Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-07
DRINKWATERLINCOLN
SYMPATHETIC STUDY
Slight Departures From Historical Accu-
racy Do Not Destroy Beauty
of Production.

: tual yet forceful humor Of the man.
So studious and painsta king a writer
low the methods of thought that
seemed almost trivially facetious and
which were nevertheless always
in accord with fixed and lofty
purpose and measured with the most
delicate accuracy to the sympathies
and understanding of those whom he
addressed. Lincoln did not disdain to
utilize even the ordinarily abject pun,
and to intrust it with responsibility
as almost the essential element of an
important argument A biographer
relates:
"a good illustration of his terse
manner of speaking is his address to
the jury in the suit against a man
known as king" Hart for Selling
piece of land from the plaintiff, Lin
coins client. The trial was held at
Metamora, Woodford county. During
the trial he had little to say and the
case was seemingly lost. but he gained
a prompt verdict by this brief speech:
We don't believe in kings in this
country. We refuted that doctrine al
most two hundred years ago, but we
have doctrine in this country that
we do believe in. 1t is the Monroe
doctrine. When the kings Of Europe
attempt to seize land in this hemi-
sphere we apply the Monroe doctrine
to Item and they experience a change
of heart: Why should we not apply
the same doctrine TO american kings?
This little king is attempting to Sc
cure posse ssion of land to which he
has no claim, and you, gentlemen of
the jury, stand in the same
position as the government of the.
United States; you must protect a
weak vassal by applying the Monroe
doctrine to this American king"
X X X
AS study of thought processes, Mr..
Drinkwater's Lincoln does not show
"Disraeli." Any attempt to invest
Lincoln with witty playfulness would
have jeopardized the simple majesty
which is the characters truly DOM
inant note. There was perhaps some
difhdence. too, about risking the
lish sneer at Lincoln as a perpetual
little more.
Fun at the expense of Our Ameri-
can Cousin" was mainly the purpose
of the comedy which Lincoln was
seeing when he was ssassinated The
play was by Tom Taylor, poet as
well as a dramatist and illustrator.
His ridicule was tempered and turned
by the development of the minor role
Of Lord Dundreary into very con.
spicuous part. Taylor was pretty well
dropped from attention after the as
saSSination. His fame was too closely
linked with tragedy. A sensitive and
remorseful mood on his part gave
birth to a poem of rare beauty as he
humbled himself in sorrow for the
shafts his wit had aimed through
London Punch.
4 x
The first four stanzas of the poem,
which is well worth reading in full,
are as follows:
You lay a wreath on murdered Lincoln's bier
You. who with mockins pencil wont to trace
Broad for the self-complacent British sneer
His length Of stumbling limb, his furrowed
face.
His saunt. gnarled hands. his unkempt. bris-
His garb uncouth his bearing i'll at ease:
His lack of all we prize as debonair.
OF power or will to shine. Of art to please.
You whose smart pen backed up the pencils
Judging each step as though the way were
Reckless SO it could point its paragraph
OF chiefs perplexity or peoples pain.
Beside this corpse that bears for winding
y The Stars and Stripes he lives to rear anew.
Between the mourDers at his head and feet
Say .scnrrile jester, is there room for you?
That gentle and poetic player Ed
win Booth was cruelty touched by the
event, and never played in Washing
ton after the tragedy in which his
unfortunate brother had SO strange
part.
Such are a few Of the recollections
which the Drinkwater play must in
spire. recollections which will claim
respect for his efforts and an answer
ing mood to his appeal for the same
kindly thought that he earnestly and
rrustingly extends.