The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-02-13
ANNIVERSARY Of
LINCOLN BIRTH
CELEBRATED
BY Patriotic Societies Last
Evening
MUSICAL PROGRAM, SPEECHES
Or. ]. D. Lane, Rev. w. F. Meyer, p.
T. H. Pierson, r. M. Houghton
Among the Speakers
MUSICAL PROGRAM, SPEECHES

An inspiring entertainment in OBJ
servance of the 104th anniversary OF
Lincoln's birthday was given by the
members of the G. A. r., S. OF V. and
w. X. c. before an audience that fill
ed G. A. r. Wednesday evening.
The program. which was varied
had for it's main theme the subject of
Lincoln, his life and achievements.
An address of welcome was made by
A. j. Griffin, past department com
mander s. of v and the orchestra of
the Sons of Veterans. consisting of
five pieces rendered the music. Mrs.
Mary Healy and Mrs. Helena Downs
sang.
Those who spoke were DIR. J. ID.
Lane Richard NJ Houghton, Rev.
w. F.. Meyer and Philip T. II. Pier
SON Mr. Houghton told some of his
personal "reminiscences of the martyr
ed president and dwelt on his attri-
butte of honesty He characterized
him as inspired and spoke feeling
ly of all he accomplished during his
administration. Rev. w. F. Meyer
also spoke of Lincoln's honesty in
general.
Mr. Person told several original
anecdotes of the president which
had been told to him by Schuyler Col
fax, who was vice president during
Grants administration. Many of
them were humorous and illustrated
Lincolns love of humor.
Frank d. Hyde. a veteran of the
civil war, gave the humorous select
ion The Lost Horse" in German dia-
lect, which ELECTED many hearty
laughs from the audience.
DR.. ]. ID. Lane, who spoke in gen
eral on the subject of Lincoln said
in part:
Abraham Lincoln our 10th Presi-
dent stands forth in singular and ma
jestic grandeur in the annals of our
country, like unto some giant OF the
forest among other stately trees.
"Other nations boast of and honor
the memory of great military genius
or some king that in times bygone
condescended TO allow their people
some vestige of their God given right
of life. liberty and enjoyment OF it,
but to us is given the inestimable
privilege of honoring one who arose
from the plain people and who guild
ed the ship of state through the
stormiest seas that have yet beset it
and brought 1t safe into the harbor
of peace.
"Of the most humble origin and
descent. reared Il may say in the
wilderness, apparently designed by
nature for the hardest kinds of man
ual labor, self educated, rigidly hon
est, intensely humane. awkward and
ungainly. he was surely about the
last person that politicians would
select as a candidate for executive
honors. his kindly even tenored dis
position and homely wit undid even
his enemies and his intrinsic worth
alone insured his advancement in
political life. have been told. that
in the presence of Lincoln, an hides
cribaDle air of serene calmness gre
vailed and a sort of feeling that all
was right
His fund of humor was vast, and
stories innumerable have been at
tributed to and told of him. one OF
the best perhaps is his despcription of
himself wherein he says that stand
ing erect ] somewhat resemble the
letter l.. and am doubtless the home
lest man alive
His humane disposition also his
homely philosophy is illustrated by
the story OF his rescue of pig. Driv-
ing along a muddy road one day
he found a pig stuck fast in wal
low. of mud. promptly alighting and
wading in he rescued the porker
from his predicament Being after
wards joked about his concern for
the pig he answered there's no
knowing when one of us will be
struck in the mud
"ln his first campaign for the legis-
lature his opponent is said to have
made much of condescending to run
which he would not otherwise have
done except to save the district
from the perils OF having Lincoln
represent it. Abe characterized him
as a prominent legislative impossible
ity who was being pursued by the
office and was gaining on il, need
less to say Lincoln won out.
in the heat Of political turmoil
General Shields challenged him TO a
duel. According to usage on such oc-
the challenged party had
the choice Of weapons. field, etc.
Lincoln selected Cavalry broad-swords
Of the largest size. caused a plank
fence TO be placed between them and
conditioned that ecah keep on his
own side Of the fence. The outcome Of
this duel is not hard to imagine.
Sir William Blackstone In his
on the Laws OF Eng
land and writing on the origin Of law
says. 1t hath pleased Divine Provi-
dence at divers times and places to
eiths- by direct reve-