The Washington herald., 1909-02-13

In vivid word pictures. the life Of.
Abraham Lincoln was given, from his
birth to the time Of MS assassination IN
the old Ford Theater, by Justice Wendell
Phillips Stafford, Of the Supreme Court
Of the District, before a large gathering
IN New Masonic Temple. yesterday after
nom
Step by step. as he stood. a half-clsd
boy. in the red fare Of his pine torch.
reading from his mothers Bible; as
iong-Hmbed boatmau. the rail-hewer, and
as the rugged lawyer the iurist told Of
the Life Of the great President ending
with a glowing eulogy.
He said. IN part
The time Is holy, Il belongs TO mem
CRY and 10 love.
a hundred years ago the man vas
born whose name IS music in all hearts
that love their country or their kind
To-day We think Of all that came to
pass between his birth OF penuFy and his
death OF pain. We see his poor log
cabin In the clearing where his eyes first
net the light Of day
"And then We see that fated room IN
Tenth street. where hands shaking with
horror have brought him in 70 die. We
see It crowded with officers OF state, and
n the first deep hush Of death We hear
he solemn words OF Stanton: Now he
belongs to the ages
what Inspired Kim.
and then We ask: How did he come
10 be- What were the forces that took
ID that low-born child. and. as with
plastic fingers. nodded him into the great
est ruler Of men the world has ever seem
For what Is it 70 conquer kingdoms
and compel the wills Of men TO yield 70
course What is that TO the thing he did?
winning the reason and the heart OF
millions. until. as the meek flock follows
the faithful shepherd. the nation was
ready 10 follow his rod and staff into
the valley Of the shadow OF death, fear
ing no evili
How did he Gomez we ask. And the
questioned years answer Us in pictures.
They show Us q half-clad boy in the
red fare Of his pine torch. Teading-pain-
fully spelling out the pages Of his bor-
there is tall young woodsman. driving
the shivering wedges into the walnut logs
or meeting the best muscle Of the prairie
in the wrestler's ring
The scene changes. and now We are
watching a lOng-limbed bOatmau on the
bosom Of a mighty river. plotting his fat
ungainly craft through golden days and
under the still stars, more than thou
sand miles 10 market. We see him wan
dering in the Crescent CITY of the far,
far South We find him leaning in the
corner OF the auction place. where trem-
bling families are bought and sold. Hus-
hand is torn from wife. mother from
child before his eyes We mark the
speechless anguish fuTrCwing his face as
the fun meaning Of The brutal system
sinks into his soul
Again the scene changes: and now he
IS al home among his neighboTs. taking
his kind part IN all their plain affairs
We hear their jokes, their stories. their
debates. We follow as they take him Up
in proud and loving hands and push him
out into the world. their champion and
leader
S3Hdies Law.
Now he is studying law. With clear
ewes and unspoiled brain he IS mastering
TIE few great books that hold the gar
nered wisdom Of the race We see him
ponder earnestly and Ions, teaehsbIe as
q child, open as the day, tenderly in love
with what is right
He is standing up in court, 6efe lding
the cause he gave his heart 20. We see
the revelation come that he IS wrong
HIS client has deceived him. The case is
rotten al the core His huge strength
fails We see him sink into his chair
and hang his head, unable 10 contend
against the truth.
We watch him as ne goes along the
street. awkward ill-clad. a IauEh-pro-
vosing, isughter-loving giant. with the
shadow OF al human sorrow haunting his
deep eyes. Old Abe, old honest Abe
We hear men say; and something seems
10 catch Us In the throat
Once more the scene changes: and now
We see this raw-boned hewer Of fence
rails. this ring-master Of rude country
wit ana sport, the center Of ten thousand
earnest faces where he is matching him
self against the most powerful debater
OF his time
I'VE see him hold his own We hear
his statement OF the question. clear as
DAY. the laugh that greets the unanswer-
able story, the reason that goes home
20 every heart We feel the unbound
majesty OF manhood as the towering
form is lifted with the inspiration of his
lofty theme.
The eyes OF the nation are upon him
now. The plain folk are beginning TO
understand hin-they are taking the
true measure OF the man. With the de-
iiberate emphasis OF fate We hear him
ssy;a'A house divided against itself can
not stand This nation cannot endure
permanently half slave and half free.
once more We follow as the common
people lift him high in proud ard loving
hands, proclaiming him their champion
and leader.
Faces other Problems.
They have placed him in the Presiden-
tial chair. Heaven help him now. for ne
Is wrestling with problems the darkest
ard most dangerous soldier or statesman
ever had to solve.
Unframed IN war. yet set amidst the
greatest civil war the world has known.
and charged with Its support and
guidance. We see him contendinE with
hatred and deceit in foreign councils.
with confusion IN the Congress. with teal
ousy IN the Cabinet. with weakness and