New-York tribune., 1922-12-01
Liberty'sShrine,
Says "Tiger" at
LincOln's Tomb
Clemenceau's Tribute to
Emancipaior Is Simple
and Without Reference
to His Mission Here
Due in St. Louis To-day
To Be Henry Whites Guest
in Washington and Will
Make 2 Addresses There
By Boyden Sparkes


iron door that holds the entrance 70
the tomb Of Abraham Lincoln was
swung open to-day 30 that Georges
Clemeneeau might lay q wreath on the
sarcophagus Of one whose magic words
Of liberty for all men fret reached him
when be was prisoner 10 the imperial
jail Of Louis Napoleon.
Humbly the old mar OF France paid
his tribute, solemnly he wrote &c.
Clemcncenu" on the register Of ell the
pilgrims who have come 20 this shrine
Of the American people, and then sin
eerely he spoke his feelings 10 q throns
that had gathered there 70 show re-
spect and love 70 both Lincoln and
Clemenceau.
"It Is q long time ago" he said,
"when I felt hurt upon hearing that
Lincoln was murdered. ] was young
students in Paris then, and remember
well the big manifestations Of grief.
Do not think that ] come here after
so many others 70 consecrat0 such q
memory. To eonseerate my thoughts
and feelings. that Is why / come here.
Fought for Same Cause
"I remember Gettysburg, and that
there Lincoln said the most wonder
ful things. He said; We DO not come
here 10 eonseerate this hallowed
ground, but 20 make our actions worthy
Of their lives. As q young man | bat
tied in France for the Eame cause for
which Lincoln gave his LIE.
I've have come to tell bin that We
do not try 10 equal him, but to tell
him we try to 10 behind him or the
path he so gloriously opened.
81 want to try 20 tell you Of the
love Of my people, Of France, for not
only him. but for every one who stands
for the ideals for which he etood. Here
am, a private citizen, speaking no
differently than any other, hoping not
to be like him, but hoping to be 90
good as can.
"I am an old man, knowing that |
have but a short time Of life left, but
hope to bring from this holy place
new strength, new powers, new feeling,
that shall carry me through 20 the
end.
Says Nothing or Politics
"so, gentlemen, let as say no more:
We a7e not here In the interests or
political aims, political partisS or po-
iiticsl action. We are here as men
before one Of the greatest men who
ever lived; great by thought, great oy
feeling and great BY action. All my
heart goes 10 America and fts great
men such as this oae"-Clemeneesu
turned, faced the lofty monument and
bowed low - before whom ! incline
myself"
There was no music, no ceremony,
only q brief introduction ard those
words that seemed to come from the
heart Of the old statesman leaning
heavily on his ebony stick.
Several ts3ussnd Of the people o.
Springfeis ~ste standing In . light
driIzle Of rs!n st the lllinois Central
station when the train drawing
Clemenceau's private car arrived AZ
3 o'clock. Among those VINO reeeived
the Tiger" we're former United states
Senator Lawrence Y. sherman. John
l.. Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers Of America; Adiutant Geh,.
erai Carlos Z. Black, Of Illinois, ana
Colonel Richard J. Shand.
VI. Clemeneeau, In o procession OF
Springfield men, including a number OF
veterans Of the last three vars OF the
United States, rode 70 the Lincoln
homestead, IN Eighth Street. Mrs.
MARY Edwards Brown, q niece OF MRS.
Lincoln, Is the custodian there. and she
pleased the Tiger" by presenting him
with a penhoidcr which she assured
him had been made from a piece OF the
flooring In the Lincoln bedroom.
"Ah. / shall treasure III" the Tiger"
exclaimed feelingly. This is the tofa
where he courted his wife" explained
Mrs. Brown. There Is a picture OF the
hotel IN which ne lived with his wife
right after their marriage. Board was
81 a week for the two % them"
"Ah, and have you such an hotel here
to.dAy7"
Mrs. Brown led the way across the
hall TO the dining room where fine
old mahogany table shines as It prob
ably never thought Of doing when II
served the emancipation and was merely
q dining table and not yet relic.
Mrs. Brown is a thorough guide, and
by the time che had covered the lower
floor Il was time for A. Clemenceau.
whose Springfield schedule allowed him
but an hour and a half, 20 depart for
Oakridge Cemetery. He thanked Mrs.
Brown and promised her he would al
ways cherish his souvenir Of Lincoln.
Hundreds Of Springfield folks, out
walking 20 recover from the effect OF
their Thanksgiving dinner, eheered hin
as he passed. Arriving at the cemetery
he wat taken into the room in the
tomb where the register and many
relics Of Lincoln are preserved. H. W.
Fay, the custodian. handed the old man
a pen. He wrote, quickly, &c. Clemen-
mesu."
Aren't you going to put down France
or anything" The custodian WAS sur
prised at the lack Of an address. Gle.
menceau said nothing. Then Mr.. Fay
handed him a special delivery letter
that had come addegsed TO the "The
Tiger, in care OF L!neo'n's Tomb"
presented him with q rough stick OF
wood about q foot long. whieh ne was
told was from Lineoln's residence.
Solemnly the custodian. himself sn
--------------------------