The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-02-27
Civil War Vets Held
Their Camp Fire

/, From Thursdays Daily.
Grizzled veterans OF the Civil war
and their friends gathered In Odd
Fellows hall last evening to talk
over old times and hold musical
and literary program In honor OF
the houndred and fifth anniversary of
the birth of the nations renowned
Civil war president.
II was the annual camp fire OF
Alexander wilkins post of the grand
army and was well attended, not
only by the old soldiers themselves,
hut also by members OF the Woni-
ems Relief corps. Moreover. the local
militia company was there, and
gave a brief exhibition drill early in
the evening under the command OF
Captain A. o. Scott. Thirty students
OF the high school, both boys and
girls, comprising the Glee clubs, also
attended, and rendered several ap-
/ propriate vocal selections under the
direction of Miss Fanny Pitcher. This
sweet-voiced aggregation delighted
the audience especially with The Gal
liant Troubadour." Meredith Griffith
made a decided hit with his vocal
solo, rendering Marching Through
Georgia" the entire Glce club Joining
, in the chorus.
Other musical features of the even.
F., ing were piano solos by Miss Dorothy
Scott and vocal solos by ID. NJ.
, Jones, both being repeatedly en-
, cored.
Pay Honor to Lincoln.
Comrade ]. A. williams, command.
er OF the post, announced that the
main purpose OF the evenings gath
, ering was to do honor to the man
who had risen from surroundings Of
poverty and ignorance to become
the foremost statesman of America
and receive the greatest position
/ within the nations gift. He then
presented F. F. Ellsworth, the prin.
cipal speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Ellsworth said he felt that the
tribute that had just been paid to
the renowned emancipation was great.
er than any that he himself could
render, because the previous speak.
er had himself been through the
trials an dvicissitudes of the time
when Lincoln performed his great
work and could therefore appreciate,
as others could not the great quail
ties of Abraham Lincoln.
Mr.. Ellsworth dwelt at some
length on the fact that Lincoln up
to the time he was thirty-seven years
old had taken no part IN the great
politictl events that were going on
around him. He was elected and re.
elected to the Illinois legislature, but
took pert in legislation only on
minor subjects. There was nothing
to Indicate the great part he was
to play In the nations history. As
storekeeper he had been failure,
had become bankrupt and could not
settle his debts TOR long time.
though he finally paid them all, with
his characteristic honesty. In 1916
he was elected to congress. There
he opposed slavery In the District
OF Columbia, but he was not promi
nent in shaping the legislation of
the country, and when he went back
home after the expiration of his term
he was not even a candidate for re-
election. From 1876 to 1858 he took
no important part In the great DO.
l.tical events that were going on
and determining the fate OF the ma
ton. He was simply practicing law.
Yet when he was nominated for
United States senator against Doug.
las, he was really nominated for
president of the United States.
Was DivineIy Chosen.
The speaker declared that II there
ever was plain case OF a man
being divinely chosen and divinely
inspired for a great work, that man
| was, in his opinion, Abraham Lincoln.
There was nothing either in his par.
entage or his early surroundings to
inspire him to the great efforts that
he made. His father was a good-for.
nothing, shiftless "ne'er.dowell." His
mother was OF a cold, Indifferent
character. II his step-mother took an
interest In him, Il was probably be-
cause OF the boys own burning de.
sire to learn. Amid all his discourag.
ing surroundings the boy studied and
studied and studied. What was It
that made him do this? Could It be
doubted that he was divinely in
spired to prepare himself for a great
work? The average student Of to-
day, the speaker said, made use of
about Ave per cent Of all the learn.
ing through which he was thrust.
Abraham Lincoln made use OF every
bit OF the learning he managed to
pick up.
Mr.. Ellsworth spoke OF Christ's
triumphal entry into Jerusalem on
Palm Sunday and OF his death on the
following Friday. He likened this to
the triumphant rejoicings all over the
rorth on Lees surrender on the Palm
Sunday preceding the Good Friday
when the nations savior was struck