Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-12
LINCOLN WAS ONE
OF PLAIN PEOPLE
Chicago Historical Society Has
Valuable Collection From
His Environment.
by Associated Press to Evcry Evenini

by Associated Press to Evory Evening
Chicago, ILL.,. Feb. i2.--Abraham Lin
coin ia shown again as one of the plain
people at the Chicago Historical So
ciety this week.
To it's already fine Lincoln collection,
the society has added on this anniver-
sary. for the first time. some remnrka-
BILE bits OF Lincolns environment that
give glimpses of his life.
Most illuminating perhaps among
these is tho pew that Lincoln occupied.
in the Presbyterian Church at Spring
field. before he left Illinois capital To
go TO the White House. The rough
bench looks as II II might have been
made from tho rails that he split I'm
youth. No palmer. commoner. more
substantial bench could be built for
church
The pow probably was never painted.
At any rate II shows no sign of paint
today. but stands like "A product OF the
carpenter that had gone straight to the
church. IT Is n bench that without re-
gard to looks could be doing it's duty
for several more half-centuries
Nearby is a chair that Lincoln used
while he was reading law. II is one of
those bleak officer chairs of long ago. a
sure enough companion piece to the
pew. simple worn and still good for
long term OF hard service
Close at hand stands a book case
made abroad for Jefferson Davis. tho
president of the Confederacy Rather
Ornately carved IL seems quite unlike
IIncoln's home bookcase. which also
is on display here today. This is an
other Of the plain pieces common i'm
the day. and now sought after But
that there was comfort and elegance of
quiet nature in the Lincoln household
may be attested by the handsome ma
hogany and haircloth couch from
Springfield.
Robert T. Lincoln. the Presidents only
living son. pays the Chicago Historical
Society visit from time 20 time lie
has pronounced the best likeness of his
father a little known portrait that has
recently come into possession Of the
society and is hanging there. this
Lincoin's birthday. for the first time
The scene is a ehps cabin. where
Lincoln is listening 20 General Sherman
tell nf his maruh TO the sea The paint
Ing is by c. +. A. Healy. one of the
noted artists Of the day. Robert r
Lincoln has had a copy OF his fathers
figure made for his homo in Washing
ton.
The bed on which Lincoln breathed
his last. together with hundreds of
bits intimately associated with his life
have recently come into the hands of
the society These All are from tho col
lection of the late Charles r Gunther
the Chicago candy man.
For years and years MIR Gunther
worked with unfaKEing energy until
he has gathered what Miss Caroline VI
NcIlvaine librarian Of the Chicago
Historical Society. terms the most re-
markable private collection in the
country relating To American history.
Between Chicago and Springfield.
Illinois has the fullest collection
reminiscent Of its greatest "favorite
son.
Chicago. Feb 12-while Senator
Harding's inauguration as president of
the United States IS designed to follow
arrangements Of Abraham Lincoln's
inaugural. there are features of 1861
that fortunately will be missing in 1921
Instead OF veterans Of North and
south marching side by side as they
viii next month, the only military
forces in the inaugural parade OF 1861
were the sappers and miners. The
rest Of the L. s. troops in the capital
were stationed in different parts of the
city TO provide against emergencies
As the nation hovered on the brink OF
civil war. the great fear of the au-
thorities was that effort would be made
to interfere with the ceremonies
II President Harding follows Lin
coins first inaugural address in COM
pass. he will do il in less than 5000
words In that space Lincoln made his
plea for the Union and declared his in
tention TO maintain II.
Four years later LinColn's second in
augurai was overshadowed by the pre-
cession of victories. The crowds were
smaller than those in 6l Veterans
marched in the parade and there was
a brilliant array of officers in the city
A much commented on feature Of the
parade was a battalion Of colored troops
and a colored lodge of Masons. Phila-
delphia was represented by several
FIRE companies with engines and two
hose companies
Lincoln's second inaugural address
was done IN a thousand words. but the