, 1921-02-03

bench under the inviting shade OF an old oak
tree. 1t was just such a bench as this and uhuei
this identical tree that Lincoln during the u"in
days of the war sat until late Into the night u
few hundred yards behind stands the frame
house in which he spent many a night In oruer
to have freedom from the cares of his Office BOT
more than fifty years veterans of the CiNi war
have been visiting this spot in the Soldiers home
which Lincoln liked so well, and now 1t Is ire
quented by men who fought in the Spanish-Amer-
lean war and men who did service In the Worid
war. From this spot one can see the new LIN
coin memorial three miles distant to the south
west, and just across the Potomac beyond the
memorial looms up Arlington cemetery.
Other Reminders of Lincoln.
To the north and west of the Soldiers home
on the outskirts Of the city but within the DIS
trict of Columbia, are many material reminders
of the days of Lincoln. For instance, there Is
the old fort from which Lincoln witnessed the
repulse 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 assas-
sinated, and across the street in the two-story
brick house In which he died is n Lincoln
museum supported In part by appropriations
from congress and in part from private sources.
One may see there the many reminders or the
early career of Lincoln, such as a log from mis-
boyhood home, u 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 a 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 a
Lincoln portrait about which sightseers may BIO
seen any day. In the house wing there hangs a
painting that represents the first reading OF the
emancipation proclamation before the cabinet.
September %, 1862. In the portrait are seen
secretary of war, Edwin NJ. Stanton; secretary
of the treasury, Solomon z. Chase; secretary OF
the navy, Gideon Wells; secretary of state, VIII
liam II. Seward; secretary of the interior. Caleb
u. 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-yice 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 detrnct from
the interest that will always center around the
great memorial In Potomac park. There is a
Lincoln statue at Fourth and d streets, by Scott
Flannery, 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 fire.
quency TO the wise utteranees Of Lincoln. A
glance over the speeches in the two houses OF
congress will show that It is a rare thing for a
senator or congressman to make n 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 an immortal
sentence uttered by Lincoln;
LET us 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, II such a thing Is possible. The dedica-
tlon OF the national memorial will be more than
n national event. The plans for this affair In so
far us they have been perfected call for the par
ticlpation OF the representatives Of all foreign
governments here. The eulogy may be delivered
by the President Of the United States. The
preference was for dedicatory exercises on Febru-
airy 10, tho birthday Of the martyr President. but
Il has been decided that It would be better to
walt for the balmy weather Of spring.
II II nearly nfty-lye years since Lincoln passed
on. To quote George Bancroft. the eulogian.
ngain:
mo in vain has Lincoln lived, for he has
herpad TO make this republic an example OF JUS
ttca NTH M caste hut fha caete NJ humanity