Evening star., 1909-01-24

lean people were stricken with grief
Even the southern leaders suddenly real
lied that the south had lost its bes
friend in the north. AS for the northern
people. they met April 10, Patriots's
day) in tReir own places. in city and
country, and
.'Wept with the passion Of angry grief
While the simple funeral services were
being held in the White House. Twenty
five millions of men, women and children
are estimated to have gathered all owe,
the civilized world and Sobbed out theiI
sorrow over the death of the we'll beloved
President. Strong men, never known to
weep over their own personal troubles
and private griefS. broke down and cried
like little children when they heard OF
the murder of Abraham Lincoln.
But Abraham Lincoln did not become a
multimillionaire in hearts at a single
stroke. II was by no accidental COM
bination of events that the whole world
wept at his bier. He began by endear-
ing himself to his own family and his
few backwoods relatives and neigh bors.
Then New Salem learned to love him
as it never had loved any one else. So
of Springfield and the eighth circuit OF
Illinois. When the supporters and cac-
quers of Seward Chase and Cameron
came to the Chicago convention they
failed to comprehend Lincolns strange
popularity. They did not realize. in their
perpleXity that they were contending
against the ''principalities and powers
of I.incoln's all-inclusive heart. They
laughed al the rail splitter and Sneered
a his coarse, clumsy jokes. Then they
accounted for what they could not com
prehend by calling him "a man of the
people,"
This was true, but I'm the highest, not
in any lower sense. Lincoln was the
man Of heart, and the people recognized
him as a man after their own hearts.
That was why his popularity spread over
the north like prairie fire. 1t was the
great wave of heart responding TO heart
that carried him to the White House.
It was this that made him the object of
such widespread love and loyalty. A
large part of the patriotism of the sol
diers was their love for Abraham Lin
coin. He seemed to be the personification
of their country, threatened and wronged.
He meant more to the people than TN
Gle Sam''-he was "Father Abraham" ="
sued call after call for soldiers and
more and more soldiers the people seemed
never to tire of responding:
I'VE are coming Father Abraham,
Three hundred thousand more
The soldiers said among themselves:
"He cares for US, He loves u.s. and they
cheerfully. gladly. even humorously-to
be like him-marched into the jaws of
death for his dear sake. 1t was far diff
ferent from the love Napoleon inspired
in his troopers. for their loyalty tagged
and finally failed. 1t was Napoleon's
selfish heartleSsness that made him
colossal failure 1t was LncolnS Self
giving heart which crowned his life with
immortal success. From early boyhood
he had lived his life burning and shin
ing illustration of his own words:
with malice toward none; with char
ity for all
Mrs Lincoln and little Tad remained
behind in the White House while the
others of the household went on the sad
and winding funeral journey to Spring
field, ILL., Beside the long coffin Of the
President was the small casket OF little
Willie" who had died during the first
year of his presidency. Mr.. Lincoln
seldom spoke of Willie. Robert was away
at Harvard College, and at the front. as