The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06
MRS. M'CARTER'S TALK.
Delighted Her Audience With
Lecture on Lincoln.

Difficult as it may seem. after a dozen
or more biographers have given to the
world the best that they could write of
the life of Abraham Lincoln and the
newspapers every other week are re
counting Lincoln's last story for any
thing to be said that should freshen and
strengthen in the minds of the people
the impression which the first martyred
president left. still the lecture on The
Manhood of Abraham Lincoln" which
Mrs Margaret Hill McCarter, of this
city, gave at the First M. E. church.
Friday evening was more than worth
the while of the person who has read
printed or told. It was the second of I.
course of lectures for the winter
arranged by the Brotherhood of St. Paul
of that church. The third will be given
two weeks hence by Rev Dr. w. A.
Quayle, of Kansas City, Mo.
In the first place, the delivery of Mrs.
McCarter was in keeping with the great
character which she was handling Her
4 language was simple, concise and clear
cut-such that not a person in the house
but could comprehend every word
spoken. There were few gestures to en-
force her words. but what she said was
sufficient: she has rich voice for pub
lie speaking.
Naturally there was little of the pure
ly biographical that is the naming of
dates and not so much attention to
| ONSHlS III 1HGIflS0iFESs DuI InS stress was
placed as nightly it should be upon the
significance of things. Mrs. McCarter told
briefly of the conditions under which
Abraham Lincoln spent his early years;
kind of 3eople his ancestors were, fol-
lowed by a brief survey of his young
manhood. She said that his surround
ings helped develop those talents which
as man made him great: he learned
the value of reflection from his solitary
life. he learned to live within himself
The kind1inaSS nf his at h 50
of humor and the power which he had
of thinking wisely and speaking pro-
perry were noticed briefly. Above all
the imperfections of his character, there
was simplicity and sweetness which
has endeared him to America and to the
world. There were times when her ad-
dress was interrupted by applause. but
there were eew times when it was
stronger in emphasis of what she said
than were the others. Especially deserv-
ing of all this Endorsement which she re-
ceived was her comments upon the
work of Lincoln as emancioator of the
negro race; the climax which she reach
ed in praising its author showed her
great power in the use of language.
There was another expression which the
audience quickly took up and echoed back:
| in my opinion" said she, there is no
one who has so neared measuredup to Lin
I White House. If were a man and held
political views opposite to those of the
party to which Theodore Roosevelt be-
longs, I should ponder a long time before
voting in that. way rather than for the
man who is nearest like Lincoln.
| 1.-THE American people have much for
which to boast Mrs. McCarter called
attention to the standing of this Ration
among other countries. and the great in
all lines which it had produced But
among ALL was her conclusion. there is
nothing else of which it may boast so
much as the kindly. earnest, foreseeing
man upan whose monument nav be en-
eraved these words Abraham Lincoln. our
| fellow citizen