Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1922-02-03
A Man for the Ages
CONTINUED from Page SID

a. vac ana saw Ine spirit Oh AMER
teal in the water floods of Niagara and
saw again the spirit Of America in the
life of the boy, Abe Lincoln, Their
flowing toward its manhood. When
he sat down, the Honorable Dennis
Flanagan arose and told Of meeting
The Traylor party at the Falls, when
he was driving an ox-team, in a tall
Beaver hat; how he had remembered
heir good advice and cookies and
1erked venison.
"Gentlemen," he said, II am willing
to take the word of a man whose name
Is hallowed by my dearest ~recollec-
Hons. And believing what he has said
Of Abraham Lincoln, 1 am for him on
The second ballot"
The green Irish lad, whom l remem
Der dimly, had become a great politi.
cal chieftain and his words had much
effect. There was a stir among the
delegates. I turned and saw the tall
FORM of Horace Greeley entering the
door. His big, full face looked rather
serious. He wore gOld-bowed specta-
cles. He was smooth-shaven save for
the silken, white, throat beard that
came out from under his collar. His
head was bald on top with soft, sill
vered locks over each ear. They called
on him to speak. He stepped forward
and said slowly in a high-pitched
drawl:
"Gentlemen, this is my speech: On
your second ballot vote for Abraham
lincoln of Illinois"
He bowed and left the room and
visited many delegations, and every
Where expressed his convictions in
this formula. Backed by his tremen-
dous personality and influence, the
simple words were impressive. l doubt
not they turned scores of men from
Seward to the great son of Illinois.
Then-the campaign with its crowds,
its enthusiasm, its Vesuvian mutter-
ings. There was a curious touch of
MINOR and history In it's banners. Here
are three of them:
-Menard County for the Tau
Seeker"
1--WE are for cid Abe the Giant
Mller."
Link on to Lincoln"
Then-those last days in Springfield.
He came to the office the afternoon
Ee fore he left and threw himself on
he lounge and talked of bygone days
y It'll Herndon.
~ HRi1lu how 1nnn hnuO MO hnn- 70
Rether?" he asked.
sixteen years"
"Never a cross word"
Never"
Keep the old sign hanging. A lit
tie thing like the election of a Presi-
Tent should make 10 change in the
urn of Lincoln and Herndon. If l
ne, I'm coming back some time and
Zen We'll go right on with the prac-
Zee of the law as if nothing had hap
Kthat Monday morning in
|E3k ALeld. at eight o'clock, on the
3fVefSsa r February, the train bore
IN tsHayd the great task of his life.
4annah --rmstrong. who had foxed
III rousers in New Salem, and the
'enerable Doctor Allen and the Brim-
and Aleck Ferguson, bent with
Ige, and Harry Needles and BIN and
heir four handsome children, and my
'ather and mother, and Betsey, my
naiden sister, and Eli Frendenberg
yere there in the crowd to bid him
A quartet sang. Mr.. Lincoln asked
ljs friends and neighbors to pray for
Iis success. He was moved by the
ight of them and could not have said
ID ch If he had tried. The bell rang.
ne train started. He waved his hand
"a was gone. Not many of US who
God trying to see through our tears
again to look upon him. The
of preparation were ended and
6ose of sacrifice had begun.
Now, we are at the foot of the last
~. For a long time 1 had seen it
in the distance. Those days
{ piled my heart with a great fear.
Vow. how beautiful. how lonely it
ans! Oh, but what a vineyard on
aat very fruitful hill! 1 speak low
l think of it. Harry Needles
NJ ! were On our way to Washington
naf Hateful night of April IA, 1865.
reached there at an early hour in
ne morning. We made our way
the crowded streets to the lit
e house opposite Ford's theater. An
Nleer who knew me cleared a way for
70 the door. Reporters, statesmen,
'klEens and their families were
iassed in the street waiting with tear
saAned faces for the end. Some Of
en- were sobbing as we passed. We
&c admitted without delay. A min
"a and the doctor sat by the bedside.
NJ latter held an open watch in his
III. l could hear it ticking the last
'2Inents in an age of history. What
Sllence as the great soul of my friend
~ breaking camp to go home"