The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-12

Four times did Hon. Friend w. Smith
 or this city meet face to face with Apraham Lincoln. Each of these oc-
 caslons was representative of a period
 m the life of the great president. The
 hrst time was when MT. Lincoln spoke
 III Bridgeport. delivering here what is
 known as the Cooper Union" speech.
 The second time was during MT. Lin
 coins first term. when MT. Smith was
 member of delegation sent from
 Bridgeport to see the president upon 1 an important mission. The third oc-
 caslon was MT. Lincoln's second in
 auguraI. when at the most triumphant
 moment of his career he was inducted
 again into an office he had so signally l nonored. ana in which he had so won oeffully trlumphed. And fourth was when the body of the martyred execu-
 i've lay in state. in a chamber of the C1ty Hall in New York while through
 the long hours thousands filed by the
 bier, looking finally upon the tranquil
 form. stilled by the bullet of the as-
 sassin. Booth.
 1 MT. Smith possesses a fund of in-
 formation and anecdote about Lincoln, winch Is valuable to an extraordinary degree. because it represents more than | exterior observation of isolated facts. NIT. smith is more than one who
 knew and admired Lincoln. He is a Lincoln student. He has delved deeply into the literary. the poetic. the po1iti- cal and the moral Lincoln Lincoln's speeches, his important letters and pa- pers he knows by heart. When a rep-
 resentative of the Farmer saw Mr. smith. in his office. at the plant of The Smith & Egge Manufacturing Con- pany, of which concern he is the head. MT. Smith consented to talk of Uh hn ho Lincoln.
 Upon the wall of Mr. Smith hangs crayon reproduction Of a life photo graph of MT. Lincoln. The photograph was obtained in Washington during his first term Hung in a large frame. be- low the crayon is a reproduction of a page of the New York Herald, the ] black bordered columns of which con- tain the story of the assassination. and l a vivid picture of the state of the coun- | try. when the awful news went l through the land. Another, but smaller 1 funeral resolutions adopted in Bridge port.
 To these resolutions is attached the names of some 30 leading citizens, all of whom are dead. excepting Mr. Smith. MT. Parrott and Jacob Kiefer.
 reproduction of the first Thanks giving proclamation by MT. Lincoln enjoys it's proper place. A picture of Queen Victoria. which is also from a life photograph. occupies a place of honor. It has formed a part of MT. Smiths Lincoln possessions since soon after the time when England's great est queen wrote to Mrs. Lincoln. the tender and sympathetic letter. which came in the hour of Mrs. Lincoln's bereavement.
 Said MT. Smith. in explaining the presence of this picture of Victoria: How remarkable was the greatness of Lincoln. Born in the humblest cir he had before the age of 25 performed almost every kind of toll by which men ordinarily earn a 1iveli- hood. He had used every tool to which the hand of man was in those day ac- customed. But his death was the con- cern of princes"
 ''The first time I saw MT. Lincoln" said Mr., Smith. Twas in Washington fIall which was @ space in the Old City Hall. much used for meetings and public assemblages. The committee had arranged for another speaker. but MT. Lincoln was sent to this city in- stead. He had not then been nomi- hated for the presidency. but he had become a national figure and there was
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