Evening star., 1932-02-14

resi- material discovered" lost
Ill documents found hidden manu-
l. scripts brought to light" Such
for the past few years has been
the clamor of research man, OF
writer and publisher catchy
call this in the beginning canniy directed
straight upon general curiosity. that greedy and
devourng common passion for something new
and different and exciting. Gradually the
slogans lost much Of their power More than
likely these promises to pay 50 far outran
fulfillment as to breed disappointment, re-
sentiment, indifference. Whatever the cause.
certainly coolness sprang up between readers
and these expansive literary grave-diggers,
these ghosts Of secret archives.
Right here comes evidence not only OF COM
plete solvency but of a very competent good
faith as well Dr. Emanuel Hertz is a true
investigator and a thoroughgong collector OF
literary stuff both new and not so new. His
field the life of Abraham Lincoln To it from
the four quarters and from every sort OF ab1d-
ing place, both secret and open, he has drawn
forgotten speeches, proclamations letters, mill
tary orders. scrawls of memoranda, blurred
recepts-an enormous whatnot Of record from
the hand of Abraham Lincoln. citizen, legal
adviser legislator President, military COM
mander. Friend and adviser OF the lowly and
troubled ones, as well as leader of national
events Well toward 1000 of these documents
Dr. Hertz credits to his labor of research.
1t is from this opulent field that the author
constructs and creates the two big volumes
in hand More than 1000 new papers come
into this his latest work. For convenience
and economy of effort, the study separates
into two parts. The second one, a repository
of first-hand material. straight from Lincoln
himself More than 400 pages OF this. The
first volume stands as series OF pictures, OF
high moments Of crucial hours of despair
pushed aside by hope of momentous decl-
sons in their reactions and repercussions. The
first volume is the devoted readers book. The
second one is clearly a priceless source book
for students of geographic history, for the
deeper delivers into mans effect upon his i'm
mediate day. mans influence upon the
changing and changed times that are to come.
While the second volume is an inestimaby
rich lode the first one clearly passes beyond
Interpretation and becomes creation. In a
painstaking almost inconceivable way Dr.
Hertz resets back into the body and mind
and soul of Abraham Lincoln each OF the
moments, each of the activities and emotlons
the hopes and plans and failures and fresh
BEGINNINGS of this man, who first OF all held
to the Sacredness of the Union, and then, out
of his deep humanity revolted against an en-
shaved people. From such devotion on the
part Of this author Lincoln himself stands
alive and everything before US. Within the
short term since his death Lincoln had al
ready become a legend, SO great ana swHt
are the SUGGESTIONS and forgettings OF today
And the legend, legends have ever done
embroideries of fancy and imagination are
laid And in this inspired recreation OF
Lincoln out of the sterling stuff OF him.
self the whole man stands inviolate me
great soul The simple man. Unpretentious.
deep feeling, far seeing courageous. Much has
been made of the ugliness OF ABE Lincoln,
OF uncouth manners, of basic ignorance, OF
questionable speech of his tragic misfit at the
head of distraught nation. All superf1ciahtles,
these of no real account. pleasing only TO
superficial minds, or to minds upon whlcn
the healing Offices OF time have not YET
achieved their best But even such feelings
are fading Steadily through the years. years
that test and try ruthlessly. Abraham
Lincoln is mounting higher in the worlds
tribunal Of human evaluations, Of a worlds
ultimate judgment
1t is not possible to leave this great work
without word of personal delight over the
manner of it. Over its way with words and
phrases Simple but lofty in mood, the pages
sing in high eloquence and in measured Ca
dences give evidence of the genuine greatness
of Abraham Lincoln, the lberator
SET MY PEOPLE FREE: A Negros Life OF
Lincoln BY William E. Lilly New York:
Farrar & Rinehart
THE title gives to this history OF Abraham
Lincoln its distinct call for attention, as
it suggests also something Of the spirit OF the
work itself For a Negro to write the story OF
Lincoln is as unique as it is fitting An act
of homage to the great hberator VINO set my
people free
The familiar story is retold by this author
with no reach toward newnes of effect, toward
fresh theories concerning the character OF
Lincoln nor toward Interpretations Of the
period in which he lived and of the years that
have followed Not upon such things does
"Set My People Free depend for its searching
nc roriU
attitude of Mr. Lilly before the work in hand.
An attitude so single and sincere, yet so truly
dramatic wthal, that reading one sees the
Emancipator himself and around him is host