Cheyenne record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1913-19??, 1918-02-07

Mr.. Stewards speech, said that the secretary used
the words: ....f
'This is the first time that ever any people or
community on this side of Mason and Dixon's line
(meaning the Southern side) was found willing to
listen to my voice." .-
The following morning Mr.. Lincoln rode at the
head of the procession to the platform at the new
ly prepared cemetery, his tall. ungainiy FORM
slumped his horse his face set In Its pathetc
homely lines. Only once did he relax. That was
when man held up little girl as the president
rode BY Mr. Lincoln grasped the child in his arms,
kissed her and handed her back to the proud ia
ther A shadow of smile. gentle beyond all de-
scription passed the drawn face of the presi-
dent, only to be replaced by that sad. absorbed
look that had become so typical of him.
prayer by Rev. Thomas II. Stockton chaplain
of the United States senate, opened the program.
1t was eloquent though somewhat lengthy, e1-
fort and 1t breathed the spirit of victory rather
than of humility. 1t noon-the serene. sunlit,
crisp noon of perfect fall day-when the ven
cradle Edward Everett arose to speak. His oration
was modelled along classical lines, was filed with
the eloquence so popular in that day and 1t held
the multitude in rapt silence. Mr.. Everett had
long been a figure in public life, an ambassador,
a member of the cabinet, governor a speaker
of great renown. Much expected of him, and
he gave all that was anticipated. The carefully
chosen, exquisitely polished phrases, delivered IN
his deep, sonorous voice. fell with great effective
that led to the war; described the battle and praised
the heroes of the North who had died there. But
vivid as the phraseology, penetrating as was
his logic, his address lacked the breadth that
would have made it undying. There was note
of bitterness in it when he asked: (which OF the
two parties to this Is responsible for all the
suffering for the dreadful sacrifice Of life-the
lawful and constitutional government of the United
States or the ambitious men who have rebelled
against t?" That same minor spirit crept into his
md w IA
"disloyal shareholders" and the aspiring politi-
clans" of the South, and near his conclusion, when
he said 1.-THE bonds of union are of perennial force
and energy, while the causes of alienation are
imaginary, fictitious and transient" 1t was essen
TALLY speech of Northerner for the North. A
long roar of applause followed the close of his
speech
After the singing of hymn the time came for
Mr. Lincoln to speak. He slowly and for
almost a minute he stood SILENT surveying from
his great height the waves of upturned faces. be-
yond them the broken stone walls Of the bloody
angle where Pickett's charge had failed and past
that the undulating brown fields where the shat
tered brigade of the South had turned back. Far
ther than these things of the moment he must have
gazed, off into the illimitable future of mankind
for whose guidance he was soon to pronounce one
of the most solemn obligations of history.
Then in the curiously high pitched voice that
seemed SO oddly fitted to his towering body. he
began to speak. The crowd that had relaxed when
Mr.. Everett closed his long address, began to set
itself another lengthy speech. The brevity and
simplicity of the presidents words caught the
crowd unawares 1t had scarcely adjusted itself
for listening before he had finished. There was
silence he bowed and turned back to his seat.
The silence continued for full minute, to be
broken only by scattering applause. There had
been handclapping here and there at pauses in his
address, but it had not been general. The import
of his words had not yet reached those who stood
that day at Gettysburg. There must have been
throb of deeper pain in the already aching heart
of the big, awkward, sadfaced man who walked
with SO little grace back across the platform and
sank into his seat. Doubtless he felt, he had
feared that his address had been failure.
The singing of dirge closed the program, and
the president and other notables returned to the
village When the ceremonies were over Mr.. Ev-
erett was of the first to reach Lincoln's side.
"Mr President" he began, .'your speech" but
the president interrupted him. that shadow Of
smile again crossing his face. He laid his hand
upon Mr.. Everetts shoulder.
.WeTl not talk about my speech, Mr.. Everett"
he said ."This isn't the first time that. I've felt
that my dignity ought not to permit me to be a
public speaker" 'trts =.
After luncheon reception was held at the
home Of David Wills and many of the townspeople
and visitors greeted the president Among those
who gathered at the Wills home was Prof. Calvin
Hamilton. who remarked afterwards upon the ex.
preston Of sadness upon Mr. Lincoln's face. The
president seemed nstIess his thoughts far away as
he shook the hands Of the hundreds who passed.
: Later In the day he walked with John Burns
the village hero, to the towns little Presbyterian
church. where patriotic service was held. He sat
with Burns, the cobber patriot In .one Of the high
backed benches Of the church, taking no part IN
the program He was not asked to speak again
while in Gettysburg. He had uttered the "few ap-
propriate remarks that had been asked Of him.