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Show MEW UGHTow jJgLM pssxY By ELMO SCOTT WATSON AtJF I A ONSIDEMNG the fact that his death 4J Y'Uu T' occurred only 65 years ago and that "v- "fi!? I II aluwst Immediately a large number -C. 4r"- H m ot PeoP,e be8an preserving memen- ""1 II 1 iin) toes of him, and considering the fll lrrmrrrrM intensive search for original mate- , - , . , HI WW rial-letters, documents and the . 1'HLa,t.p,CUr"u t J ' 1 t "!! rS5" 1 1H like-that has been carried on for ?a,rdne: w"hmBton. April 10. 1865. four day. saST; 1 rWL ,he last 30 years, at least, it would btfor. th. a, at,on. , IfTZZT-- "T- J H.. I 1 ') seem that by now every available f 2. Lincoln letter in the possession of Mrs. Charles ; UnMMWMWWtTtm J & b Lincoln JIT T" d T," SthD.rE--STu X" M"?. )Sf f WJf bam Lincoln would have been discovered. But ' - , ... , . , nWrfWffit4&WW&iTWrWrfyi tl . ,...,., ,, .M . , time before election day of the year Lincoln was IJlio S3 iIIIiIiIb I S 3 !?t? the amazing fact is that for all this interest in . . . . u fcrailB SgR 1 1 1 e- i8fl-1Vl' ; i. . V-. 1 t j . . running for United States senator against Stephen Zi firtrw J 1 8 S S 1 1 1 M STW Fj?'1 1 I the Great Emancipator and all this activity to . " . ..... . . A. mh t i il I I I E I i K 1 ,9 Eli . . .... . . A. Douglas. In it Lincoln denied any affiliation k ;tnas s lii8$ mMMM I bring to light every scrap of paper made valuable ..u ... . , ! Islf&flllEl C . i u 1 . . j Wltn the "Know Nothing" party, or "Order of -Tfl is 1 K K 8 $ S X s I by the touch of his pen, new letters, new dteu- ',,...., "... , ' fS iSsSSE iff - - t .,.. . , , , . I. United Americans," an organization ana ogous to : " ft t' J S f e Si ' I 1 ments and other new material about him are eon- t, .. ' " , .u Tij IHslliltlJ P '1 t, tn j j . j- . 1 , the Ku Klux klan of recent years. Lusk was a i& IfI I&ifellLiiWsi - I stantly being found and their discovery hern ded . . j a rw'WMr I - 1- , nu , . , , member of the egislature and an Intimate fr end w lsz M!8i!fs7!i , , f jimA In the newspapers. There is scarce y a sue held ... ,, . . .. .u 1 f i , i j. . , of Lincoln's and to quiet rumors that had been f & i&I'lSSi-- , M in the leading auction rooms frequented hv col- . . . . . , ,7 , , , 8W ! B .1. . . . t . . ... circulated by Lincoln's enemies, Lusk asked him c a - IS lectors that does not conta n at east one 'l.inco n . . , 1 jka, 1 , M if . r. . . to write an authoritative denial. fi : ' iiwmpfwll:Jl item and often more. Many of these, of course, ,. ... . . . , . Ti yr?ZT,!lli"Jt' 1 1 ai I ..,k . . 1. 3- Upon this walnut desk in February, 1861, H"ll J W lj S SI are of such historical iinportnnce that thev were D ... . . . . , . . . . . 11 O - - .L"! M , , . . . President-elect Lincoln wrote his first inaugural It H - r, "I r ' known and perhaps made use of bv some recent . . . . , . " M j Y I i , 11 , . .. . , . address. It is the property of the heirs of C. M. ij lr , I I , Lincoln historian or biographer so they cjinnm be eu , c i Z iii u SI' ' ' "l .,,Bj .. ,, . ... , , Smith of Springfield. III., and is now on exhibition V V , , r, classihed as "discoveries. But even exc ud nc . . f. . - 1 . .- - I- V .. . . .. . h in the Illinois State Historical library in the Cen- - . I - these, the number of I. neon etters and rdcu- . , . ... . , ... ?? 1 - ' ' - " v .1 , , . , ... . . tennia Memorial building in Springfield. f J ? 1 ments, unknown to the scholars, which make tlieir VO . V ' - .: appearance in rtuhlii- after vears of nharnritv 1 1 i By ELMO SCOTT WATSON ONSIDEKING the fact that his death occurred only 65 years ago and that II almost Immediately a large number , of people began preserving memen-i memen-i i ) toes of him, and considering the TJSrr&jT intensive search for original mate- uvll I l rial letters- documents and the I jlf like that has been carried on for t-fta the last 30 years, at least, it would mmmmiT' seem that by now every available bit of information relating to Abraham Abra-ham Lincoln wonld have been discovered. But the amazing fact is that for all this interest in the Great Emancipator and all this activity to bring to light every scrap of paper made valuable by the touch of his pen, new letters, new documents docu-ments and other new material about him are constantly con-stantly being found and their discovery heralded In the newspapers. There is scarcely a sale held in the leading auction rooms frequented hy collectors col-lectors that does not