The Portland daily press., 1901-02-14
interesting Paper by Major Henry s.
Burrage.
Three Times I Saw Abra-
ham Lincoln Subject.
Remarks by Gen. Bangs and
Majors Thaxter aud Mclcher.

A Lincoln memorial meeting was held
by the Maine Commandery of the Loyal
Legion at the Falmouth hotel last even
inc. A dinner served at seven
o'clock preceded the meeting. Maj. 5.
w. Thaxter and Maj. II. S. Burrage of
Portland and Col. f. NJ. Drew of Lewis
ton were elected delegates to attend the
Congress at Washington April TO- The
alternates are DR.. S. c. Gordon Of Port
land, L. A. Butler of Rockland and ii.
Mayhew of Westbrook. The following
committee was chosen to nominate offi-
GERS: Gen. George Varney, Gen. Charlie
Hamlin and Maj. H. W. Clayton of Ban
ror. Thanks were returned to William
S. Wise, U. S. A., for his present of
sixteen eentimeter steel she'll and case
taken from the cruiser Marie Theresa,
the admirars flagship of the Spanish
fleet.
The paper Of the evening, which was
a most interesting and scholarly ad-
dress, was by Maj. II. S. Burrage who
spoke on "The Three Times l Saw
Abraham Lincoln" Maj. Burrage spoke
In part as follows:
l have very distinct recollsctions of the
three times l saw Abraham Lincoln,
whose birthday we commemorate to-
night. The first Of these was in Fsbru-
ary, 1860, when was q member OF she
junior class in Brown University. For
uwo years MIR. Linooln's name had fire.
quentiy been mentioned in the news
papers, especially IN connection with his
debates with Senator Douglas. February
"a, 1850, in Coouer Institute. New York,
he addressed large meeting under the
auspices OF the Young Mems Central Re-
publican Union. 1t was the first op-
portunity which the representative men
of the great metropolis bad found for
public recognition Of the distinguished
position which MIR. Lincoln had gained
in his western home. They assembled In
large numbers, and they gave to him the
closest and most respectful attention as
he stated tine great principles then divid-
ing the North and the South.
The New York Tribune the next morn
ing, referring to MIR. Linooln's Cooper
l0sOlbube huuEceSt baiNs NIX A~AhNoAh 70
one OF natures orators, using his rare
powers eolely to elucidate and convince,
though their Inevitable effect Is to dslight
and eIectrify as we'll We present here
with very full and accurate rep1rs OF
his spesch; yet the tones, the gestures,
the KindIing eye, and the mirth-proyok-
ing look defy the reporters pencil. The
vast assemhlage frequently rang with
cheers and shouts OF applause, which
were prolonged and intensified at the
close. No man ever before made sunh
an impression on his frat appeal TO q
New York audience.
The next night, Feb. .S, Mr.. Lincoln
spoke in Providence, Rhode Island, and
it was there that saw him for the iirst
time. A heated state political campaign
was in progress. Ostensibiy Mr.. Lincoln
was in New England for the purpose OF
visiting his son, Robert. who was then,
II l remember rightly, q student At
Exeter Academy, But in all probability
ehe prominent leaders OF ths Republican
party in New England, who knew that
MIR. Lincoln was to speak in New YORK
on Feb. 27, made ths arrangements
which brought MIR. Lincoln hisher, and
secured from him q few addresses In
IL happened that the fret of these ad :
dresses was given In Providence.
MIR. Lincoln spoke In Railroad hall. the
large hall Ia the old Providence stat ion.
It was the largest hall In the oity; yet
spacious as it was, IL proved entirely In
adequate for the accommodation OF the
vast throng OF people, OF different poiiti.
cal faiths, who desired to hear an orator
VINO had already secured 90 large share
orspublio attention.
Ex-Gov. William W. Hoppin called the
meeting to order, and Hon. Thomas A,
Jenkes. distinguished member OF the
Rhode IslAnd bar and arterward o me m
Der of Congress from Rhode sIslai1d, pre-
sided. Mhsn MIR. Jenckes introduced Mr.
Lincoln we had before US q man tall,
somewhat awkward In carriage, but his
face. then shavsn, though not winsome,
was serious with thought and stamped
with intelligence. while from his piercing
black eyes flashed the ire that unmis-
takabJy burned within.
MIR. Linooln commenced his address by
referring 60 some editorial comments IN
one of the Providence papers with refer
ence to his visit to the city at that time
The political contest then in progress
was a state, not a national affair, and
this paper somewhat savageiy rebuked
Mr. Lincoln for his participation In o
campaign in which national politics had
no place whatever. Mr.. Lincoln slowly
unfolded this paDer, and In his own In