Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-11
nrnIs,soEscrs on LINCOLN.
rciieiioas rrpre..l"n. from M. TonEus
and Fen.

copyright. 1890 by the Author.1
Propcrtiua says that "thc ivy thrlves
best when left TO itself the wild straw
berry In rocky shades. and wild birds
sing better than art can teach them"
The accuracy Of this view h atteuted.
as often before. by tho example which
Mr. Lincoln has given 10 the world In
his literary style, which exhibits pow
or aud when needed delicacy OF ex-
precision uncxcelled In tho literature OF
It's KIND In modern days. Mr.. Lincoln
received no education except the mere
learning 10 read and write. and all else
was acquired either by dcsultory read
Ing of classical authors or by attrition
with his fellows Of the frontier prac-
tlce. who had obtained such n degree 81
literary polish as was practicable In the
early days Of the region known ~ the
west" Nor II there anything forced or
pedantio In his style. II IL not even
raw" but with all his force OF express
sion he at the same time wrote with
the ease ana grace OF a bellies lcttrca
scholar. II has been aptly said that his
modes OF thought were sui Renerls, and
hence he demanded odd and bizarre
modes OF expression. Such II undoubt-
eddy the fact. but Il Ii particularly no.
ticeable that his tsometimes) startling
expressions do not shock one By their
Hhruptnear. and certainly never by their
coarneneEn or vnlgarity He has no ia
Vorite expressions na such and no pomp
or involuti0n OF Language. and when no
uses expressions out OF the beaten liter
Any track Il In designed by him TO
strongly enforce n point or TO elueldate
a novel idea. Another thing more pro-
falc II that, although he never studied
grammar except at New Salem In soli-
tude, yet he IL always grammatical. !
think no instance cnn be found 20 the
contrary, an attoatntion that he cared
AZ much for the humber Offices OF lit
orntura as for the more ornate.
When he was 70 years OF age, he thus
wrote 10 the voters of his county
Every man Is said TO have his PEE
oullnr ambition. Whether Il be true or
not. ] can say for one that ! have no
other so great ns that OF being truly
esteemed OF my fellow men by render
ing myself worthy OF their esteem. How
far ! shall succeed In gratifying this
ambition In yet TO be developed. | was
born and have ever remained IN the
most humble walks of life. | have no
wealthy or popular relations or friends
TO recommend me. - II the good
people in their wisdom shall see NJ TO
keep me In the background. I have
been too familiar with disappointment
"a be very much chagrined."
This 10 HE first public utterance. and
II betrayH the workings OF hlH mind,
showing alike his ambition, his humil-
ity and his pessimlsm. one cannot but
see that he writes as II he conceived
that he was somehow entitled 10 the
position (which he was not nj aiD, and
that he had u right 10 feel aggrieved II
II should be denied TO him. II also
exhibits his dependency as meaning
10 say Just my luck" II also shows
his humility. In effect saying. II can
endure abuse with equanimty, as /
have abundant experience In that line"
Tut the sequel atteSted that he knew
tho situation better than any one else.
for when he ala get into the legislature
IN that line,
Donunciatlons OF the slave power had
become very thfcadbare by the time
that he took up the tale. but he revived