The Benson signal., 1918-02-09

Mr. Stewards speech, said that the secretary used
the words:
.,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 the platform at the new
ly prepared cemetery, his tall, ungainly form
slumped over his horse his face set in it's pathetic
homely lines Only once did he relax. That was
when a man held up a little girl as the president
rode Bly, Mr. Lincoln grasped the child in his arms,
kissed her and handed her back to the proud ia
ther. A shadow of a SMILE gentle beyond all de-
scription passed over the drawn face of the pres-
dent, only to be replaced by that sad, absorbed
look that had become SO typical of him.
A prayer by Rev. Thomas III. Stockton chaplain
of the United States senate, opened the program.
1t was eloquent, though somewhat lengthy, ef-
fort and it breathed the spirit of victory rather
than Of humility. 1t was nOOn-the serene, sunnt,
crisp noon Of a perfect fall day-when the ven
erable Edward Everett arose to speak. His grafton
was modelled along classical lines, was filled 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, a governor, speaker
of great renOwn. Much was expected of him, and
he gave all that anticipated. The carefully
chosen, exquisitely polished phrases, delivered In
his Deep sOnorous voice. fell with great effective
ness upon his hearers. He reviewed the events
that led to the war, described the battle and praised
the heroes of the North who had died there, But
vivid as was 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 war Is responsible for all the
suffering, for the dreadful sacrifice Of life-the
lawful and constitutional government of the United
&ho uhn how
against itY That same minor spirit crept into his
words again and again when he referred to the
"dsloyal Shareholders and the aspiring politi-
Clans of the South and near his conclusion when
he said 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 for
Mr.. Lincoln to speak. He arose 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 illim1table 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 for 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 as he bowed and turned back to his seat.
The silence continued for a full minute, to be
broken only by scattering applause. There had
hoan hop pdc1o hpr of in
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
a throb of deeper pain in the already aching heart
of the big, awkward, sad-faced man who walked
with so little grace back the platform and
sank into his seat. Doubtless he felt, as he had
feared that his address had been a 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 one of the first to reach Lncolns side.
"Nr. President" he began, your speech" but
the president interrupted him, that shadow of
smile again crossing his face. He laid his hand
upon Mr. Everett's shoulder
"Well 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
public speaker"
After luncheon a reception 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
preston Of sadness upon Mr.. Lncolns face The
president seemed stess, his thoughts far away, as
he shook the hands of the hundreds who passed.
Later ia 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 Gemarks" that had been asked Of him.