Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08

Scene from the photoplay Abraham LdncoIn."
,soundly, except that he had to bend his legs a
little to keep his feet from sticking out.
The first home my father built had just one
room. The old one-room log housed It has
passed off the American scene now along with
many other things of pioneer nature. but il
filled an important place in early days OF our
country when strong men and women went out
to grapple with the wilderness. I have heard
my mother tell how glad she was to get into
that one-room house. It was far better than
the rude shelter of poles and brush they lived
in for several weeks while the logs we're being
cut. fitted and the crevices caulked with mud
mortar. They had ridden horseback over tha
long trail from Tennessee, up through Ken
lucky and over an edge of Indiana on into tha
heart of Illinois. All they had when they got
there were the two horses, saddles, clothing they
wore and what they carried tied in bundles be-
hind them, and some most meager personal
effects. But they young and strong and
willing to put up with anything to get start
in the new country.
OUR settlement was called Marrowbone be-
cause some hunters had left a pile Of deer
bones at a camp on the creek nearby. The set
Element grew into town and was given the
more euphonious name of Bethany some years
after the war. We were 60 miles east of Spring.
field, Lincolns home town. My father was COM
misSioned justice of the peace and was hon-
ored as a squire and man of at least local in
fluence. Our closest neighbors, the Hutch FAM
lily, half mile away. They had come in
from Indiana My boyhood sweetheart was
Susan Kutch and married her when we grew
up.
In such a neighborhood as this Mr. Lincoln
felt right at home.
He had several speaking engagements in our
vicinity My father accompanied him on some
Of these trips, but generally I managed 10 get
consent to go along.
On several occasions Mr.. Lincoln discussed
religion with my father. They did not strictly
agree on religious questions, for my father was
churchman, a staunch Methodist, and Mr..
Lincoln did not belong to any church. But
know that he expressed firm faith in God
and believed in divine leadership
IN those speeches he made in the early day.
of the Republican party in Illinois, Mr.. Lin.
coin came out strongly against any further ex.
tension of slavery recall wildly his exprsS~
sion, 1--WE stand upon the proposition that every
man is created equal"
Mr.. Lincoln was heckled and chided in his
speeches. political rally in that day was Q
live event Illinois was about equally divided @
to slavery and anti-slavery sympathy with feelo
ings in favor of the Southern cause increasine
in the southern part of the State. AbolitioniSt
sentiment grew stronger farther north of u.s.
In our section men in the audience would
similar vocal support, but an equal number
seemed intent on asking him what he meana
by equality-the right of the Negro to vote, and
such questions.
Mr.. Lincoln never became perturbed at all
this. He lowered above the crowd, looked down
on them calmly and spoke to them always with
ease. remember that he inevitably went back
to the Constitution in support of his statement
that all men are created equal, and he ex-
planned that everybody, of whatever color,
should have the right of life, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness.
Mr.. Lincoln told me of his love affair with
Ann Rutledge. 1t is one of the most vivid menu
cries have of him. Mr.. Lincoln had been at
our home for abor, three days. He had been in
fine spirits, and we had enjoyed jolly, gay
time. He was leaving the next morning He
seemed to grow solemn the day wore on
George" he said, 'let me tell you a story.
You are growing up fast. You will soon know
what it means to be in love. I was once in
love. Let me tell you about it."
Mr.. Lincoln paused a moment Then he be-