The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-02-12
"HONEST ABES'' UP IN
CUMBERLANDS ARE HONORING
THEIR FRIEND AND GUIDE TODAY

CUMBERLAND GAP. Tenn,
Feb. f2.--Tho greatest eeiebra.
ton Of llnooln's birthday In all
this broad land today 10 taking
place here In the mldst Of the
rugged Appalaehlans that Lin.
coin knew as a boyl
I Tho mountain folk OF Cumber-
land Gap, the sons and daughters
and grandchildren of the rugged
people among whom tAncoln's
father and mother lived and moved.
arc leading tho country In honor
( ing the memory OF the nations
savior.
/ Under the auspices of Lincoln
Memorial university. which In eele-
brating its Goth anniversary. hun
dreds of notable men and women
from every state are gathered amid
tho giant hills that once echoed
back the words OF Henry Clay. of
+ Calhoun and Andrew Jackson In
/ bygone political barbccues.
/ To many who made the pilgrim
age to Cumberland Gap. the ex.
pcrlenee was like turning back the
pages OF American history to. that
chapter IN antebellum days during
which the great emancipator was a
typical mountain youth--for he was
typical OF this picturesque. rough.
hewn country.
II Tho cabins that stliI dot the
I mountain aides have their LIN
] - a.. AaU
/ and while the world all about
them has been striding forward
away from rail-spllttin1 and
mule-drisina. from candles ard
homespun, they have not KEEP,
the pace.
| Their customs. their speech. their
mannerisms. are those OF an era
before Daniel Boone explored his
way westward. and their outlook on
! life little changed from tho days OF
Llncoln's boyhood.
II Is said tho great career 81 Lin
coin hinged on tho fact that he had
access to six books. A sober
ylsaged. unERinly boy. sprawled on
the cabin floor. porting over Dor
rowed books by tho light OF the
Fireplace ls the picture most
OF us bring to mind when We con.
template Lineoln's early daya.
To-day in tho same region. no
moro fortunately situated than WAS
Lincoln. boys are emulating bis ex.
ample. stirred by the same restless
fires OF ambition and lndomitable
urtff thafr .....urtat, ss,...k kua ~txx.
them In common with the great
man they follow.
/ These mountain boys-embryo
Tincoins-form the student body OF
Lincoln Memorial university. In
many respects tho most remarkable
college in the world. This univer.
siiy 10 enllghtenlng n people who@c
forcfathcrs were here before Wash
ington was born. Lincoln Memoir.
ial university IA Anericsnixing
Americans OF Lineoln's kind.
4 In announcing the plans for the
celebration. Dr. John Wesley I'm.
newly elected chancellor. explained
that tho occasion would be the
opening gun In campaign for n
th44sAfohnuAia4 su1bWW4UAts
Gen. O. O. Howard Of ycrfnount
founded the college flo caught his
inspiration from tho lips OF Ln-
coin During the civil war. while
they were in conference NJ the
White House. the president indi.
Gated Cumberland Gap on map
hanging on the wall. and spoke OF
bis affection for tho mountaincers.
The students here are In earnest
One OF the pledges required OF In.
coming students who are TO earn
their own way ia that when they
have completed the course they
shall return 20 their mountain
homes and teach those left behind.
Already students Of Lincoln
university are ending the feud