The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-08

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Usually discount him. He is like a high
mountain. which requires distance and
perspective to grasp its true grandeur.
II wal q sorrow to Washington that
those who lived near him, in his own
state. were against him for q third
term OF the presidency. though all the
other states would have reelected him
unanimously. A testy little Scotch
a named Davie Burns voiced the
partial neighbor spirit one day. when
he asked President Washington:
where would We have bean,
Meesther Washington, II We hadn't
merried the Weedow Gusts, with aill
her naygurs? Ye'd "a bean aething
but q land surveyor today. and a puir
one at that"
The same was true, but in less de-
gree, of Lincoln's neighbors. 1t was
the women who first apprehended the
true grandeur Of Lincoln's soul, for
they could see. before the men could,
the greatness Of his mighty heart. even
today. while Lineoln's life story is be-
ing told around the globe, in all lands
n languages like a favorite bible
story. I was buttonholed right here
Springfield, while walking abound "the
square" that scene of some Of Lin
coins triumphs, by a resident Of this
city who deprecated Lincoln in words
which almost scorched my r~esentful
ears:
Mr.. Lincoln wasn't such q great
man after all. He vas just a common
iawyerClots Of smarter men practisin'
mere There was q dozen bigger men
than him here in Springfield when he
dent"
Truly a prophet without honor II his
own city! It Is q case of surrounding
foothills hiding the lofty peak from
those who live too near.
But Is was Lincoln's very common
ness that brought him in close touch
with all the people. and made him so
universally beloved. He vas the great
est Of all "commoners." He revealed
himself when he said, 1.-THE LORD loves
the common ~people-that's why He
made SO many Of them" In this he
showed the greatness of heart which
made him "The Great Heart of the
White House,"
Yet the old neighbors who still live
In and around Springfield not only love
n revere his memory. but they seem
to have caught his kindly spirit and the
very navor of his quaint and homely
There Is John W.. Bum, who
gave me a friendly greeting in the
midst Of the hustle Of the anniversary
celebration, for which he Is in constant
demand, In his office at the Marine
bank, facing the square across which
ne often saw Mr.. Lincoln strolling leis-
urely sometimes striding rapidly, with
his long coat tails f~uttering behind
him.
MI. Bum spoke with deep feeling OF
the misrepresentation of millions OF
people. because Of the mistakes and
~falsehoods of reporters and even biog-
raphers of Lincoln. CARRIED and un.
r stories have been told Of Mrs
Lincoln, as we'll as Of her husband,
Those who have made sincere attempts
to rectify some Of these have been mis-
represented and ridiculed. On these &C.
counts, n because Of his native mod
esty, Mr.. Bum a seldom be induced
to talk for publication. It Is hoped fol
the sake Of the Lincoln family. and fol-
the benefit OF posterity. this quiet
ord Of his recoilections Of Abraham
Lincoln as a professional man In
Springfield.
A lecturer on Lincoln had just sent
Mr.. Bum a book from which he read
me a reference to Mrs. Lincoln as ar
ugly" woman. The banker-friend OF
Lincoln Indignantly exclaimed:
ITS downright mean, the way people
who ought to be IN better business
they know better, I believe-do lie
about the Lincoln family! Mrs. Lin.
coin was a pretty. cultivated, witty
woman; a model Of motherly devotion
and the soul Of southern hospitality
She came here from Louisville. KY.
you know, but her sympathies were no,
with the south, as has often beer
stated. She married Mr.. Lincoln in.
stead Of Judge Douglas. Her self-sac.
riicing ambition did more than any
other influence to a Abraham Lin.
coin president Of the United States
If she ever said or did anything thai
seemed strange, 1t must be remembered
hat she died insane, n that malady
may nave existed in an incipient stage
even before Mr.. Lincoln's assassina-
ton. which alone was enough to shat.
ter the reason Of n wife. Here, take
this book and deny that; you may dc
so on my authority. Mrs. Lincoln was
q charming woman It's outrageous.
No wonder Robert Lincoln will nevel
speak in public or say anything fol
publication about his father, or con.
corning family matters.
Let me say right here" continued
Mr.. Bum, that those who profess tc
| have been familiar with Mr.. Lincoln
and speak Of calling him Abe and sc
forth, are presuming on ignorance. The
people Of Springfield knew him only a.
Mr.. Lincoln He was a young lawyer
when he came here, In the spring OF
'37. He had been a member Of the
state legislature two terms, and as
leader of the Long Nine had done
more than any other man to bring the
removal Of the state capital from Van
dalia to Springfield. They may have
called him Abe in Indiana and on,
here in New Salem, where he spen,
his boyhood and youth, but not ir
Springfield. Naturally, many have
wished to make It appear that they
were quite intimate with Mr.. Lincoln