Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-02-08

Mr. Stewards speech said that the secretary uset
the words:
"This is the first time that any people oil
community this side of Mason and Dixons line
(meanng 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, ungainly form
slumped his horse, his face set in its pathetic
homey lines Only once did he relax. That was
when a 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 a smile, gentle beyond all de-
scrption, passed the drawn face of the presi-
dent, only to be replaced by that sad, absorbed
look that had become typical of him.
prayer by Rev. Thomas H. Stockton, chaplain
of the United States senate, opened the program.
1t eloquent, though somewhat lengthy, eff
fort and it breathed the spirit of victory rather
than of humility 1t was noon-the serene, sunt
crisp noon of perfect fall day-when the ven
cradle Edward Everett arose to speak. His Grafton
modelled along classical lines, was filled with
the eloquence popular In that day and it 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, exqusitely polished phrases, delivered in
his Deep voice, fell with great effective
that led the war; described the battle and praised
the heroes of the North who had died there. But
vivid as the phraseology, penetrating
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 ife-the
lawful and constitutional government of the United
States or the ambitious who have rebelled
against it?" That same minor spirit crept into his
words again and again when he referred TO the
"disloya 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 essen
TALLY speech of a Northerner for the North.
long of applause followed the close of his
speech.
After the singing of a hymn the time came 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 unduatng brown fields where the shat |
tered brigade of the South had turned back. Far.
Their than these things of the moment he must have
gazed, off into the illimtable future of mankind
for whose guidance he soon to pronounce one
of the most solemn obligations of history.
Then in the curousy high pitched voice that
seemed oddly fitted to his towering body, he
X.
Mr.. Everett closed his long address, began to set
itself for another lengthy speech The brevty 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 handclappng here and there atspauses 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 as he had
feared, that his address had been failure
The singing of a dirge closed the program and
the president and other notables returned to the
village When the ceremonies We're Mr.. Ev-
erett was one of the first to reach Lincolns side
Mr. President" he began, your speech" but
the president interrupted him. that shadow of a
smile again crossing his face. He laid his hand
upon Mr.. Eyeretts shoulder
Wen 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
s After luncheQAs reception was held ut the
home of David Wills and many of the townspeople
md 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 listess, his thoughts far away as
he shook The hands of the hundreds who passed
Later in the day he walked with John Burns
he village hero to the towns little Presbyterian
.hurch. where patriotic service was held He SAT-
With Burns, the cobher patriot in one of the high
packed benches of the church, taking no nart in
he program. He was not asked to speak ohajn
While in Gettysburg. He had uttered the 'few an
'ropriate remarks that had been asked of him.