Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-02-19
DOUGLAS GIRL
WINS A MEDAL
BY HER ESSAY

- Hi Il - -
Each year a medal is offered to
the high school student who writes
the best essay about Abraham Lin
coin. This year the medal was won
by lone Blalack. Of Douglas high
school. Miss BlalacK'e essay follows:
"Once a mother, young but wise
and gentle and loving, watched q
little lad puzzling ever the task OF
learning his letters. AS she watched
the dark head Of her little SON,
perhaps she wondered what the
future held for him, and what the
name, Abraham Lincoln, would mean
to men in years to come
"Fhis mother died long before she
learned that, due in q large measure
to her influence, her son was TO
be known and loved for generations
as Abraham Lincoln, a friend OF
mankind. Yet she it was who taught
him, not only his letters, but the
law of kindness, reverence for
truth and a love for humanlty-in-
deed, for all living things, as well.
It was she who laid the foundations
for the character OF man who Is
revered because he loved and under
stood his fellows.
years later Lincoln paid his
mother the highest OF tributes when
he said to another mother whose
son lay wounded for glorious cause,
Madam, congratulate you. For his
mothers influence is the red line
running through mans life for good
or evil Look closely at a fine man
and you will see a good mother"
after the death OF his real mother,
Lincoln never forgot what she mad
taught, bus rather added to his store
of knowledge by studying both books
and people around him. The ardor
with which he attacked his BOOKS,
and the hardships which he bore for
the sake of attaining education, spoke
of a determination which in later
years enabled him to keep stead
fastly to his cne big purpose OF
saving the union. Even as a boy
he showed the traits OF character
which were to give him the undying
love Of a nation.
"FIis playmates learned to trust
and admire him, and to follow him.
They laughed at his jokes and
recognized that he was fair, honorable
and kind to every living thing.
after he had grown to maturity
he dealt with people always as man
to man. Others might be held ex-
perienced, skillful and splendid but
Lincoln was fearless, kind, fair and
logical. He understood men, and
with infinite patience and saving
humor, led people. on With him be-
cause ne knew instinctively what they
wanted, and how they felt.
''This homely, humble man. SC
strong and yet so gentle in character
was never lacking in sympathy. When
men were joyful, he could share
their joys, for he had known his
hours of pleasure and triumph. Wher
they were tempted, he helped them
to resist and to overcome, for had
not he, himself, resisted temptation
while being shown Kingdoms? Wher
they were sad, his heart went ou'
] to them, for he was a man Of
sorrow and acquainted with grief.
"In his childhood he had borne the
hard and bitter task of lifting him
self above surroundings that would
have kept him down, and OF standine
firmly for what he believed to bt
right. Ir manhood, he typified tn
sadness and patllos> of that terrible
war through which he guided ou
nation, as well as its triumphs anC
glory. His heart bled for every maj
who gave his life on the battle field
whether he were a rebel or a uniol
soldier. For, although he hated re
bellions and slavery, he did not hat
rebels and slave owners. Pain. now
ever, did not harden him; instead
with each added grief he became
more tender and compassionate. fl
inspired others to bear their burden
patiently, to love and forgive, rathe
than to hate and bear malice.
"When man looked into the fac
of Lincoln, so set with responsibilit
and lined with sorrow, q face tina
! had won the confidence OF a nation
! the admiration OF the stranger, an
the affection of race, he seemed t
see a resemblance there to the fac
of the humble Galilean. And lndee
there was a resemblance, for, as ha
been said, The one came 20 eman
cipate a world from sin-the othe
to emancipate a race from SLAYER!
The cne came as the redcemer CT a
lmen-thc other as the redcemer
nation
-O--- ------
J L