The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-02-07

IOH q InOuBn, out tnOSe VINO nave
made the life of Abraham Lincoln a study look
upon the birthday anniv ersary as something
more than the mere assing of a milestone
Historians say that Lincoln was born in Hardin
county, Kentucky. In fact, he was born in La
Rue county, which, however, is a subdivision Of
Hardin county. Chroniclers continue with their
biographies and say that he, together with his
father, mother and a sister, went to Indiana and
entered a claim to a piece of land in Spencer
county. AS a matter of fact, he entered a claim to
a piece of land in Warrick county, but which has
since been set aside and named Spencer county.
The Lincolns went to Indiana in 1916, the same
year that Indiana was admitted to the Union as
a state. He entered a quarter section of land,
built a log cabin and lived there until 1880.
1t was known that Thomas Lincoln, father of
Abraham Lincoln, was in poor circumstances. To
say that Abraham Lincoln was the son of a poor
carpenter and farmer gives an insight to the
hard conditions that little Abe had to face when
he was a youngster. When he went to Indiana
he was just seven, and, remaining in Indiana until
1880, he spent IA years Of his life In Indiana, or
until he was twenty.one years of age.
1t Is useless to. relate the idle tales of his boy
hood; but when he verged into manhood and i'm
bibed into his character those qualities and those
traits that led up to his greatness, this part of his
life Is interesting. 1t is well understood that if
Lincoln had done as other boys of his day he
would have achieved only small things. But he
did not do as the young men and boys of his day,
and the ways Of his early manhood are still inter
esIlng 10 young America VINO strive Tor success
and do things.
Lincoln saw hardships, had meager clothing,
coarse food and no advantages of securing an ed
ucation. All who knew him agreed that he was
unlike other boys. He was not fully understood,
doubtless holding his real character or disposition
in reserve for his intimate friends only. He was
not fond Of work, but whether from sheer lazi-
ness or because he was fonder of mental exercise
in reading or otherwise is not clear. He enjoyed
books and is known to have borrowed much of the
reading matter of his neighborhood.
After 1920 Spencer county had, at Rockport, its
county seat, a public library of several hundred
volumns Of the standard works of that day.
Thomas Lincoln and Abraham Lincoln were at
Rockport at least two times during the year, but
the name of Abraham Lincoln does not appear as
a borrower of books at the library. The field
from which Abraham Lincoln could CLEAN knowl-
edge in that neighborhood was very limited
though he borrowed every book that he could get.
The list is a short one, and the following includes
most Of them: Robinson Crusoe," "Aesop's Fa.
bles," Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress" Weems'
Life of Washington" and a history of the United
States.
During Abraham Lincoln's 16 years of life in
Indiana he had read and reread this list of liter
airy and historical books over and over again. His
good nature among Lincoln City people was not
unnotced; all agreed to his honesty and good ma
ture. Questions of dispute and petty differences
were at first submitted to him in a joking way,
and later in a sincere way, until he was compli-