The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1921-02-10

bench under the inviting shade of old oak
tree 1t was just such bench this and unoeF
this identical tree that Lincoln during the DARK
days of the war sat until late into the night. A
few hundred yards behind stands the frame
house in which he spent many night in order
to have freedom from the cares of his office For
more than fifty years veterans OF the civil war
have been visiting this spot in the Soldiers home
which Lincoln liked well. and now it is ire
quented by who fought in the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and men who did service in the World
war. From this spot one can see the new Lin
coin memorial three miles distant to the south
west, and just the Potomac beyond the
memorial looms up Arlington cemetery
other Reminders of Lincoln.
To the north ana west of the Soldiers home
the outskirts of the city but within the Dis
trict Of Columbia, many material reminders
of the days Of Lincoln. For instance, there is
the old fort from which Lincoln witnessed the
repuse of the wOuld-be invaders Of the capital.
And extending east and west from this old fort
are remnants of numerous Notifications that Lin
coin visited many times
On Tenth street there still stands the old Ford
Theater building in which Lincoln was assfls-
sinated, and across the street in the two-stery
brick house in which he died is Lincoln
museum supported in part by appropriations
from congress and in part from private sources
One may see there the many reminders OF the
early career Of Lincoln, such as a log from his
boyhood home, fence rail which he split IN
1880, the commission of captain which he won in
the Black Hawk war in 1882, many autographed
letters the chair in which he sat in his Spring
field home when he accepted the first nomination
to the presidency and the old family Bible In
which LincOln's name appears.
As the years have gone by congress has placed
in the halls and corridors of the Capitol num-
Der OF busts and paintings of Lincoln. The bust
by Albert Degrout is in the east corridor OF the
senate wing. There is also in the senate wing
Lincoln portrait about which sightseers may be
any day. In the house wing there hangs
painting that represents the first reading Of the
emancipation proclamation before the cabinet
September %, 1852. In the portrait seen
secretary OF war, Edwin n. Stanton; secretary
of the treasury, Solomon P. Chase; secretary Of
the navy, Gideon Wells; secretary of state VIII
liam 81. Seward; secretary of the interior, Caleb
B. Smith; postmaster general, Montgomery Blair,
and attorney general, Edward Bates. This paint
ing was presented TO the United States by Eliza
beth Thompson in 1870 Alexander H Stephens.
ex-vfce president Of the Southern COnfederacy,
who was then a member of the house of repre-
sentatives, made the speech OF presentation
There are few outside statues to detract from
the interest that will always center around the
great memorial in Potomac park There is a
Lincoln statue at Fourth and streets, by Scott
FIannery and also a statue in Lincoln park.
which is called the Emancipation monument It
is by Thomas Ball
Dedication Of Memorial.
AS the years go by men in public life at the
capital of the nation refer with increasing ffe-
quency to the wise utterances of Lincoln. A
glance over the speeches in the two houses OF
congress will show that it is a rare thing for
senator or congressman to make a speech Of
consequence without quoting Lincoln. The retir-
ing President of the United States in his last
general message to congress told the legislators
that as he approached the end of his term he
found his thought dominated by immortal
sentence uttered by Lincoln:
LET have faith that right makes might and
in that faith let US dare to do our duty as we
understand It."
Apparently the present year is to bring an
increase in the interest in Lincoln in his own
country if such thing is possible The dedica-
ton OF the national memorial Will be more than
a national event. The plans for this affairyin so
far as they have been perfected call for the par
ticipation of the representatives OF ali foreign
governments here. The eulOgy may be delivered
by the President of the United States. The
preference was for dedicatory exercises on Febru-
airy II, the birthday Of the martyr President, but
1t has been decided that it would be better TO
wait for the balmy weather OF spring.
It is nearly ffty-fve years since Lincoln passed
on. To quote George Bancroft, the euIogian.
again:
mot In vain has Lincoln lived, for he has
helped TO make this republic example OF Jus
tice, with no caste but the caste OF humanity"