The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-02-15
HOMER s. CUMMINGS EXTOLS
 NAME OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AT SONS OF VETERANS BANQUET
In MaStery Address Former Mayor Of Stamford Tells Of Life
 And Times Of The Martyr President
Dr. George L. Porter Of This City Tells Soldiers Sons of
 Secret History Of The Great Conflict

In a masterly address Hon. Homer s. Cummings of Stamford, extoned the memory of Abraham Lincoln at the annual Lincoln banquet of Franklin Bartlett camp, No. Il, Sons of Veter- ans. Equally eloquent and interest ing were the remarks of Dr. George L. Porter of this city who enjoyed a per sonaI acquaintance with the martyred president and whose remarks were on the secret history of war and the events leading to Lincoln's death.
 Over 150 members of the Sons Of Veterans, Grand Army and guests were present.
 Commander W. H. Hart of the camp served as toastmaster, and seated with him at the guests table were Com mander R. j. Cutbill, of South Nor walk the state commander of the G. A. R. the two speakers of the even ing. Homer S Cummings of Stamford, and Dr. G. L. Porter; Judge A. E. Beers, Past Commander John H. Neff, former Alderman Frank L. Wilder, Russell H. Glenn and Mayor C. E.
 The dining rooms was prettily dec orated with flags and bunting. Back of the speakers table hung picture of Lincoln on back ground of flags. A small silk American flag at each plate. During the evening Jerome Mays banjo club furnished music and the diners led by Thomas McCool and Charles E. Moore joined in singing old war songs such as Marching Through Georgia 'tJohn Browns Body" Tramp Tramp Tramp, the Boys Are Marching and Rally Round the Flag. The menu was an excelled one Hon. MT. Cummings spoke first and in part of his speech follows:
 "One hundred and three years ago, in the year 1909, there were born into this world seven babes, destined to careers of greatness. The first was Chopin, the genius of music. whose name will be remem bered as long as the souls of men can be stirred by the strains of mystic harmony; the second was Tennyson. who, of all modern poets, reached, perhaps. the greatest heights of poetical expres- sion; the third was Fitzgerald. whose political version of The Rubaiyat has made his name & household word among the English speaking people the fourth was Poe, the greatest American poeticaI genius; the nth was Darwin, whose labOrs in the field of science have profoundly affected modern thought; the sixth was Glad stone, England's foremost statesman Lincoln, Americas best beloved ma tional hero. To those who measure greatness by service, Lincoln was the greatest of them all.
 President Taft, in an article upon Lincoln, said: As study him in his development and the position to which he attained, there is more inspiration for heroism and usefulness to the country than in the life of any other known man in history One of the reasons that the study of LincOln's life and character is so helpful to the per pie of today is that, despite his supe- riority, he is so much like the average American in birth, in education and in lack of early advantages.
 Became Marked Man.
 When Abraham Lincoln reached the age of 25 he was just beginning to emerge. from the oDscuritv into working at odd jobs for the scantiest hire. He piloted fiat boats. chopped wood, ran grist mills and acted as as sistant in a small general store. He first became popular in the small town of New Salem, as the result of his contest with a rough and tumble bully named Armstrong, who had ignomini- OuSly thraShed all of the champions that New Salem was able to. produce. one after the other. On one occasion when Armstrong, with his followers, came to New Salem looking for fresh victims, Lincoln, who was six feet tOu1 in height and possessed of gigantic strength, was pitted against him. and at the first onset seized and hurled him into the air as he might have hurled q block of wood. The little town of New Salem took great pride in this achievement, and Lincoln came to be a marked man in the commu mu- Hlly. II was soon IOunQ lHdI ne hOA only possessed wit and jud dgment. but was absolutely fair minded. Wher people fell into dispute they asked him to arbitrate their differences
 Lincoln was nearly 50 years of age before he became a national charac- ter. Prior to that time he had served in the state legislature and had served | a single term in congress.
 The impetus given to Lincoln's ca reer by his famous debates with Doug las resulted in his nomination for the