New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-10
GETTYSBURG
The Origin and Delivery OF
LincOln's Address
LINCoIN's GETTYSBURG ADDRESS, By orton
H. Carmichael limo. illustrated: pp no
The Abingdon Press

LINC0LN's GETTYSBURG ADDRESS By oT 1is
H. Carmichael limo Illustrated: pp ITO.
The Abingdon Press
OF perennial interest is that marvel
lous address, and timely at this season
is this little volume concerning IT.:
Much has hitherto been published
about it, controversial as well as Gu
logistic; especially about the time and
manner of its composition and some Of
the circumstances of its delivery. Some
legends and strange inventions have
been dismissed, and the truth has
largely been disclosed, so that now,
with the exception of few minor and
immaterial points, the story of the
speech is well established. But it is
particularly welcome to have that
story, with various side lights and
CLOSES, set forth in a compact and
convenient form.
The background of history which the
author provides for the memorable
scene may be supertiuous, but 1t is not
objectionable The account of Lin
coins trip from Washington to Gettys-
burg and his decidedly unconventional
reception and sojourn at the latter place
is well presented, and however familiar
il NAV be TO any it is well worth the
retelling and rereading at this time
az a reminder of the simplicity of the
great President and his times. and for
the sake of the contrast which is pre-
scented TO the sophisticatlon, the elab-
crate precautions and the ceremonlous
formalty Of our own day.
The gist of it all, however. is the
account. partly narrative and partly
discussion. of the origin of the address.
The author makes il clear that Lin
coin prepared it in advance. perhaps
giving thought to its composition many
DAYS beforehand He wrote it out in
full and held the manuscript in ms
hand while he delivered 1t, though ne
certainly did not read 1t and IT Is not
certain that he so much as glanced az
the written lines. SO short, so simple
and so perfectly characteristic speech
was easily committed to memory IN an
hour. perhaps in a few minutes, by us
author. But the fact that some or the
REPORTS made of the speech by stenog-
raphers at its delivery vary a trlhe
from the authorized version suggests
that the spoken address differed silght-
ly from the written copy. There cam
of course, be no uncertainty as 10 the
authentic form, since two original
drafts made by Lincoln himself are IN
existence. and IL is a welcome tnlhg
20 have facsmiles of these presented
in this book. The manuscripts thus
reproduced arc the original drait,
which Lincoln held in his hand while
speaking; the copy made by MN TOT
the Soldiers and Sailors Fair, at BAL
timore, and the that manuscript In
the first of these, II is interesting 10
notice. there is a single correction or
alteration. in making which Lincoln
inadvertently pcrpetrated split IN
fnitfve." which, of course, he dld not
repeat in his delivery OF the address
and which was scrupulously eliminated
from the copies subsequently made by
him. Another interesting facsimile ~
that of a part Of printed address by
Theodore Parker in 1858, found among
Lincoln's papers and with pencil
mark against the sentence, Democracy
is direct government, over all the
people, for all the people, by all the
people" This pretty convineingly sug-
rests the source of inspiration OF LIN.
COINS often quoted words; and or
course it is no reprosch to Lincoln
that he thus borrowed from Parker,
anv more than to Parker that he IN
turn probably got the phrase from
Webster twenty eight years before.
The analysis of Lincoln's character
and intellect, which the author ADDS
NAV be as superfluous as the opening
chapter. to which we have already re-
ferred; vet it is not unwelcome. BUT
Tho hest of the book is that which
has TO do directly with the place, the
dav. the man and the address, with
tho photographs Of various historic
bu;ldinos. Concerning all these we
arc never likely 20 have too much; nor
Gre We likely to have more interesting
inflammation more lucidly and compact.
l., presented than in this tasteful and
authentic little volume.