The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-05
The Book World

THE Abraham Lincoln who rose to be Presi-
Il dent Of the United States was not the Lin
coin invoked in every political campaign nor the
Lincoln Of whom most Americans think about
for in the short span Of 10 years the Civil War
President has been stepped Up from folk-god to
Messiah. writes Roy P. Basler in The Lincoln
Legend" (Houghton Miflin; $3.50.
Mr. Basler strips from Lincolnism the reli-
gous aspects which it is rapidly acquiring but at
the same time he is eminently fair in his study
of the sixteenth President.
The author has little use for the detractors Of
Lincoln who have, in some instances attempted
to remove every semblance Of decency from the
man, but. likewise, he tries-and succeeds-in
showing the true Lincoln not as a saint but as
hard-headed human being, who, as President,
turned all his efforts and talents toward the vim
dicaton of certain principles
Stressing the religious tendency of Lincolnism
Mr. Baser has traced the growth of the Lincoln
myth citing meanwhile the similarity of Chris
tianitys evolution. He sees the day when the
true Lincoln will be lost in the maze of fable and
myth and all that will remain is Christ
Lincoln
DOINT1NG to the near-reverence in which
Nancy Hanks is now held Mr.. Basler sees
her in position distinctly resembling the eleva-
ton of Christ's mother into the Holy Mother
The truth about Nancy Hanks, writes Mr. Basler,
is that she died when Lincoln was only years
of age and Lincolnis references to his mother
were actually to Sarah Bush Johnston, his STEP
mother.
There was no such thing as mild, meek Lin
coin, Mr.. Basler proves beyond all argument
There was no Lincoln racing around to pardon
guilty soldiers, no Lincoln dropping all other
business to think about the life of a Single SOL
der. Instead, he writes, the Lincoln who was
President signed almost every one of the death
WarrantS-and without giving it second
thought, either
The sculptors who have tried one after the
other, to catch the true spirit of Lincoln have
proved dismal failures, decides the author. He
cites the case of Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of
the President and himself a one-tine Secre-
tary of War and later president of the Pullman
Co, who, when looking at a sculpture of his
father, said it was 'monstrouS figure which is
grotesque as a likeness and defamatory as
an effgy."
4 ND there can be no doubt that Robert Todd
n Lincoln knew what his father looked like
for at the Presidents death Robert was grown
man, already an Army officer.
The mention of the Presidents son in Mr.
Baslers book brings to mind the gift of Robert
Todd Lincoln to the government of more than
10000 letters to and from Abraham Lincoln-all
to be kept sealed in the Library of Congress I'M
til Il years after the donors death. Mr.. Lincoln
died in 1926 and the letters may be made public
on Or after July 26, 1947. These letters perhaps
will clear up much of the mystery surrounding
Lincoln.
For Mr.. Basler's study shows Lincoln as an
impenetrable human being, a quiet individual
who was more often harsh than mild.
The Lincoln Legend" is an exceedingly
worthwhile book, ably done and Of far more
than passing Importance 1t is a book that is
likely to be referred to many times in the next
few years. 1t wouldn't be a bad bet for your own
little library.
Houghton, Mifflin Co.. Park-st, Boston,
Mass.