Evening star., 1928-04-06
BY GEORGE M. BATTEY, JR.

BY GEORGE M. BATTEY, JR.
In response to numerous inquiries
from authorities and curious persons,
the Library of Congress has announced
more in detail the conditions under
which it was made the depository for
the Robert T. Lincoln papers, which
were left with the institution in 1928
under the stipulation that they be Kept
from public view for Il years after
Mr. Iincoln's death. Mr.. Lincoln dies
in 1926, hence the time limit will expire
in l947.
The statement issued from the IL
brarian's Office follows;
THE letters, manuscripts. documents
and other original private papers which
constituted the literary remains Of
President Abraham Lincoln. and whic!
passed into the possession OF his family
at MS death, were presented to the
United States of America to be deposit
ed IN the Library of Congress by a
deed OF gift dated January 23. 1929
from Robert Todd Lincoln, the then
sole surviving child of Abraham
Lincoln, and the absolute owner of all
said papers and letters.
The conditions of the gift were that
the papers should be deposited In a
sealed vault, and should not be opened
to official or private inspection until the
expiration of 81 years from the death
of the said Robert Todd Lincoln,
The gift was made in perpetuity and
for the benefit of all the people. f.
was acknowledged by letter Of the
librarian January 23. 1923, which
merely recited the terms above and
expressed proper appreciation of MI
Lincoln's action"
Curiosity Over Contents.
Great curiosity exists as 10 the con-
tent OF these literary reafcs. which are
said to number approximately 10000
items and TO be contained in sig spe-
eially selected trunks % mediums size.
It would be diffioult TO imagine "A
richer treasure trove. either from TIE
standpoint Of the literati or the man
of the street TO whom the name of
Abraham Lincoln has become sacred
The secret archives of the British
government might yield much more in
volume, but none of the disclosures
touching European characters would
blunt the edge of American interest
in the native Kentuckian who piloted
the ship Of state through its stormieSt
voyage.
Speculation as to what the Lincoln
papers contain runs the entire scale,
from the statement of friends of the
Lincoln family that they are not of
great consequence to the assertion of
research workers that they will reveal
astounding facts in American history.
involving many of the leading char
acters OF Civil War days in unusual
relations with the central figure of
Abraham Lincoln.
1t is we'll known in the family and
historical circles that when the late
Albert J Beveridge of Indiana was pre-
pairing Lincoln articles he made a
strong effort to gain access TO these
documents. but failed Claude c. Bow
ers, historian and editorial writer OF
the New York World, Is authority for
the statement that Mr.. Beveridge was
told by one supposed to know that
the papers would prove a disappoint-
ment for any one looking for remarka-
BILE disclosures, since they were all more
or less personal 10 the rugged char
acter from Illinois.
Revelations Expected.
Undoubtedly the papers will reveal
something between these two extremes
and in any event they will cause much
history TO be rewritten and many pre-
conceived views and notions to be up
set. When leading American newspa-
pers devote a column OF space, often
on the front page to an unpublished
Lincoln letter, II would be idle to think
that 10000 pieces Of unpublished data
could not be Of much importance.
The man who prefers to put Mr.,
Lincoln on a pedestal will read these
items when they are made available
with the idea of strengthening his
ideal, The man who Is not satisfied
with certain explanations OF certain
events and their characters will search
for the hidden and the obscure, with
the idea of perfecting his picture of
the Civil War period as whole, The
fact that new light on Lincoln Is
always appearing Nils the public with
wonder as TO Just how much more
there may be ere II is possible To write
finis 20 the tale,
An author appears every little while
with anothe phase Of the Emancipatnr
John w, Starr. lr., of Millershurg Pa,
tor instance, brought out last year
Lincoln and the Railroads" No last
word on Lincoln" Is yet possible. nor
will 1t be, in all likelihood, when the
voluminous documents are opened at
the Library OF Congress In l9AT,