The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-02-08

the 'martyred president for his use
of witty stories remember South S
reply to Sherlock: Had it pleased
Almighty God to have made you a
wit, what would you have done?"
Lincoln's career is stimulating
study for young people. The life
of Lincoln preached sermon from
the text: 1T is not who was your
grandfather, it is what can you do?"
Heredity and blood count for much
but they aren't everything. Swans
do sometimes come out of ducks
nests. The lazy, shiftless poor whites
of Kentucky and the ignorance, vul-
garity and vice that everywhere
abounded among them provided a
poor soil for the rearing of a flower
of world wide fame. Yet SO it was.
Out of the lake mud arises the love-
illness of the water lily. Many a
sweet flower puts forth its bloom on
a dunghill. Out of the midst of such
uncongenial surroundings there came
forth strong character and great
man.
That should teach US there's a di-
vinity that shapes our ends, rough
hew them how we will" Grit and
go, grace and gumption, can over
come much. At II Lincoln might be
found walking over four miles, to get
a very elementary schooling. A
smooth wooden shovel, frequently
planed had to serve him for writing
paper. Very, very few books came
his way, but those that did were
greedily devoured. Other fellows
might read more; few read as thor
oughly. The result was at the end
of II months Lincoln's knowledge
was as fresh as when acquired, while
theirs had faded out of their minds.
The story of our great president
pleads like angels trumpet tongued,
against the idea that we are ire
trievably made or married by our
birth and early surroundings, and
says to every young fellow, Have
principle and push and you will get
there"
Don't forget the hidden springs
that fed his life. IF it were not for
my firm belief in an everything Pro-
violence it would be difficult for me-
in the midst of such complication of
affairs to keep my reason in its seat"
are words Lincoln put into one of his
private letters. His profound and
reverent sense of God and His all
wise interventions in human affairs
were back of many of his words and
deeds. His tender respect for the
mother he lost so early in life, was
another hidden spring.
While he was member of con-
gress he was once criticised by a
friend for his seeming rudeness in de-
Ginning to test the rare wines pro-
vided by their host. Il meant no dis
respect, John" answered Lincoln,
but l promised my precious mother,
only few days before she died that
| would never use anything intoxicat-
ing as beverage and / consider that
promise today as binding as it was
the day l gave it." His friend urged
another argument, to which Lincoln
replied: "A promise is a promise for
ever, and when made to a mother is
doubly binding" Only fools will
sheer at that kind of talk; the man
that used it was no fool. Such hidden
springs as there fed the life that be-
came truly great. With him did the
melodies abide, of the everlasting
chime" He was of that unnumbered
host.
who carry music in their heart,
Though dusky lane and wrangline
mart,
Plying their daily task with buster
feet,
Because their secret souls a holy
strain repeat"
Think of the pathos and pity OF
his end. Lee surrendered at Rich
mond on April IS, 1865 and on April
Is Lincoln earned the martyrs crown.
Not long was he permitted to enjoy
his success. And yet he had wrought
well and had done noble work. His
life is not to be measured simply by
its length. Fifty-six years seem but
few as contrasted with seventy or
eighty, but figures on the dial" are
not everything. He most lives who
thinks most, feels the noblest, acts
the best" Abraham Lincoln had
written his line or two before it came
night. Il believe l have made some
marks which will tell for the cause OF
liberty long after l am gone" may
now be regarded as a sober estimate
of his most useful life.
Today we bid fair peace be to his