The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-02-13
THE OBSERVATORY.
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birthday; as the IItn anu emu
near together il. is a pity that the
Father and Savior OF our Countr!
could not have had the same day; 1t
SCENE remarkable how the country
and the world almost universally
class them together. Englishmen
whom Washington fought to defeat
have been foremost in honoring him;
and TODAY Lincoln has no more SIN
cere admirers than our Southern peo-
Dle: but what a contrast the two men
present in ancestry, social status ana
personal characteristics so lar as SOC
ial manners and personal dignity; ana
going back into the past, one was
from the gentry and Cavalier and the
other from the Puritan and Round
head stock; but in the last analysis
both are Of true English stock, and
earlier still, Teutonic; true lovers OF
liberty, and willing to tight tor 1t.
| was a mere lad when Lincoln was
nominated; all through our region it
was considered the proper thing to
advocate William H. Seward for Pres
lident; and in all the talk in my home
| do not recall that had heard Lin
coins name spoken till news came OF
bis nomination; and ] remember that
one neighbor who took his Republi-
can politics very earnestly came over
to our farm and asked my father
"Who is this Lincoln of Illinois they
say he is Kentucky born, so South
erner by pedigree! if he was OF the
old Gov. Levi Lincoln stock of our
state he would be all right; but this
Kentucky-I Illinois man;-who is her
During his life and long after his
death it was a puzzle how to account
for Abraham Lincoln on hereditary
principles: but Ida Tarbell has set
tied that question, and she discover
ed that he really was of the same
stock as old, honored Gov. Levl~ Lin
coin of Massachusetts, of which our
neighbor spoke; and so was OF Puri-
tan degree, so many OF whose traits
showed themselves in him.
In the scrap-book which made in
1860, which | mentioned two weeks
ago, | find many references to Lin
coin; one was by man who was
travelling in the west and made. it in
his way to visit Springfield, Ill. and
seek out Mr.. Lincoln; he. says: II
had two opportunities of gratifying
my desire to meet him, and on both
occasions the satisfaction of the visit
was complete. Thus far the Ameri-
can mania for torturing distinguished
people has not invaded Springfield; Mr..
Lincoln enjoys a gratifying degree of
peace, moving every day about among
his neighbors, undisturbed except by
a friendly recognition or a cordial
r.. h. AaS.A rA,,1A
be more popular than he, for his whole
life has been an answering
record of fidelity to principle.
AS | was rambling around Spring
field, in the vicinity of Mr.. Lincoln S
home, accosted good-natured hook
| ing lady, surrounded with bevy of
children, and gathering flowers in a
garden close by; | inquired for Mr..
Lincoln's residence. The lady turned
around at the Salutation, pointed out
the house, and with singular naivette
said: Wont you walk in? You'll be
welcome therep / could not but be
impressed with this unstudied revela-
ton of the true republican simplicity
of Mr.. Lincoln's character, and the
neighborly cordiality which that char
acter has naturally evoked" Then
followed description of his unpre-
tentious house and furnishings. Then
he continued: "Mr. Lincoln's manner
is in perfect keeping with these home
surroundings, as found on personal
experience. Having been specially in
vited to his room at the state-house,
to assist" as the French say, at the
taking of his physiognomy by a Bos-
ton artist, | had capital chance of
studying his appearance and Judging
OF his character. The pictures which
have been already published are but
slight remove from broad carica-
lures When Mr.. Lincoln is engaged
in animated conversation the play of
the features in instinct with intelli-
gence; the eyes dilate with a general
radiance; the cheek-bones cease to
have any noticeable prominence, and
the mouth, which in the prints has
been made distressing feature, is
full of character and expression. Hap
pening to ask Mr.. Lincoln how it was
that none OF the artists had done him
justice, he replied, with gracious
smile: at is impossible to get my
graceful motions in--that's the reason
why none of the pictures are like me-"
In his conversational language Mr..
Lincoln gives abundant evidence of
thorough sound sense and a ripened
experience. On public questions he
expressed himself with uhreserved
frankness. On European politics he
talked with a familiarity which only
close observation of passing events
could have impaired. The impression
which he creates in the minds of all
who come in contact with him is that
OF self-made, independent, honest
thinker. He rises far above the pol
itician; he is stranger to all the in
trigues which have cursed party poll
tics; he is thoroughly imbued with the
true elements of craftsmanship; and
in the highest and noblest sense. he
is = man" And come to think of it
that last remark is just what Ma
eauley said of Cromwell, as | quoted
him last week. And in looking back
It is interesting to note that the Quail
titles which this man thought he found
in Lincoln are just those which his