The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-02-18
REVERE MEMORY Of
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Fridays Morning News.)

Today is the centenary Of the birth
of Abraham Lincoln. Simple cere-
monies or quiet observation will mark
the day throughout the land. Citizens
both north and south of the Mason
and Dixon line will do, reverence to his
memory in one accord. The day has
been fittingly declared a legal holiday
in this state, and schools, public Of
fees, ETC., will remain closed through
out. rs.,....
In the Canton public, schools COM
memorative exercises were held yes
terday, on account of the. closing to-
day. The chief observation of the
event was in the High school, where
! the memory of the great emancipator
was rendered befitting tribute. In the
! lesser grades throughout the city, re-
membrance of Honest Abe" was hon
| ored on lesser scale. but with no
diminished fervor. In fact, their lowly
exercises were performed with an ar
| dor, scarcely approached by the pupils
of the High school. ,n,,
In the High school, some of the diff
ferent classes combined and rendered
programs of an elaborate nature. The
chief exercises were held by the Jun
] ior and Seniors in the auditorium on
the third floor of the High school
building. The program consisted of
! twenty-four numbers of music and
speaking, rendered with unusual skill
and remarkable harmony. One some
what unfortunate incident alone
marred the afternoon, and that not
to any considerable extent.
In fact, the experience was almost
laughable, but the supreme indigna-
tion and wrath of the "profs" showed
that to them it bore an altogether
different aspect. But the students, it
seemed rather enjoyed it. To break a
program in two in the middle, just
for an insignificant fire drill, would
however, be enough to incite the fury
of a person of even a mild tempera-
ment, under the proper circumstances.
In this case, the profs. considered that
the circumstances were proper for the
display of ire.
II was just in the middle of quar-
tet selection, that the harsh clangor
of the fire gong startled the student
body. Instantly all thoughts of the
song were abandoned, and the students
hurriedly but orderly rose from their
seats, and filed oct of the building.
The rather peculiar time chosen for
the drill led many of them to believe
that the whole affair was realism,
and colorless countenances even
among the profs. were no rarity. For
means of exit, some chose the fire
escapes, and others the regular stair
| hn hNy 10 nnnl and
self-possessed. In the words of one
of the school authorities, their ex-
odus was so sudden, that the quartet
was still singing, not having had time
to stop during their fight, or even
to spill their song upon the steps as
they hurried from the building"
But after the excitement had some
what subsided, the students went back
into the now apparently safe build
ing, and resumed their program. After
the meeting, the profs, and school
authorities took occasion to expell
some of their superfluous heat. One
said that he thought the fire author
tiles had chosen very inopportune
time to compel the drill, and said he,
IL don't think that any fire would
have such lack of ,decency and re-
spect as to intrude upon our program.
l am sure" continued he, that it
would at least have common sense
enough to show some Difference for
Lincoln. So why the prfactice."
Others chimed in "Them's my senti-
ments too," and said they didn't think
that any fire could be so rude as the
fire authorities themselves. The fire
authorities replied with some aspeirty
fhof 10 maGn't llyalU
to discriminate on Lincoln's account
than anyone elses. Besides they
didn't know that Lincoln program
was in progress" Hereafter the school
profs are going to stipulate before
hand such times when fires or fire
drills intrude upon their other affairs.
The central figure of the afternoon
was Attorney ]. A. Jeffers, who deliv-
cred the chief address. He said:
I'VE celebrate today the centenary
of one of the greatest men, not only
of the nation, but that the world has
ever produced. Lincoln combined
with his great ability, honesty of pur-
pose and earnestness. Without these
two latter qualifications, no man can
ever keep in the affection of the
people, and no man who was ever so
close to the common citizens as Lin
coin.
"In times of slavery, politicians
were wont as they are On questions
nowadays, to evade the question, or
to canvass the people to learn the
sentiments, before they took a definite
stand. Not SO with Lincoln; he an
nounced himself as being opposed to
slavery and in favor of abolition
Lincoln was a man of remarkable
vitality. The long weary years of the
war would have caused a breakdown
upon any ordinary man. Lincoln
would have survived the ordeal with
out any weakening, had it not been
for the untimely bullet Of the assas-
sin.
He was humane above all things,
Even the discipline of the army did
not interfere with his being humane,
His last act was one of mercy, for
just before he went to Ford's the
atre, where he was Shot he penned
the pardon of Confederate captain,
condemned as a spy"
Leonard Vandersall proved himself
to be an orator of no mean ability and
displayed striking originality in eulo-
gizing the great war president. Curtis
Aller also acquitted himself with no
stinted amount of glory, along the
same lines.
The complete program follows:
Piano solo, Ethel Miller; THE Recess