The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-26
ATTORNEY E. F. FALLEN
 Secretary of the Board of Education

Edward F.. Hallen.~ secretary of the Board of Education. delivered his ad- dress on Abraham Lincoln" before the members of Elias Howe Post, Jr., last night. in G. "A. R. nall. The schol- arly presentation of the subject was much. appreciated... The substance of the address follows:
 E'.My subject this evening is Abra- ham. Lincoln4 and you do not need to be. assured that my performance will not square with my responsibility. Despite careful biography and .ablest eulogy, a full measure of justice has not and cannot be, done. The theme transcends the treatment. His lowly origin, his rigorous childhood, his toil- some labor, his dire necessity, his wonderful self-advancement, the gran deur of his achievement, his suffering and his martyrdom, and above all, the nobility and gentleness of. his soul, all combine to present a subject so vast and so inspiring that the very attempt seems like profana ton.
 Within the compass of my remarks this evening, it will be impossible to present a complete biographical sketch of the immortal Lincoln. In my opin- ion, on an occasion of this kind, it is well to depart from the line of strict
 
 measure the principles illustrated by his eventful life and taught by his re- marka!ble utterances.''
 Here the speaker gave a graphic and interesting biographical sketch of Lin coin, tracing his career from his birth on a rocky farm in the wilds of cen- tra1 Kentucky to his tragic death at the hand of the assassin Booth.
 Speaking of Lincoln's mother, Mir. Hallen said:
 His mother, Nancy Hanks, was frail and sensitive. of delicate instincts and tender disposition. She was wo- manly and sympathetic, but lacked the force necessary to rouse her hus- band from his rather indolent ways. The chiId's best possession, however, was the love and watchfulness of this frail but affectionate mother Even this was denied to him, whose cupsOf suffering was later to be so completely filled, and when little Abe was only nine years old his good mother died.
 There is hardly anything more pa. thetic in all history than the death and burial of Lincoln's mother. The little family of nomads had now drift ed to Southern Indiana, and in a rude floorless hut, hardly sheltered from wind and rain this poor mother breath ed her last. She was stricken ssud- denly and knew that she was going to die. The only doctor was over thirty miles away, but they were too poor to summon him even if he were close at hand. With a full knowledge of impending death, with the two chil- dren weeping at her bedside, the dying mother gave them her fervent bless ing and prayed for their protection. Who will say that this dying mothers s prayer was unanswered, when this lit tie son, from such wretched misery, fn Jnof if and the saviour of his country?
 Ut was the conjugation of the re- markable and diverse elements found in his parents, that resulted in the personality of their illus trious son. From his father came that iron frame, sturdy vigor and remark able stature; from his mother that position, and kindly qualities that his after life. His rug ged environment, his inordinate love of study, and his remarkable disposition to advance himself, despite almost in difficulties, were also great factors in his wonderful success in after life"
 Speaking of Linccln's celebrated speech at Cooper Union in 1860 MT. Hallen said. in part:
 'I have tried to give you something of the atmosphere into which Lincoln came on that memorable occasion at Cooper Union. Just before his speech, he was plainly nervous and embar- much as a. young orator would be on his first appearance before strange audience, although Lincoln was at this time a; veteran public speaker.
 His gaunt, homely awkward figure and high-pitched voice, due doubtless to his extensive open air speaking, of course did not lend him aid. He spoke without gesture, without any attempt at oratory. AS he proceeded, however, his clear cut sentences and ncisive logic first interested, then held, and finally captivated his audience. That masterpiece of Shakespeare. Mark speech over the dead Cae- sar, produced no greater revulsion of feeling in his auditors than this fa- nous deliverance of the rail-splitter of the West. It was the most carefully prepared and the most effective of extended addresses. and those who came to scoff remained to cheer. All New York rang with his praise md, thenceforth, the slavery senti- nent of Lincoln was the accepted doc- rine of the East.