The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-14
LINCOLN WAS
HONORED IN
THE SCHOOLS
Pupils Assemble in the Class Rooms to Do
Homage to the Memory of
the Martyr.
Reverence for the Dead Mingles With Patriotic
Enthusiasm Inspired by the Tales
of War Veterans.

T INCOIfN day exercises were held in
all the public schools of the city yes
| terday afternoon and evening, the
classrooms being appropriately dec
GRATED for the occasion with flags and
bunting, and the programmes in several
instances were quite elaborate. The
pupils manifested great interest in the
addresses of the old war veterans, dele
cations of whom visited all the schools
and participated in the ceremonies. Their
patriotism was aroused to the highest
pitch of enthusiasm by the anecdotes Of
the camp and battlefield related for their
benefit, and they Joined in singing the
stirring war songs with all the fervor
and lungpower they could muster. Stories
illustrating the sterling character and low
ing tenderness of Lincoln brought tears
to the eyes of the children, but the tears
changed to laughter when some humorous
saying or incident in which Lincoln had
figured as a boy or man was touched
upon
1t was day in which reverence for the
memory of the martyr President, which it
was sought to inspire inJthe minds of the
young people, was made use OF to foster
the natural love of country and the spirit
of patriotism which so dominated his life
and which is the safeguard of the Union.
The pupils responded in manner highly
gratifying to those having charge Of the
exercises. They listened with rapt atten-
ton to everything relating to this grand
character in American history, but moth
ing appealed to them more than the in
tense patriotism of the man whose mem
DRY they had assembled to honor.
AT the Lincoln School the principal adj
dress was made by Professor Knowlton,
who paid beautiful and touching tribute
to the character and life of Lincoln. He
said In part:
Abraham Lincoln stands alone in his
tory. In all the annals of our own coun-
try or in those Of the world his noble life
has no peer.
"If any man ever began at the bottom
he did. From earliest boyhood all kinds
of hardship were his. Through youth and
early manhood he knew every form of
His rude, rough way wound darby among
thick set discouragements. But it led ever
upward. Most disheartening difficulties
massed themselves in front of him, but
he boldly charged into. the thickest of
them all. They thronged about him from
all sides, but. he faced and fought them
And all the world knows that he did win.
He would not down. No announcements
daunted him; no difficulty defeated him.
H;umby, patiently, perseveringiyf, PUCK X
gled up into success. All his struggling
gave him more strength, and with his
greater strength he conquered higher
when Providence placed upon his
brow the crown of power four millions of
African bondsmen lay hopelessly grooming
in helpless slavery. Before relentless
death struck that crown. from his dying
brow those millions, at his single WORD,
marched exultingly forth into reverend
ing freedom"
The Lincoln memorial exercises at the
Hearst Grammer School yesterday after
noon under the supervision of Mrs. Wood,
the principal, were of a very interesting
q q of ha
ing the three large class rooms were
drawn back, making one large auditorium
in which three hundred pupils were as
sembed. All of these took part in the
execution of most excellent programme.
The rooms were handsomely draped in
national colors and decorated with
flowers.
The Grand Army was represented by.
Past Post Commander William H.
Wharf, Of Company c, Eleventh Maine
Infantry. who acted as chairman; Cap
tain &. K. Russell of the Sixth Massachu-
sets Light Artillery, and ]. H. Story of
Company D, Second California Infantry.