The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-05-07

most men that in speech wit is tr
eloquence what in music melody is tc
harmony. ~
| But his mind was not always attan,
ed to mirth; It's chords were too often
/; set 10 strains Of sadness. There was
the slaughter In the field, the deple
ton OF the Treasury, complications
which arose. All these we're SO ap
palling that sometimes even the great
soul Of Lincoln seemed ready to melt.
But Just when the gloom was backes,
he never. never took counsel Of his
fears. He always had the courage oil
his convictions. He never had occa.
sion TO look to the past with regret,
nor to the future with apprehension.
He had that sublime faith which Is
content 10 leave the efforts to man,
the results to God.
For ages after the battle OF Their.
mopylae every Greek school child was
taught to recite each day the names
of the three hundred heroes who fell
In the defense OF that pass. II would
he a browning act Of patriotism II ey.
cry American school child could be
l
laugh, each day to contemplate the
exalted character and utter the In.
spring name Of Abraham Lincoln.
Singular man! No one can pluck a
single laurel from his Drow,' no one
can lessen the measure OF his fame.
Marvellous man! In the annals of nil
history we fail to find another whose
life had ben so peaceful, whose ma.
ture so gentle, aud yet who was called
upon 10 marshal the hosts OF IN arous.
ed people and for four long years 10
Conduct bloody, relentless, fratrfcl.
dial war.
In the annals of history we ran to
find another whose education was
that Of the Cabinet, not the camp
and yet VINO died n more heroic death
It has seldom fallen to the lot Of
man 10 strike the shackies from the
limbs Of bondmen AMI liberate a race.
It has seldom fallen TO the lot of man
TO die the death Of an honore;l mar.
tyr, with his robes or Office stu about
him. his heart at peace with his fcf.
low men, his soul at peace with his
God, at the moment OF the restora.
ton Of his country 10 peace within her
borders. to peace With all the world
A celebrated sculptor In the four.
,eenth century In Florence was com.
tnauded to make colossal statue.
which was TO summons historic
cathedral. When 1t was placed at the
base OF the cathedral, the ropes ar.
ranged for hoistlng It. and 1t was
there unveiled, the crowd jeered anil
hooted and criticised numerically the
sculptor. It was all out Of proportion;
II was a failure. But soon the ropes
began 10 tighten, and as the statue
moved UP into the air the crowd ceas.
ed to jeer, and finally, when II was
placed tpon the pinnacle at the prom.
or focal distance as intended by the
great sculptor, who created II, the
sncers turned TO plaudits, and the poo
pie then saw Il in all the beauty OF
Its true proportions.
And so Abraham Lincoln has so far
receded from us In history that he is
now In the proper focal distance. We
can now measure all his great quail.
ties us they appear In their true beau.
ty and symmetry.
| an glad OF the work Of The Lin.
coin Farm Association. 1t is we'll
that his birthplace should be redeem.
ed from individual ownership. II
should be made the repository of all
the interesting relics connected with
him. 1t ought 10 be the seat of n ma.
tfonnt museum and a national park.
He is gone from, us now, crowned
with the subllmlty Of martyrdom. We
have hidden n last farewell TO him
who was the gentlest Of all spirits,
aablest OF all hearts. liberator of n
race, savior Of a Republic, martyr
Whose sepufchre is human hearts.