The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-02-11
LINCOLN RE-PIcTURED
On the Occasion of Anniversary of His
Birth.

Dear Sirs: As February II is the an
niversary OF the birth OF our martyred
president, Abraham Lincoln, we feel
sure that you win allow us little
space as you have at other times that
we may speak on some Of the things
in regard to his life.
He was born on February IL, 1909
and died in 1865. He was the con-
temporary of every distinguished man
Of letters in America to the close OF
the war, and from none OF them does
he appear to have received literary in
SEPARATION or guidance. He was singly
isolated by circumstances and temper
ament from these influences which us
uallv determine within certain limits,
the quality, character and work OF a
mans style. Mr.. Lincoln had the style
Of distinguished individual character.
istic form OF expression. In his own
way, he gained an insight into the
structure Of English He was one OF
the most convincing speakers OF his
day. The books within his reach, in
his younger days, were few, but they
were among the best, first and fore
most ones with the collection OF great
literature, contained both in prose and
verse. The Bible of sixtytwo volumes,
presenting nearly every literary form
and translation at the fortunate mo-
ment when the English language had
received the recent improvements OF
lis greatest masters of the speech OF
Imagination. The three books that
Lincoln became very familiar with he
borrowed from his more fortunate
neiehbors. IL is said that he read
through every book he had heard OF
over q circuit of fifty miles.
The sadness which SO mixed with
his life was largely due to his tenn
perament in which the final tragedy
eemed always to be predicted. There
was humor in his speeches and there
was also the warmest sympathy. II y
said that while he was at Frederick
city, Md, he passed house contain
ing large number of wounded rebel
oldiers and Mr.. Lincoln said, stop,
LET ne 90 in here" and, standing up
in the hospital, Mr.. Lincoln said aloud
that If the wounded men had no OBJ
lection. he would like TO take them by
The hand. The solemn obligation, said
he. which we owe to our country and
posterity compels the prosecution OF
this war, and il is preferable that !
bear Won no malice and take you by
the hand in sympathy and good feel
ing.
Looking at that tall man standing
there. the embodiment in their ignor-
ance and intensity Of all the hatred
they bore the Union. strange feeling
began to tingle in the hearts of those
soldiers and before long one man
walked up and took President Lineoln's
hand. Others got the impulse and fol-
lowed. IL was the strangest reception
of the war. This man had sympathy
for all who needed il. Were he here
to-day he would do all in his power TO
tighten the burden of the veterans of
the different wars and especially he
would see that all do what we could
10 help those who are still young and
are suffering from wounds and illness
received by the World war. Let each
one of us remember his work. Gold Is
good in its place. but patriotic men are
better than gold. Let US strive on TO
finish the work. We are here TO bind
up the nations wounds and 10 care
for him who shall have borne the bat
lie and for his widows and orphans to-
day.
Emma A. Lapoint. press correspond
emit, Woman's Relief corps.