But in a larger sense we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow, this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it far above our power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly carried on. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the task remaining before us: that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion: that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain: that the nation shall, under God, have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
It is said that this immortal speech was so quietly uttered, so unexpectedly brief, that those who heard it did not realize their privilege until they saw it in print. Then it was understood that in its pilot this country had one of the greatest heroes of all time. Love, reverence and gratitude were in the votes by which he was re-elected in 1864. In his second inaugural address, delivered six weeks before he was assassinated, he set forth the moral significance of the conflict, then drawing to a close, and declared that the task would be finished “with malice toward none, with charity for all.” On April 14, five days after Lee's surrender, President Lincoln was shot by J. Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater, Washington. He died the next morning without recovering consciousness. The nation hopes never again to see such a pageant of mourning as marked the progress of his funeral train to Springfield, Illinois, where he was laid away in the sweet, spring weather. A noble monument marks his resting place. On the looth anniversary of his birth, Feb. 12, 1909, the Lincoln Farm Association dedicated a memorial museum, erected at a cost of $250,000 on the site of his birth. The weatherworn log-cabin is to be reverently preserved within a marble temple.
In statue, bust and portrait we have all been made familiar with Lincoln's tall, spare figure, strong features, heavy, black hair and deep-set, gray eyes. We are equally familiar with his simple, friendly manner, his humor, his illuminating anecdotes, his tolerance and the wistful expression he often wore as if he had missed his meed of happiness. In speech he was plain and forcible, often- dramatic; in mind he had quick perception, logical analysis, sagacity, a tenacious memory, intuitive knowledge ot character and broad-minded philosophy. He had the brain of a sage, the foresight of a prophet, the inflexible purpose of the historic reformers and the tender heart of a mother. He is our country's most poignant and admonishing memory. It rests with us to breed such wise, gentle and consecrated souls that this nation which he lived and died to save may deserve not to perish from the earth.
Hay and Nicolay's Life of Abraham Lincoln, in 10 volumes, is encyclopedic in information. The latest biography, by Ida M. Tarbell, in four volumes, is philosophical and contains much new material. William E. Curtis' history is in one volume. Every library contains a collection of Lincolniana, covering every phase of his life.
Lincoln, Benjamin, an American Revolutionary general, was born at Hingham, Mass., Jan. 24, 1733. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was a major-general of militia. In 1775 he cleared Boston Harbor of British. In 1776 he reinforced Washington, and in 1777 Washington had him appointed a major-general in the regular army. In 1778 he commanded the American army in the south. In 1780 he was besieged in Charleston, and captured by the British. In 1781 he fought at Yorktown, and was deputed by Washington to receive Cornwallis' sword. He died on May 9, 1810.
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| ROBERT T. LINCOLN |
Lincoln, Robert Todd, ex-secretary of war and only surviving son of Abraham Lincoln, was born at Springfield, Ill., Aug. 1, 1843. He graduated at Harvard in 1864, and in 1867 began the practice of law at Chicago, where he built up a large professional business. When Garfield became president in 1881, Lincoln was called into his cabinet as secretary of war, serving until 1885. In 1889 he was appointed United States minister to England and held this position until 1893, when he returned to his law-practice in Chicago. Though never seeking office, he has filled the high positions to which he has been called with credit to himself and honor to his country. He continues to reside in Chicago, where, since the death of Geo. M. Pullman, he has acted as president of the Pullman Palace Car Company, besides practicing his profession.
Lind, Jenny, the “Swedish Nightingale,” was born at Stockholm, Oct. 6, 1821, of humble parentage. Her musical gifts early attracted the attention of Mme. Lundberg, a retired actress, through whose influence she was admitted into Stockholm Musical Conservatory at the age of nine. She sang before local audiences with great success, and at 16 appeared as Agatha in Weber's Der Freischutz. She made her dbut in London in 1847, in Robert le Diable, producing a sensation without a parallel in England's operatic history. She visited London again in 1849, and won a most bril-
