Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-14

Feb. II is the anniversary of Abra-
ham Lincoln's birth, an event which
occurred in Kentucky in 1S09-just So
years ago-hence the following from
the Milwaukee Sunday Telegraph is
Of special interest at this time.
In Chicago, en- the evening of the 9th
OF July, 1858, [ stood within a few
feet OF Abraham Lincoln, who sat
upon the balcony of the fremont
house, listening to the opening speech
of his opponent, Stephen A. Douglas,
in the great senatorial contest of Hi
nois, that took place that year. The
contrast between the "Little Giant
and the Rail Splitter was indeed
striking, the former, short, thickset,
but finely built; the latter, tall, lank
and ungainly. Mr.. Douglas, at that
time, as a political speaker, either on
the stump or on the senate floor, had
no superior, but Mr.. Lincoln proved to
be fully his equal at "a debater and as
an orator in that campaign. Mr.. Lin
coin had a rich, ~silvery voice and a
fine command of language. A cores
pondent of a. Boston Journal at that
time truly stated: ''There is a grand
III an his thoughts, a comprehensive
ness in his arguments and a binding
force in his conclusions, which was
perfectly irresistible. The vast throng
Were silent as death, every eye was
fixed Upon the speaker and all gave
serious attention. He was the tail
man eloquent, his c~ountenance glowed
with animation and his eye gloWed
with an intelligence that made it lust
rous. He was no longer awkward and
ungainly, but graceful, bold, command
ing
Little did Mr.. Lincoln or any one of
that multitude realize, on that summer
night, what a sacred mission he was
destined to fulfill by the "divine ruler
of nations" In less thar three short
years from that time he as president
assumed a task more difficult than
that which devolved upon Washington,
and so faithfully and successfully did
he execute his solemn pledge, made at
that time ''tO preserve, protect and de-
fend the u%nion,' that he will be re
membered throughout all time as the
Savior of his country"
George B. Burrows,
Lincoln, the rail splitter, the fiat
boatman, the statesman, the president,
and the martyred hero! Can his name.
or his deeds ever be forgotten, as long
as time shall last? His pure life and
his ardent patriotism shall grow
brighter as the years roll on.
Over t~hirty-five years ago Lincoln,
the orator, was at the Newthall house,
in Milwaukee, the guest of the State
Agricultural society, and oil the Both
day Of September, in 1859, this lawyer
and orator, then comparatively I'M
known in this country, at the fair
grounds near the city of Milwaukee,
arose and said: 'Members of the Ag-
ricultural society and citizens of Wis
consin," then following with his ad-
dress which ought to be read by all,
today.
II was III llfc olilCt pl lllc Now illll
house that I first met Lincoln. Win
others | was introduced to MIN by the
hate Col. Augustus A. Bird, of Madi-
son, an old acquaintance and friend of
Mr.. Lincoln. He appeared to Ne a
striking character; a man of eXtraOr-
binary mould; one who would impress
you greatly. He was very tall, and
straight as the sculptured marble, at
the same time so genial and kindly.
In conversation his homeiy face would
radiate with smiles, as his story tell
ing prOclivities were called out to good
advantage. He was a great attraction
then, and men gathered around him
20 listen to every wore that fell from
his lips, to study his form and fea-
lures, and wonder what manner of
man he was. Those who ten listened
to his conversation, who came within
the radiance of his presence, little
dreamed of the great destiny which
awaited him; that the man before
them would become the greatest char
acter in American history; that the or
ator who addressed the comparatively
small gathering on the occasion of this
state fair, would thereafter, by his
practice and precepts, be addressing
an audience composed of all the people
of the world. But so it turned out to
be.
My acquaintance with him, com
ntencing at this time, lasted through
out his entire life. During his term of
~@SAo ,,I ,Nr-1r~@% 9th I,D,
frequently. AT the ball given in
Washington on the occasion of his
second inauguration, fortunate chance
threw me much within the halo of his
presence, and I was afforded a fine OPP
portunfty to study him, to watch his
every movement, and to listen to his
conversation | was then strongly
impressed with the appearance uf sad
ness which seemed especially to sur
round him. He went out from tina
brilliant scene, almost with A step
into the chamber of his death.
During the months of March and
April, in that eventful year 1861, my
time was spent in the city of Wash
ington. Men from the north and wesr
were attracted thither by the novelty
of the situation, caused by the inaug
uration of a republican president, anC
by the dangers which at that time
threatened our country. With othe
pilgrims, l was after an office; Seekin:
what thap Saama5 to no a pliftaTiOs