The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-11-01
Sergeant G. w. Johnson
Presents Personal impress
sions of Americas Great
President.
HONOR FOR MS HERO


from the stories of Abraham Lincoln,
told by Sergt. G.. w. johnson at the
First Baptist Church on Sunday even
ing. An old man with white hair firing
ing his temples and curling about his
head, the veteran of '61 made deep
impression on his audience as he stood
in the pulpit and rehearsed his per-
sonal experiences with "the greatest
man who has walked the earth since the
days of Christi Abraham Lincoln
Among the auditors of Sergeant John
son were many members of the Fred s
Lowell Post of the G. A. R., who listen
ed with peculiar pleasure as their com
patriot in arms reviewed various Incl
dents from the life of their hero.
The speaker was especially effective
by reason of his directness and quiet
simplicity. Without attempts at elo.
quence he presented his stories of the
great president with brevity charac-
teristic of Lincoln himself. Each anec-
dote carried its special message and
played its own part in the sergeant Is
eulogy of "Honest Abe'' the "rail
splitter, who saved the Union and made
America safe for freedom and democ.
racy.0
AS evidence of the kindness of
Abraham Lincoln the veteran cited the
story of Bill Owen, boyhood playmate
of his who went to war with him. The
incident is typical of the tragedy of the
Civil War and the magnanimity of
President Lincoln. Bill Owen, Union
soldier who had been on duty continu-
ously for more than two days volunteers
to do sentry service for sick comrade.
During the course of the night, he falls
asleep at his post and is sentenced to be
shot. While waiting for execution he
writes letter to the folks back home
in which he says that he els willing to
die for his country but would prefer to
meet death from the enemy's bullets
rather than beneath the rifles of his
own comrades. - The message in its
entirety is taken to the President by
the soldier s little sister, who persuades
the gentle Lincoln to pardon her broth
er and send him back home safe to his
parents. IT wanted to save life, -
was Lincoln s comment, "and this was
my one best chance
Illustrating the democracy of Ameri-
ca IS war time executive, Sergeant John.
son said that he had repeate 7ly seen
Lincoln talk with ditch-diggers on the
streets Of Washington. The humble
concerns of their work-a-day life were
none too trifing for his attention and
furnished the theme of many a serious
and humorous conversation. The vet
eran told with especial emphasis the
story of "Farmer Pill'' who came 70
Washington to call on "Honest Abe''
and who dined at the White House
much to the disgust of Secretaries Sew
ard and Stanton, men of less human
sympathies than their wiser chief and
president.
AS proof of the unselfshness of Abra-
ham Lincoln the speaker quoted freely
from Mary Shipman Andrews "Coun.
sci Assigned. " The story narrates an
incident in the life of Lincoln not so
generally known as others. It has to
do with his earlier career in Illinois and
tells of little adventuresin sacrifice in
which the rough-and-ready lawyer of
Springfield compromised his chances of
success in doubtful campaign in order
that ne might defend a boyhood friend,
unJustly threatened with death for muir
der. The story is essentially human
and moving and in the words of Sergt.
johnson lost none of it's tragic force.
IL showed IN a pleasing way the tender
altruism of Abraham Lincoln. which
made him the idol of all who knew him
and the best-beloved of America IS ma
tional heroes.
Other incidents equally well present
ed completed the speaker IS characterize
ton of the martyred president and sent
his auditors away with a new vision of
the greatness of Abraham Lincoln.
Modest but effective the lecture was an
inspiring novelty at once patriotic and
religious and furnished an admirable
feature for the Sunday evening service.
Sergeant johnson is native of Ve--
mont but is now living at the Soldiers
Home in Milwaukee. His experience IN
the Civil War was such as to Qualify
him to speak with authority on the life
and character of Abraham Lincoln At
cpe time stationed among the Capitol
Guards at Washington. he had every
opportunity to observe the actions and
mannerisms of his hero. That he took
advantage of the chance thus offered il
evidenced by the personal and intimate
narratives of the Sunday evening lee.
ture, which did much to impress the
audience with the supreme greatness of
America 9 savior In the last great war
fer freedom.
Lieut.. G.. O. Sandatronn on3 fam;1r