The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-02-19

Tine OF the few immortal names,
That were not born to die
All honor and love Lincoln. and his
greatness continues to grow. and his
patience and sympathy and humor
make 50 direct an appeal, that no one
can but feel the uplifting influence
OF 80 great man.
Lmcolu's development from lowly
birth cannot but inspire one to hero
ism, and there were few, if any. prob
lens OF life that lac did not correctly
solve. How worthy an example is
his to follow that of fairness to all,
even To ones opponents. Lincoln was
loved by the people loved by each
soldier i'll the army, Individually 1t
is probable that the downfall OF slav-
cry would have come, had Lincoln
not been born, but it is with pc
culiar kind of pride that each citizen
of the United States is stirred, TO
have known that such man rs Alb
raham Lincoln was at the helm.
~ SttiN istiN'lil Cll6tidNttI II upitN
other than Il moral inspiration, and
one cannot help wonder what more of
greatness he would have achieved and
accomplished had not death overtakcn
him at the very height of bis glory.
Concentrating His Birthday.
Today the nation is concentrating
the one hundrcdth anniversary OF his
birth. and rs one hears of him in
song and story, Lincoln really grows
greater and greater His genial wit,
his extraordinary for -bearance and his
power of expression have endeared his
name to everyone and it seems
touching tribute that he could SO feel
ingly express himself that his great
speech at Gettysburg, 50 full OF earn
cstncss and dignity, should have been
rccited by soldier on his death bed
i'll hospital
1t was a very earnest and sincere
audience that gathered this afternoon
ut Normal hall, to listen and join
in the tributes to Lincolns memory
The Normal School Glee club and
the student body gave some very
pleasing music, which was followed by
Jean \. Flittic who spoke OH Lincoln
the Man His speech was as follows:
Lincoln the Mar.
Ladies' and Gentlemen: One hundred
years ago this day. a little wild Ken
lucky home was gladdened by the ar
rival of a baby boy who lived to be fifty
six years old and did 50 much that he
is known to fame as Abraham Lincoln.
His birth place is at this very hour be
ing Consecrated as shrine for the uses
and purposes of patriotism.
Barely fifty years have now elapsed
since he became a world character Dur
ing that time he has been more written
about than any other historical person.
age save Napoleon the First And he
remains strange and unsolved still.
He was Graded in the lap of power
ty. and his boyhood was one of hard
ships and struggle for existence, His
father shftless, thriftless roamer1
His mother died when he was nine years
old: but he had a second mother who
sympathized with him i'm his ambitions
and encouraged him in his studies. Bless
her memory. He smacked of the soil
and reared his kingship among the low
ly. They believed in him and he had
faith in them. He had none of the Graces
of courtier. but he possessed all the
urbanity of Il gentleman No American
has started lower and climbed higher
than Abraham Lincoln. His grea tnesS
consisted in his simplicity of character
his honesty, his love of justice, his
magnanimty. his sound judgment, his
single minded devotion to the public
service. and in his extraordinary capacity
to adapt himself to the turn of events.
Was Fast Growing Boy.
Up to his fifteenth year. he grew so
fast that his trousers We're always twelve
inches short displaying many inches
of ''shinbone, sharp. blue and narrow"
He was long. strong and why. always
good natured and never sick. He had
squeaky, uncertain voice, blue eyes and
"A rebellious shock of dark brown hair
His face was sad and his complexion
swarthy. He was great reader, a
good speller, fine penman and no one
could WELD the axe of the backwoods-
man with such deXterity as he. His
length and great strength were always
matters of pride with him. His school
ing might have been crowded into a
twelve month: but he made up for this
by being a constant reader. an obser-
yer of men and lifelong pupil in the
school of events Something mysterious
ever hung over him. giving him a strange
foreboding of his future greatness and
final fate. Melancholy early marked
him for her own.
His literary efforts were begun a
writer of dogerel, and he ended by be-
coming prose poet. In one of his copy
books. we find the following rhyme in
boyish hand:
5. !. !. = :. j. ). i j. !. ). j. i. i.