughly impress and in
nuence community surely increase in ratio
as the community decreases in pumurousness,
anu Cesar spoke wisely when he said, ~
would rather be tirst in a village than second
/ in Rome'
These thoughts of the comparative signifi-
canoe OF city and country life and the influences
which each has on the individual and he in re-
turn exerts on them, were suggested by the
recent 2nknaad nf T..k..
Lincoln who for over thirty years has been the
leading physician in the old historic town of
Brunswick, in Maine. The alumni list of
Bowdoin College includes many names TO all
OF Whom this news that another is to be starred
IN the trennial will bring sadness at their loss
or frlend-for to series of college classes he
has been more than merely medical adviser
and regret that the institution has lost gradu.
ate who has, as one of its government on the
ground, been an untiring and devoted adviser
OF the college authorities and the moving spirit
IN the Maine Medical School. Nor is it the
college alone which will miss the influence, the
presence, the character of DR.. John, as he was
familiarly called. but throughout the State
ms sage advice in politics and in consultations
to which he was frequently called, will be loss
deeply felt. But as village doctor in a great
rural district was this able, true man force
and leader. He was one of a type fast pass
ing away. He inherited a strong will from his
father, DIR. Isaac Lincoln, who for wears held
the town that his son has, but who, unlike his
son, who was the personifcation OF gentle
strength, had an intensely passionate DISPOSE
tion, that led him to heights of anger and mer-
cy which are preserved to this day in numer-
GUS pathetic and amusing traditions in town
and college.
The younger Lincoln obtained thorough
and comprehensive understanding of his pro-
fesslon. After success was assured and his
professional engagements were allengrossing,
ne found time To kpnn with fha in
new discoveries and appliances for the ameli-
Grafton of human suffering His advice was
sought and valued, even as to his own last i'll
ness by the most eminent surgeons and pbysi-
clans OF Maine, who fastened from long dis
tances to his bedside and were constant in their
devotion to his comfort, and efforts to preserve
his life. But the doctor, ever philosophical,
several weeks before his death came to
Boston and consulted distinguished ply
siclans as to what he suspected to be
an incurable disease, and then returned to hiE
home, determined to take to his bed and see IL
perfect quiet and repose would not give ID
favorable turn. His constitution, never very
robust, and worn by constant exposure to Q
severe climate, in which, night and day, he
never shirked duty, was not, as his own expe-
rience and knowledge assured him, up to the
task OF recuperation. On the morning of June
g. with calm, peaceful and willing mind, he
entered into that change with whose approach
he was so familiar and for which he had no
fear, and no regrets save at the present separs-
tion from his family.
Modern civilization seems to have some re-
deeming features after all its destructive ten.
denotes of established thought, mysticism and
superstition. Its philosophical treatment Of
death and the future, as applied to and inter-
preting the Christian religion, is thousand
times more reasonable and consoling than the
cheap horror with which the old school of the
ologians shrouded in cruel gloom the saddest,
often the kindest and ever the grandest act Of
nature. For never does man, save when death
is waiting for his body, fully appreciate life,
and never does Immortality seem so real, 80 de-
sirable, as when the lifeless body proves how
all Important is the soul, and how little ever
ceases to exist.
To state it chronologically-fer more than
seventy years the name Lincoln, father and
son, has been as familiar to the people Of
Brunswick as their old landmarks. The senior
Dr. Lincoln was graduate at Harvard College
about the same year as the late Professor Par
ker Cleaveland, in 1898, and with him, early in
this century, settled in Brunswick. The father
died in 1866. His son was born and bred and
died in the old mansion which his father built.
In lS43 lie was graduated at Bowdoin College,
and from the Maine Medical School IN 1886.
Boy, youth and man, he has labored and been
known and honored among the people of his
native village. He had all the New England
pride OF ancestry and devotion to his home.
His wife-youDgest child and only daughter of
the late General Samuel Fessenden-and three
children survive him. His was strictly old
style New England life, full of thought and its
practical application.
Well read in literature and of scholarly
tastes, he maGe practical application of it by
active work for years as member of the Su-
perintending School Committee of Brunswick.
Having strong pride and interest in his alma
mater, he was for many years and at his death
a member OF the Board of Oyerseers.
Taking Just pride in his profession, he
served as member of the faculty of the Maine
Medical School. Interested in the sue
oacc Of 4 fha fsolaxv =.
servation of the Union, he acted for years as
one of the Maine Republican State Central
Committee
Concerned in all that pertained to the de-
velopment OF the property and ornamentation
of the village, he held various town Offices,
was director of the First National Bank from
its organization, and to his efforts is due much
OF the present excellent condition of the roads
and public grounds of the town. Within q
few weeks of his death he was consulting with
the town authorities as to improved drainage
and the setting out of trees, and was engaged
even in his last illness in contributing for the
village paper series of articles on matters
pertaining to the welfare of the town.
But this is only on side of his usefulness. To
I'LL ably and conscentiously, as he did, all
these various functions, that tended to increase
the public happiness and general welfare, was
his relaxation, the practical application Of his
thoughts. To his profession he was devoted;
his daily practice being in radius of twenty
infrequently at night, he was riding from farm
to farm, from house to hovel, not only giving
advice aud medicine, but, by his genial pre-
sence, mirthful ways and keen sense of hurnor.
cheering the sick room and giving impulse and
new inspiration to all the household he visited,
He was ever ready with his sage advice In
practical matters, and his long intimacy with
families made him a frequent peacemaker in
social and public quarrels. His patients COM
prised every class in the community, for DR..
Lincoln was no respecter of persons; he had
seen too much of human nature to be confused
by externals or affected by surroundings.
No man called on him in vain. No matter
how stormy the night, or how dark; no matter
whether 1t was the servant of some well-todo
neighbor, or the underfed son Of some DOOR
fisherman, whose hut was on some remote
island in Casoo Bay. If there was suffering
humanity that needed his skill and called for
him, Just as cheerfully and willingly as if for
hope of reward he proceeded on his errand of
mercy without delay. Many and many time
has he driven at the dead of night In such a
storm as often comes up on our bleak coast,
ten miles to the dreary shore and then been
rowed by the strong arms of Maine fishermen
to some lone island, to tend sick child; no
hope of reward brought him there, and no
reward which this world affords can fulfil the
prayers of the mother who has seen him tend