National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-29


Recently leading paper of Chicago
copied in full Mr.. Lincolu's favorit6 poem,
rs IL has come to be generally known,
and in some editorial remarks concern
ing it and him said that its authorship IL
unknown, and that Mr.. Lincoln himself
evidently did not know who wrote 1t. i
have seen references to it in various
public prints, but Rewhere have / seen
it credited to the man who wrote it..
Soon after Mr.. Lincoln's death the
poem went the rounds of the press, and
was attributed TO Mr.. Lincoln himself as
its author. That it is n very rare and
moritorious production none will deny.
There is more truth, more philosophy,
more religious sentiment in it, however,
than genuine poetry. There is much in
it that strongly appeals to the serious,
thoughtful, and sorrowlul in man. 1t
gives good reasons why 1.-THE spirit OF
mortal" should not be "proud." 1t is
evidently the production Of n saddened
mind; the mournful wall of n sorrowing
soul. 1t touched Mr.. Lincoln's large,
tender, sympathetic heart. It's author
was William Knox, Scotch poet, who
died in Edinburgh in 1925, at the age OF
SO. 'Extravagance and dissipation
marked his early years, and for time
clouded his genius" says his biographer;
"but he could never overcome the force
of his early religious Impressions"
He not only wrote the poem entitled
"Mortality,n the poem referred to, be-
ginning "Oh, why should the spirit OF
mortal be proud!' but he wrote Lonely
Hearth" "Songs of Israel" "The
Harp of Zion" and n number Of other
poems, which may be found in vol.
umc entitled "Scotia's Bards,n pub.
lished by Robert Carter & Brothers,
New York, in 1854.
"The Harp of Zion" is one of the
most eXquisitely artistic and pathetic
productions to be found in the English
language. This is the first verse /:
Harp of Zion. puro and holy,
Pride of Judah eastern land,
Maya child of guilt and folly
Strike thee with feeble hand?
May | TO my bosom take thee,
Trembling from the prophets touch
And with thrObbing heart awake thee
To the strains love 50 much.
The other poems of the author in.
cludcd in this volume are all excellent,
| but of the same mourniul tone. Proba.
| bly, the reason why Mortality " has
| been SO generally attributed to Mr.. Lin,
coin is that he first brought it to genera
public notice by quoting a part, perhaps
the whole Of it, without giving the author
ship, in eulogy which lie pronounced
on President Taylor in the old city hal
on State street, Chicago, in July, 1850
soon after the death Of Taylor, which oc
Cured July o, 1850. Mr.. Lincoln wal
in the city attending the trial Of a paten
case before Judge Drummond-tht
Parker water.wheel case against Hoyt
Of Aurora, H., for Infringement. Ar
chibald Williams and Ben Edwards wer,
solicitors for the plaintiff, and Gran
Goodrich and Mr.. Lincoln for Hoyt
Mr.. Lincoln won his case. One Of tn,
Jurors in the case was the father Of Lieu
tenant Danenhowcr, of the De Long eX
petition.
Mr.. Lincoln naturally made his head
quarters while in the city At Grant Good
rch's Office, which was then at 100 LAX,
street, Goodrich being associated will
him in the trial. Mr.. II, II. Seelcy
whose Office is now in the IrjbuR
building, Chicago, was then law stu
dent in Goodrichs Office. 1t was her,
that Mr.. Lincoln prsparel hif eulqJ
which was short, only Occupying fort
minutes in ts delivery. 1t was here tina
Mr.. Lincoln first saw the poem referee
TO. lie was one day repeating som
poetry from Spenser, and perhaps iron
other English poets, when MIR. Seele
handed him Mortality" printed anon
ymously on newspaper slip. 1t please
Mr.. Lincoln greatly, and, being apprC
pirate, he used it as part OF his eulogy
} / am indebted to Mr.. Seeley for most q
the facts here published for the frs
time.
That Mr.. Lincoln ailerward learne
who the author of the poem was cannC
be doubted, as he had volume contain
ing it in his library, which was sent T.
him from the east some years before h
died. 1t ia probably the volume re
ferred to by Carter Brothers. 1t is we
known that Mr.. Lincoln was very fon
of and very familiar with the Englis
classics, Shakespeare, Ben Ionson, Pop
| Milton, Spenscr, Tom Moore, an
Burns, and, having II prodigious men
. DRY, could repeat more from these AT
, thors than perhaps any of his comtempt
: raries.-I. j. GrOrcr IN the current.