The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-12

rsyG Pr nShO g,e Of this wv born at
Gated at Glasgow and Cambridge He Was 1 nro-
lessor or English at University College London
for two years; was admitted to the bar in 1885,
and afterward held office under the government
Iie adapted more than 100 plays for the stage
In 1874 ne became editor of London Punch a
lied President LineoIn Phe a fod Pei0 Sa I
written shortly after Lincolns death and pub
hshed In Punch, express Taylor's apology.l
You lay a wreath on murdered Lincoln's bier.
You, who with hooking pencil wont to trace
Broad for the self-complacent British sheer
His length Of stumbling limb. his furrowed
His gaunt. gnaried hands. his unkempt. bristling
His garb uneouth. his bearing Ill at ease,
OF power or will to shine, of art to please:
You. whose smart pen backed up the pencils
Judging each step though the way were
Reckless so 1t could point its paragraph.
OF chiefs perplexity. peoples pain
Beside this corpse. that bears for windinp-sbeet
The Stars and Stripes he lived TO rear anew
Between the mourners at his head and feet.
Yes: he had lived to shame me from my sneer.
To make me own this hind of princes peer
This rail-spltter, true-born king of men.
My shallow judgment had learned to rue.
Noting how to OCCASIONS height he rose:
How. ironlike. his temper grew by blows;
How humble. yet how hopeful. he could BE:
How. in good fortune and in i'll. the same;
Nor bitter in success, nor boastful he
Thirsty for gold nor feversh for fame.
Ever had laid on head and heart and hand
AS one who knows where there's a task to do
Mans honest VIII must heavens good grace
command
That God makes instruments to work His will.
II but that Will we can arrive 10 know.
Nor tamper with. the weights of good and ILL
So he went forth to battle. on the side
That he felt clear was Liberty's and Rights.
AS in his pleasant boyhood he had piled
His warfare with rude Natures thwarting
The unceared forest. the unbroken SOIL
The iron-bark that turns the lumberers ak
The rapid that o'erbears the boatman's toll
The prairie hiding the mazed wanderers
tracks
Such were the deeds that helped his youth to
train;
Rough culture. but such trees large fruit may
II but their stocks be of right girth and grain
So ne grew up. destined work to do
And lived TO do IL; four long suffering years
Ill-fate. ill-feeling. ill-repOrt lived through
And then he heard the Kisses change to cheers
And took both with the same unwaverng mood
TIL. he light. from darkling DAYS
And seemed 10 touch the goal from where he
stood.
a felon hand. between the goal and him.
Reached from behind his back. a trigger pres,
| And those perpexed and patient eyes were dim
Those gaunt lons-laboring limbs laid to
restt
The words OF mercy were upon his lips
Forgiveness in his heart and his pen.
When this vile murderer brought swift eclipse
To thoughts OF peace on earth, goodwill to
men,
| The Old World ami the New. from sea to sea
Utter voice OF sympathy and shame
Sore heart stopped when IL at last beat high:
Sad life. cut short just as its triumph came,
| A deed accurst, Strokes have been struck before
BY the assassin's hand whereof men doubt
p If more OF horror or disgrace they bore:
But thy foul crime. like Gains stands darkly
ont.
| Vile hand. that brandest murder a strife
Whate'er It's grounds. stoutiy and nobly
striven
| And with the martyrs crown crownest a life
With much to praise. little to be forgiven.
Tom Taylor