New-York tribune., 1921-10-16

cts at places made historic by events in Lin
.ons career while he resided there.
These tablets bear his name and tell Of the
events that transpired at the various places
and dates. The bronze, the designs and the
workmanship represent the best quality of me
mortal art.
TO younger citizens who never knew him
and to the thousands OF visitors who are az
tracted to Springfield only because it was the
home Of lincoln, these tablets will be most re
vealing of his presence in the Illinois capital
These memorials are q living embodiment of
the Lincoln spirit in Springfield and are as
appealing and more voceful than even his
tomb. He still lives at Springfield now in day
light as we'll as at midnight and limited no
longer by Lindsays poetic vision Of "Lincoln
Welks at Midneht.' The poet wrote:
r. 10 portentous snd thing OF state
That here ut midnight, in our little town,
4 mourning figure walks, and will not rest,
Near the old Courthouse pacing up and down
Some of the locations marked are more
intimate chan Others to the writer though ali
are worthily and correctly placed. Four Of
he tablets mark places and events where I
was present and familiar with the events
cited. These are TIE ones at the old "Journal"
Office, where Lincoln received the telegram
notifying him OF his nomination: st the C. NJ
Smith building, in the third story, where Lin
coln wrote his first inaugural address; also
he tablet recitng events at tie State House
now Court House), where his great speeches
we're delivered and where his body lay in
state and from where ii was borne to the
tomb. The fourth tablet marks TIE law Of
nee which Lincoln occupied the last seventeen
Years he was IN Springfield. This is to me
ne most appealing and sacred Of all in mem
ery's retrospect.
The frst three mentioned [ will not further
refer TO here, as they were fully described in
my personal Recollections Of Abraham Lin
coln"
o. the Lincoln law Office some more init
mate recognition OF the part it had in Kin
coins life deserves mention at this time. This
otice was the center Of Lnccln's legal poi'ti-
al and literary activities in Springfield. Vol
umea might have been written Of what took
place re. had here been such a competent
gossiping scribe as Boswell, always present to
AXE notes of what transpired.
It IS now more than sixty years since !
passed daily under the swinging sign Lincoln
& Herndon,' and up and down the stairway,
INTO and from j back room, located in what
was then & two-story building. This had been
The law Office of Abraham Lincoln for the last
seventeen and most strenuous years he spent
n Springfield.
1t was my privilege, for several Of those
later years, to share in that Office its routine
as student, and to enjoy the personality and
instruction Of this most remarkable man of
his century.
The end of his presence at the law office
came the evening of February 10, 1861. I re
call seeing Abraham Lincoln passing that
night for the last time, out of his office and
down the narrow stairway to the street. On
the following morning he departed from
Springfield on his mission into the strange,
strenuous, sacrifcal life that has eulbamed
his memory forever to endure in the heart
Of the ares.
10 place in Springfield, not even his tomb,
enrongs with memories such as this Office
brings to the students OF Lincolns history.
Lincoln. most studious years were spent
here, aa we'll as the most aspiring ones. 1t
was he,e that he grew clear visioned on the
futures national problems and threw hjs
whole soul into their solution. Here he &C
quired his dexterous skill in handling human
Implements Political events rapidly sue
ceeded each other in those years he spent
here These arose to climax at length with
swiftness unlocked for by most others. Not
50 to Lincoln. They eliminated at last sud
denly bringing fierce strife of brother against
brother. of state against state Dark clouds
filed the political and national skies burst
M at last INTO storm Of bitter hate ane
bloody war This had become inevitable
When that hour of need had struck it wa
from this office there camo man fully pre-
pared by years o3 study for those fatefu
houls An honest, tall, gentle, strong man
heroic and sad who was constitutional,
called by his fello~ countrymen from thi
Office and placed at the helm of state to pre-
serve our rational union. In that time o
u political turmoil and civil revolution he guide
his country safely through blood and fire an
'-sar-, with steady. unshakcn faith in Go
ann r~n-
Il was not the opportunity nor the stres
OF great occasions, such as the delivery of hi
speech IN the Illinois state capital on I"
house divided against itself ca not stand.
nor the debates with Douglas that followed il
nor the opportunity before New York aud
cnce Ut Cooper Institute, that account for 0
explain the progressive development 0
Lincoln