Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-02-09
|NCERSOLL'S
TRIBUTE TO :
LINCOLN : :
r r A N G e
min slin g
of mirth
and tears,
Of t h .
tragic and
grotesque,
Of Soc
rates and
r eiais,
Of Aesop
and Mar
cua Aura.

Gus AuFo.
Illus, Of all that is gentle and
just, humorous and honest, mer-
ciful, wise, iaughable, lovable
and divine, and all consecrated
to the use of man, while through
all and over all an overwhelm-
ing sense of obligation, of chivai-
rio loyalty TO truth and upon all
the shadow of the tragic end.
Lincoln was not a type. He
stands aicre-no ancestors, no
fellows and no successors. He
knew and mingled with men of
every kind. and, after all. men
are the best books.
Lincoln never finished his edu
cation. To the night of his
death he was pupil, learner,
an inquirer. seeker after
knowledge.
Lincoln was many sided man,
acquainted with smiles and
tears, complex in brain, single
in heart, direct as light, and his
words. candid as mirrors, gave
the perfect image of his thought.
He was never afraid to ask,
never too dignified to admit that
he did not know. No man had
keener wit or kinder humor.
He was no. solemn. Solemnity
is a mask worn by ignorance
and hypocrisy. 1t is the preface,
prologue and index to the cum
ming or the stupid. He was nat
uraI in his life and thought,
master of the story telIer's art,
in application perfect, liberal in
speech, shocking Pharisee and
prudss, using any word that wit
could disinfect.
He waa an orator-clear, sim
cere, natural. He did not pre-
tend. He did not say what he
thought others thought, but
what he thought.
If you wish to know the diff
ference between an orator and an
elocutionist, between what is
felt and what is said, between
what the heart and brain can do
together and what the brain can
do alone, read Linco!n's won
drous words at Gettysburg and
then the speech Of Edward
Everett. The Grafton Of Lincoln
will never be forgotten. It will
live until languages are dead
and lips are dust. The speech
of Everett will never be read.
Lincoln was an immense per-
sonality-firn, but not obstinate.
Obstinacy is egotism-firmness,
heroism. He Influenced others
without effort, unconsciously,
and they submitted to him as
men submit to nature, uncon-
sciousIy. He was severe with
himself and for that reason
Ienient with others. He appear
ed to apologize for being kinder
than his fellows. He did merci-
full things as stealthily as others
committed crimes.
He knew others because per-
fectly acquainted with himself.
He cared nothing for place, but
everything for principle; moth
ing for money, but everything
for independence.
He knew neither tyrant nor
slave. He neither kneIt nor
scorned. With him men were
neither great nor small; they
were right or wrong. Through
manners, clothes, titles, rags
and race he saw the real-that
which is. Beyond accident,
policy, compromise and war he
saw the end.
He was patient as destiny,
whose undecipherabIe hero
glyphs were SO deeply craven
on his sad and tragic face.
It is the glory of Lincoln that,
having almost absolute power,
he never abused it except on the
side Of mercy.
Wealth could not purchase,
power could not awe this divine,
this loving man. He knew no
Gear except the fear of doing
wrong. He spoke not to int'anne,
not to up
braid, but