The Evening critic., 1883-01-16
lNoERsoLL ON LINCOLN.
Introduction to 5Sr. Nidt's Leciur
on "rawyer Lincoln by the CrIe
of The GgUrt.'

Introduction to Tr. Kidd's Lecture
on "r.awyer Lincoln by the CrIcr
of The Court
At tho request OF many readers we print
herewith u verbatim report OF Colonel II. g..
1ngersolls eloquent remarks In introducing
Mr.. Kidd at the National Theatre Sunday
night.
We are to hear this evening n lecture about
Abraham Lincoln Not about Lincoln the
President, the preserver OF n nation; not about
Lincoln tho statesman, or the ltberator, but
about Lincoln the Lawyer-somethlug about
him as he really was before orch. no m tell heir 70
arities. his habits, his thoughts and common
words-that is to suy, his dailyl life.
Nearly all the characters of history are int
their peculiarlties, or nothing but their pecu'
liarlties. Washington is only steel engrav-
Ing. About the roots OF these oaks there cings @
the advantage of living in q new country, of
social equality, of seeing in the horizon OF his
future the perpetual star of hope. He saw
and mingled with men of all kinds; and,
after all, men are books, He became ac-
quainted with Nature-with things; he lived
and appreciated the poem Of tho year.
IL is no advantage to live In city. The
fields are better than paved streets, and tho
great forests than walls OF brick. Oaks and
elms are more poetic than the stacks aud
chimneys OF factories. In the country Is tho
idea of home. There you see the rising and
setting sun; you become acquainted with the
roof, and listen to the sighting of tho wind.
Every field Is picture, q landscape; every
landscape is poem, and every forest Ia
fairy land.
You have no idea how many men are
spoiled by what is called ''education," For
the most part, colleges are places whero
bricks are polished and diamonds spoiled. II
Shakespeare had graduated at Oxford he might
have become quibbling attorney or hypo-
critical parson.
Lincoln was a many sided man. He was &C.
W
never afraid to ask. He WAS not too dignilcd
10 admit that he did not know. He was not
e masR hid ynhsy ips lhe features n Of e Ignorance
and whenever u man Is too dignifed to ask
he ceases TO learn. Lincoln was combina-
tion of wisdom and shrewdness. He was a
logician. Logic is the necessary product of
intelligence and honesty. 1t cannot be learned,
II cannot be taught. 1t Is the child of n good
head and good heart. He had intellect with
liglon without cant-that Is TO say, humanity
without hypocrisy. He was an orator-that Is
10 say, he was natural. He never pretended.
thought, but what he thought.
If you wish to be sublime, you must keep
close TO the grass. You mrat SIT by the hre-
side of human experience, OF human emotion.
Above the clouds 1t is too cold. Too much
polish suggests insincerity If you wish TO
know the difference between an orator ana
speaker, between what is felt and what Is said,
read Lincoln's immortal words at Gettysburg,
and then read the speech OF Edward Everett.
The one gatnered MOWERS from MS nehrt: inc
other, words from his brain. The words of
Lincoln will never be forgotten. The speech
OF Everett Will never be read. The elOcutlon
lists believe In the virtue of voice, the sublimty
ofsyntax, the majesty oflong sentences and the
genius of gesture. Great ideas should be OK
pressed In the shortest words. The greatest
statues should have the least drapery.
Nothing discloses real character like the use
of power. II is easy for the weak to be gentle.
Most people can bear adversity; but If you
wish to know what man really Is, give him
power. This is the supreme test. II is the
power, he never abused 1t, except on the side
OF mercy. He would not turn man out of
even the smallest office, and leave stain upon
ample hearing. He loved 10 pardon. He loved
to see the tears of JOY upon the cheeks OF q
wife whose husband he had rescued from
death.
he wifi be known through all the years as
Lincoln the Great, Lincoln the Gontle, Lincoln
the Inst