contain at least one "Lincoln item" and often more. Many of these, of course, are of such historical iinportnnce that they were known and perhaps made use of by some recent Lincoln historian or biographer so they cjinmn be classified as "discoveries." But even excluding these, the number of Lincoln letters and documents, docu-ments, unknown to the scholars, which make their appearance in public- after years of obscurity among the family relics and heirlooms of private individuals indicates that we are far from reaching reach-ing the end of the hitherto unknown I.incolniana which exists today. An interesting reflection of rliis fact is found in the book, "New Letters and Papers of Lincoln," compiled under the auspices of the Abraham Lincoln Lin-coln association of Springfield. III., by Paul M. Angle, secretary of that organization, and published pub-lished recently by the Houghton Mifflin company. This book, a thick volume of nearly 4(K) pages, contains many of the writings of Lincoln which have never before been published, as well as many wbich have appeared in one hook or another relating to Lincoln. In the preface to this book the compiler refers to previous collections of Lincoln- papers and lists as the most Important the Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln." which was "the first collection of Lincoln letters, speeches and papers which made any claim to inclnsiveness." brought out hy Nicolay and Hay In two volumes in 1S94: the "Gettysburg Edition of the Complete Works of Abraham Lincoln," a reissue of Nicolay and Hay's collection in 12 volumes, brought out by the Tandy-Thomas Tandy-Thomas company in KXtf) ; Gilbert A. Tracy's "Uncollected "Un-collected Letters of Abraham Lincoln." published in , 1!U7, and "Lincoln Letters at Brown," published pub-lished hy Brown university in 1927. "The present volume is intended as a supplement supple-ment to these' three publications." says Mr Angle. "Siin-e earlier collections of Lincoln's writings were made, the interest in bis life has become ever greater. Where earlier compilers of Lincoln's writings were inclined to include only those items lo which they ascribed some Importance the pres ent collection Includes every scrap, no matter how Insignificant it may appear. ... In vipw of the Intensive study which Lincoln's life has re eeived. the collection of a body of material of the Importance and diversily of that presented here has heen a source of surprise even to the compiler. Especially gratifying is lis wide range of subject-matter, embracing legal opinions ami family letters, notes Jotted down during ihe trial of lawsuits, speeches, telegrams and even versp. Many of these documents throw fresh liu'ht on the personality of the writer. Particularly illnminut Ing are the endorsements which form so large a part of Lincoln's correspondence during the Presidency." Presi-dency." Lincoln as the writer of prose of matchlpss strength and hcaunty -sm-h ss the Gettysburg Address is a familiar figure to most Americans But Lincoln in the role of poet is totally nnfninil iar. Yet In the Pierpont Morgan library in New York city Is the original manuscript of a poem which Lincoln wrote. It came about in this way: During the campaign of 1S-N while Lincoln was a candidate for the office of Presidential elector, be made several speeches in Illinois and southwestern south-western Indiana In the latter state he visited the neighborhood of his boyhood home and enjoyed the experience so much that, as he said. It "aroused feelings in me which were certainly poetry: though whether my expression of these feelings is poetry is quite another question." He sent two "cantos" of the poem bis visit Inspired to Andrew Johnston, an attorney of Quincy. III., with a prom ise 'hat if he should ever send another the sub ject would he a bear hunt. The result of that promise was poem of 22 verses under the title of "The Bear Hunt." These poems are interesting if not particularly inspired or inspiring. Perhaps the best comment upon them was that made by his sympathetic but honest and truth seeking biographer of recent years, the lale Senator Albert J Beverldge, who irinted one of the verses of the first "canto" 1. Lact picture of Lincoln. Taken by Alexander Gardner in Washington, April 10, 1865, four days before the assassination. 