Evening star., 1926-08-22
IDA GILBERT MYERS.

a BEAUTIFUL BLCNDER. BY Wit
liam E. Barton, author of The
Life of Abraham Lincoln" Illus
trsted. Indianapolis: The Bobbs-
Merrill Co.
A true idealist Woodrow Wilson is
recognized also as master Of a noble
and beautiful medium for the expires.
sion Of his own high visioA Yet when
in the Mexican disturbaace Of 1914
four United States marines we're killed.
President Wilson could fiiid no more
httlnC words of sympathy for the be-
reft families Of these boys than those
written more than 80 years ago by
Aors ham Lincoln TO a stricken mother
OF the Civil War. Therefore. the Pres
ident directed that copies of this letter
be sent TO the parents of the four ma
rirc. who had made the great sacrifice
for country. This incident brings up
af esh the story of that famous letter.
witch stands beside the Gettysburg
az -ess for vision and tenderness and
wisdom.
For more than half century SOL
nrs have been searching, SO far in
/. for the letter sent by Abraham
i.oColn to Mrs. Lydia BiXby ofs Bos
ron Information. official 20 all APP.
reHrances, had come to the President
war. Thereupon Mr.. Lincoln sent
her the letter which has since be
20 ne famous In part by virtue of it's
, III quality. in other part because Of
H., strange disclosures. Copies of the
letter are in existence. The story
Itself forms the theme of "A Beautiful
Jnder."
William f. Barton, who has spent
many years in pursuit Of every aspect
80 the life of Lincoln, has drawn from
body of his work the story of the
xby letter. The title exactly fits the
atents. of the matter, for through
me blundering in the use Of war rec
ds and hearsav itself it turns out
at Mrs. Bixbv did not lose five sons
the war. Moreover. the evidence
dicates that Mrs. Bixby. in the halo
This mistake and in the comfort
contributions more substantial than
mere halo, did not correct the error
way of which she had come into
intact with the President of tho
rted States himself through his
'mpathy for her great loss.
MIR. Barton's little book is given up
part to an investigation Of tf,e
whole Bixby tribe of New England
UGH study is a fortiffcation against
,aistake. In other part the book is
truly amazing study Of the mind of
man under certain stresses Of circUm-
~tance. The author pursues it in a
kindly and amusing humor that at no
oint takes away from the thorough
Ness of the investigation, at no point
..Nerts him from his quest for the
ruth Of the matter. The search un-
overs essential dislovalty. lying and,
ipon the whole, no great merit from
my point of view. Yet of the incident
hIr, Barton says: Yes, it was beau
tiful hlunder. I am glad that it oc-
Cured 1t would sum to high com
:dy, and. in fact. does. notwithsta nd
ing the tragic sottiHg ot civil war that
surrounds il. The high moment of
consideration here is that where the
author with intuition and insight Won
ders what Abraham Lincoln would
say If he We're here now and could
look back upon this matter-upon de
aertion as well as upon the death that
did claim two Of these boys. What
would he say about the mother. known
70 have been lukewarm toward the
Union. protesting against her boys as
soldiers, Yet artful enough to make
an adjutant general think her the
most patriotic OF women. thrifty
enough 10 capitaliZ the situation.
The warming and winning part of the
story lies right here in what Lincoln
would say. He would say. doubtless:
Il think that il Is no light thing for
mother to lose even two sons on the
ha ttlefeld, to say nothing of those sad
der losses which came 10 Mrs. BiXby
through her widowhood and the war.
He would have heon charitable toward
her memory. SO we can afford to he
Having found out tho whole Truth. he
would have looked upon that truth
with malice toward none with char
ttv toward all In Ike spirit may
we think of all who were concerned
;, this beautiful blunder' that in
~.eatly troubled time on the one hand
-'raIned virtue TO breaking and on the
other brought out 81 much of under,
etand'nE and sympath!.
TREF: AND CAPTIVE BALLOONS.
~ Ralph II. Upson and Charles
ie Forest Chandler Ronald Aero
nautic Library. New York: The
Ronald Press Co.
-ts volume is designed AS text
Snecial dana ,,,on of