The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-16
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keokuk People and Lincoln.
Cal Black SIS
for Society EdIt0s.

At this season it Is almost impos-
sible in gathering OF any sort not
to fall into discussion OF Lincoln.
Last night group Of people met
very Informally and every one con-
tributed something story. quo
tation or an incident IN Lincoln's
life. One told Of there being a.por-
trait of Lincoln hung on the walls
of the Lincoln home in Springfield,
which was painted by DR.. Frank NJ.
Fuller's father. Another told Of the
fact that DR.. Newcomb had seen Lin
coin twice, once as he passeA
through Indianapolis on his way to
Washington to be inaugurated and
the second time as he lay in state
in the Indiana capitol building after
his assassination. DR.. Newcomb's
father, Judge Newcomb. was one OF
the reception committee to meet the
newly elected president as he
stopped in Indianapolis enroute to
Washington, and he took with him
to the hotel his two little boys that
they might see the president-elect.
DR.. Newcomb still has q memory OF
q kind face and Of great load upon
his mind.
On Lincoln's second stop in In
dianapolis, Judge Newcomb was
again on the committee to meet him.
this time as an escore for the fun
eral train from the Ohio border to
Indianapolis.
Again last night was told the story
of Colonel Blood's having been pres
ent ON the occasion of the dedicas
ticn of the battlefield of Gettysburg
and Of his having heard Lincoln's
Gettysburg address. He recalls the
fret ungainly appearance of the
president as he arose and OF the
hush that came over the audience at
the eloQuence Of his plain unvarn-
ished speech. more powerful in Its
simplicity than all the figures Of
speech and fine rhetoric which had
been heard in the proceeding speeches.
Colonel Blood says that the audience
scarcely realized that his speech had
begun, until 1t was finished. While
perhaps they did not realize that
they had heard words that were i'm
mortal-yet they recognized it as
great speech.
Another incident that was told was
that Mrs. II. B. Blood, Colonel
Blood's wife, as young woman had
gone to Abraham Lincoln in behalf
a.I the president that he might be
allowed to return home on sick
leave. She received from the presi-
dent the granting OF ner petition
with the same kindness and feeling
OF personal interest in the welfare
of her soldier brother which he al
ways displayed.
Another man recalled the day on
which the news of Lincolns assassi-
nation reached the middle west. His
father was a democrat and in those
DAYS as now, democrats sometimes
spoke in derogatory terms OF re-
publican president, just as republi-
cans are want to find flaws with the
president of the opposite party. On
this day the little boy had gone to
the postoflce for the mail and there
he heard that the president had been
assassinated. He thought to himself,
We'll, father will be glad of that"
He ran out to the field where his
father was at work and in one blunt
sentence told the news. His father
dropped his tools and went to the
house with his head bowed in grief
and The little boy knew that great
man had died, one whom his father
revered and mourned.
Program at Hamilton.
Miss Clara Gertrude Fry, pianist,
Mrs. Florence Wright Schouten, con-
tralto, and Miss Olive Morgan, ac-
have been invited to give
a program on next Tuesday evening
before the music club OF Hamilton.
The program is to be given in Bethel
church. Mrs. Roger Gordon Ia presi-
dent Of the club ut Hamilton.
Entertained Class at Party.
Deaconese Smith Of St. Johns
Dpiocopal church eutsrtalnoa the