The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-02-19
AUDIENCE OF 1000
ENJOY FINE PROGRAM
OLD SOLDIERS AND WOMEN'S
RELIEF CORPS ARE HON
ORED GUESTS
ESSAY CONTEST WINNER
HARRY PALMER AWARDED MED
+ AL FOR BEST STORY OF
LINCOLN'S LIFE

The Lincolon's Day Program pre-
pared by the pupils of Sank Centre
Junior High School with the men,
bers of the Grand Army of the Re-
public and Women's Relief Corps as
honored guests, given in the Junior
High Auditorium Thursday after
noon of last week attracted an aud
fence of nearly 1000 people, in spite
of the fact than an admission fee of
10 cents and rs cents was charged
to cover the cost of the production.
Every number of the program was
roundly applauded, and it's signif-
canoe was greatly appreciated by
all, especially the honored guests. In
this connection the Herald has been
requested to express the very sim
cere appreciation of the Civil War
veterans and members of the w. R.
c. to Supt. Falk, the teaching force
and the pupils for the splendid patrio-
tic and historic pageant so beautifully
portrayed.
An interesting feature in connec-
ton with the program was the award
ing of bronze medal to the pupil
preparing the best essay on the life
of Lincoln. This honor was won by
Harry Palmer. In presenting the
medal Supt. Falk expressed the hope
that the Lincoln essay contest would
become an annual event in the school.
Harry's essay follows herewith in
full:
Lincoln was and is universal
hero. From the first time he was
borught in personal contact with ~hu-
man things, he contracted friends and
made himself an object of admiration
and respect. He was a singular man
singular mentally, morally, and
physically. Others after him who,
possessed these qualities, have sunk
into oblivion with the passing of the
years. In one generation their names;
may have been repeated again and
again at the freside, and their char
! acters may have been outlined to lit
tie children as symbolizing everything
that is great and good; yet, with the
passing of the generation, their
names have taken on a foreign char
notwithstanding remote and re-
moved, of little importance. Lincoln's
name has endured, and the passage
4. of time seems to strengthen that en-
durance. Education has made the
people realize-realize the greatness
of his work But what is it that has
made Lincoln S name survive through
out the ages?
Personality? This characteristic
was undoubtedly factor and a great
one. No one could look into that face
without realizing his strength of
chafacter, or look into those eyes
with their prophetic vision of the flu
ture and not believe that here was a
man with a divine mission, or listen
to that voice with its homely, simple
truths and not know that here was an
individual whose destiny was to be
, the destiny of mankind.
Moral Purity? That is another
trait of character worthy of prom
. fence. His fidelity in office and to the
trust the people placed in him, his
: loyalty to the party platform on
, which he gained the highest honor in
America, awakened the people to
realize that here was politician
= the word seems to carry with it a
taint) who believed that a party
platform was public trust and must
not be violated, and that the oath of
office held personal application
which should not be misconstrued. He
= "strove always for the right, as God
, gave him to see that right. 1t was
this high ideal that lead-him to be-
y gin his lifelong fight against slavery
in which, finally triumphant, he gave
evidence that the Great Creator in
whom he placed his trust was co-or-
! dinant with him in this great purpose
; Charity? Lincoln seemed to have
in his heart a place for every class
r of people; the slave, the common PEG.
y pie, the aristocrats-none were toe
e high or too low to deserve some share
It of his attention. Especially ii they
! were in need of sympathy or were II
tsorrow or trouble was this virtuous
:, trait of character most pronounced
: His quaint philosophy held balm fol
/ even the heartaches of the mother
/ who lost SON in the great struggle
n for the preservation of the Union
d Probably there is mo incident tina
has touched a more responsive chort
n in the human heart than the on,
: wherein the President, although
!, weighed down with the cares of office
and pressed for time,I still opens tn
/ doors of the executive mansion t.
listen to the pleas of a grief stricken
II mother whose only son is to be sho
+ for falling asleep on sentinel duty
u Lincoln issues pardon because Their
" is no need to shed more blood un
necessarily and because no one coui'
lexpect farmer lad to stay awake
d all night when he has been accus