The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-12
L|NC0LN'S BIRTHDAY
F|TT|NGLY OBSERVED.
III II
History Of The Movements 10 Erect Monuments ID The
Memory Of The MaP4red President Sermon Last
Mig ht-1he Day Observed Locally.

WM WO uuY OuVOI W
Tributes to the memory of Abraham
Lincoln in birthday dinners, school
children's exercises and public meet
fngs, while fitting and beautiful rev.
erenceN to one of the nations greatest
men are not needed to keep his mem
DRY green.
That has already been proved by
the number of monuments in his hon.
or, which stand in public places from
one end of the United States to the
other. Ss
The exquisite character of the lead
ing figure of the Civil war, no less
than his achievements of statecraft,
have caused more monuments to be
dedicated to his memory than have
been ereced to any other president
Even Washington, though he came
half century before Lincoln, has not
been SO often immortalized in marble
and bronze. The founder has receiv-
ed his need of praise, but the pre-
server has been vouchsafed still more
memorials.
The tragic circumstances of Lincoln's
takiIg off undoubtedly had their share
in this result.
Washington filled out his career, and
died peacefully years after he had re-
tired from public life, and devoted
himself to his farm at Mount Vernon.
Lincoln was taken off in the full of
his prime just when the passing of the
war clouds seemed to assure his har-
assed brain rest from the fierce
struggle it had endured.
The pathos of his death at the hands
of misguided man caused
burst of sorrow to stir this country
that has never had it's equal before
or since, and in this cutlery was laid
the foundation of many enduring piles
of marble.
Men were willing to give to honor
this great president, not out of their
plenty, but their all, if need be.
Without taking into account the
hundreds of smaller memorials in the
lesser cities of the United States, there
are pretentious and famous statues of
Lincoln in Springfield, Washington,
New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos-
ton and San Francisco.
The most famous and costly of all,
and probably the most beautiful is the
one at Springfield, Ill. This was Lin
coins home for thirty years, and here
he spent what few happy days were
permitted to his storm-tossed life.
The modest little home in Spring
field was the only piece of real estate
that ever belonged to Lincoln, and
that now appropriately is the property
of the State of Illinois, it having been
presented by Robert T. Lincoln, the
only surviving member of the Lincoln
| family, after his mother died.
The Springfield monument had its
inception only q few days after the
body of Lincoln had been lowered into
its last resting place at Oak Ridge
cemetery.
1.-THE Lincoln Monument associa-
ton" was formed by men who had
known the great patriot during the
days of his young manhood, and had
seen his gradual development into the
giant who went to Washington to take
charge of the affairs of the nation in
the stormiest crisis Of its history.
The State of Illinois gave great
impetus to the movement by the hand
some contribution of 100000, and the
State of New York sunk all sectional
pride and added $4,000 more, believ-
ing that Lincoln's home was properly
the place where his memory should
be honored by the most impressive
memorial. Its total cost was about
100000.
The collection of the money, and
building of the statue actually took
about nine years, not long as such
projects go, and when the elaborate
nature of the work is taken into ac-
count ,s
The dedication took place October
Is, 1874. President Grant delivered
an address, and in memory of the serv-
ice their order had done during the
war two Sisters of Charity were in
| vited to draw aside the veil that COW
cred the completed statue.
+ The distinguishing feature of the
Springfield monument is it's compare
tive simplicity. The sculptor has not
felt it necessary to recite the virtues
of the war president in terms of glow
ing praise.
The simple word Lincoln" is deem
ed Identification enough, for no words
Of praise could convey more Of nobil-