Evening journal., 1902-02-13
THEY OBSERVED
LINCOLN DAY


him he hired him ont for twenty-five
cents day as ploughman OF wood
chopper.
1t was nine miles 10 and from the near
est school Thomas Lincoln considered
this walk waste of time. After less
than years schooling, all told, he put
his son al steady work. The hackwoOds'
teachers were worthless, and probably
nothing was lost. But in Abraham Lin.
coin there was born the divine unrest
the eternal aspiration TO better himself
and his condition. No theory of breed
ing or environment can account for il.
The stars in their courses must have
fought for him. He was born honest 60
the core, with a passion for the right and
the truth. However uncOuth on the out
side, he was always gentle and tender of
spirit. He had AN Unsuitable thirst for
knowledge Where was his guidance or
training? The flame Defended without
the altar or the sacrifice. The distinctive
qualities of the boy and man We're, first,
that his mind acquired wisdom out OF
every experience; out of every kind OF
human intercourse, and, second, that his
mental and spiritual growth continued
every moment of his life. The wonder
only grows with the years-that n mar
vclous leader Of men apparently arose
out of nothing into the little company of
the worlds immortals.
AT is, Lincoln was six feet foui
inches in his stockings lie could strike
with a maui heavier blows and sink an
axe deeper into wood than anybody else
He could throw any man in the neighbor-
hood. This physical superiority was a
factor in his later leadership. With all
his strength and statue he always had
the quaint, lean haggard look of people
poisoned with the malaria of the West
ern woods.
After the hard days work the studies
began Besides the Bible he procured
'AesOp's Fables, Robinson Crueaoe.
Pilgrims Progress" a history of the
United States and Weemns Life of
~ ashmgton.' These books he knew
10y heart. BY the fire at night ne
wrote and ciphered ON the back
of % wooden shovel and then shaved
it off for more space. He borrowed
from the constable the revised statutes
Of Indiana prefaced with The Decla-
ration of Independence, the Constitu-
ton and the Act OF Virginia in 1888, ced-
ing the territory northwestward of the
Ohio to the United States, with proviso
against slavery Later he got Euclid
and mastered its mathematical reason.
ing. For a statesman this was a remark.
able substitute for university training
/ Yet look out FOR man whose mind Is
saturated with few books like Euclid
and the Bible. He is apt to be educated
In Lincoln's twenty first year the family
moved 20 Illinois.
The great epoch of Lincoln's life hogaI
m 1858 with the Springfield speech an,
the Douglas debates. Until then he wal
unknown outside his state. Douglas wal
the leader of the Democratic party il
Congress and the generally accepted can
didate for President. A Nermonter b.
BIRTH he came to Illinois at 10; start
ed as an auctioneer's clerk, studie
law and at p was district attorney
member Of Legislature at %; register o
public lands at "a; candidate for Con
gress at %; Secretary of State at q
judge of the supreme Court at 2S; Con
gresham a. 80. United States senate
at 80 and SCI continued. a senator unit
his death. His name was presented a
every Democratic convention for Pres
dent after he was 80. In 1858 he was 4,
four years younger than Lincoln. The
had been lifelong rivals. In polite
Douglas had won. The influence Of thi
rivalry and the example OF such a caree