The Morris County chronicle., 1903-02-20
Mr.. STODDARD'S SPEECH
The Lincoln Guards Celebration was
Interesting

Interesting
The Lincoln guards celebrated Lin.
coins Birthday at the A. T. A. Torbert
Rooms by uniting with Torbert Post and
the Ladies Hope League. to listen to q
lecture by Mr.. W. o. Stoddard, of Madi-
son, N j., who was Mr.. Lincoln's private
secretary. CAPT. VIM. Baldwin presided
over the ceremonies of the evening. He
welcomed the guests of the evening and
then called on Mr.. Roy N Berry, who in
a few we'll chosen words told the story
of the organization of the Lincoln
Guards about the time of the outbreak
of the Spanish American War.
Mr.. Stoddard then spoke in part as
follows:
"If any of us were to visit for instance
blacksmith shop, anywhere in the
United States. and if we did not find the
great front entrance clost d, should walk
in there would be no ringing of hammer
and anvil. The hammer would be lean
ing silently as it was. If we should go
to bank the doors of the bank would
be shut. 1t we should go to a mercantile
establishment it would be closed and it a
stranger were to ask the reason why, he
would be told that it is Lincoln's Birth
day. A national holiday set apart to the
memory of a great name. 1t is well
that If ehouId bo on oC1 x,at =, IooI-;...
back it is not easy always for us to frame
in our minds views of the great man
gone before us. We look back upon the
closing of his career so suddenly ended
and we try to look behind it and see the
man. | sometimes try to do it myself
for l have studied him and there is
nothing new that can be said concerning
Abraham Lincoln. There is no story
that has not been told again and again
and again: and yet the old stori-s bubble.
up again and they seem sometimes like
new. was thinking today and it
seems as if it were yesterday the first
time ever saw him. Well yes the first
time | have ever seen him to speak to
him | was a very young man. My
partner and had constructed building
| should say about as long as this is deep.
The lower part of it was occupied as a
drug store. My partner was druggist.
The upper part of 1t was printing
office. | was up there for l was what
you might call composer as well as
editor, and one of the youngsters had
pie lot of type Printer like, my
sleeves were rolled up to my shoulders,
and my hands were also as black as ink
| heard something going on downstairs.
| heard somebody say Hello Doc
Then l heard somebody say "Mr. Lin
coin, is that Nou." had heard a great
deal of Mr.. Lincoln. l was about to
learn lesson. Says he DOC, | want
to see Stoddard We did not put many
handles on peoples names out there so
up the stair ease comes the Doctor. He
was excited for he had much reverence
for old age. "Stoddard, Abe is down
stairs and wants to see you" | said II
cannot leave my printing to see Abe, -
He says 'he says you must come, but fix
up little" said II don't know that
that is necessary" He says "Stoddard,
you lock like the devil" / said 'Well,
don't know but do, but am not going
to fix up in this weather." l says Il
will compromise, will wash my hands,
nut l will not roll down my shirt
sleeves" So when had come down he
was quite ready to receive me. He
hadn't any more ceremony than l had.
Down 1 sat. He began to ask questions
about a candidate. knew that county
for had farmed it and stumped it. To
my astonishment he knew my own
county better than did; called men by
name. here, there, everywhere. He
knew where they came from. He was
applying this system to the other states
to the entire country. He was calculat-
ing the forces that could be depended
upon for organization of the Republican
party"
The lecture was followed by Miss
Helen E. Lawrence who sang Barbara
Fritchie, and recitation from Miss
Maud Berry.
Refreshments were served at the close
of the evening.
Fewer Gallons; Wears Longer.