2. Lincoln letter in the possession of Mrs. Charles E. Davis of Decatur, III. It was written to her father, Edward Lusk of Meredosia, III., a short time before election day of tbe year Lincoln was running for United States senator against Stephen A. Douglas. In it Lincoln denied any affiliation with the "Know Nothing" party, or "Order of ' United Americans," an organization analogous to the Ku Klux klan of recent years. Lusk was a member of the legislature and an Intimate friend of Lincoln's and to quiet rumors that had been circulated by Lincoln's enemies, Lusk asked him to write an authoritative denial. 3. Upon this walnut desk in February, 1861, President-elect Lincoln wrote his first inaugural address. It is the property of the heirs of C. M. Smith of Springfield. III., and is now on exhibition in the Illinois State Historical library in the Centennial Cen-tennial Memorial building in Springfield. which Lincoln sent Johnston and then said: "Fortunately, "For-tunately, the remaining cantos of this production . appear to have been lost." "The Beat Hunt" describes de-scribes in minute detail the pursuit, by men and dogs, of a hear which had killed a hog. It tells of a "short-legged tice" which comes "yelping far behind" during the chase, but after the bear has been killed by the rifles of the hunters Aforesaid Qce. of blustering mood. Behind, and quite forgot. Just now emerging from the wood. Arrives upon the spot. With grinning teeth, and up-turned hair Brimful of spunk and wrath. He growls, and seizes on dead hear, And shakes foi life and death. And swells as if his skin would tear. And growls, and shakes again; And swears, as plain as dog can swear. That he has won the skin. Conceited whelp! we laugh at thee Now mind, that not a few Of pompons, two-logged dogs there he. Conceited quite as you. Concerning "The Bear Hunt" Beveridge makes I his gently ironic comment: "Lincoln was thirty-seven thirty-seven years old when he wrote these 'poems.' Nearly twenty years were to elapse before he pro duced the Second Inaugural." But if Lincoln, at fnis period in Mis life, was writing doggerel poetry which little indicated , the quality of the prose which fie was to write later, he was already exhibiting some of those qualities which were to endear him to all man kind. One of them was his modesty, reflected in this letter (the original of which is preserved in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania at Phlla delphia) written, while he was a congressman, tr, an autograph seeker: "Your note, requesting my 'signature with a sentiment whs received, and should have been answered long since, hut that it was mislaid. 1 am not a very sentimental man; and the best sentiment I can think ot is. that if you collect the signatures of all persons who are no less dis tinguished than I. you will have a very undlstln guishing mass of names." His kindness to those in distress is proverbial and an echo of It is found in this letter, written in I8."8. Absorbed as he was in politics for this was ihe yeai of the IJncoln Oouglas debates he could slill find lime to investigate the case of a convict who had appealed to him for aid. He wrote to Daniel Stevens Dickinson, a Democratic senator from New York as follows: "In March IS." 1 saw upon the ttailroad train, being taken from Chicago to Alton, to the Penitentiary Peni-tentiary there, a man of gentlemanly appearance by the name of Hyde. He accosted me and con versed some as to the chance of obtaining a pardon. par-don. A year after he addressed me the inclosed letter from the prison. You see he mentions your name. Do yon really know him? If our Governor could learn that he has heen respectable, and is of respectable connections, perhaps he would pardon par-don him. Please answer. "Pardon the liherty I fake in addressing yon. Several years ago I knew you slightly at Washington." Wash-ington." Two years later he was nominated for President Presi-dent by the Itepuhlican party. The demands upon his time were enormous visiting committees to be received, an extensive correspondence to keep up and many grave problems connected with his new position to be solved. But In the midst of it all he took the time to write a letter to George Latham, a good friend of his oldest son. Robert, then a student at Harvard university. The letter, the original of which is owned by Mrs. H. S. Dick-ernian Dick-ernian of Springfield, ,111., reads as follows: "I have scarcely fell greater pain in my life than on learning yesterday from Bob's letter, that you had failed to enter Harvard university. And yet there is very little in it, if you will allow no feeling of discouragement to seize, and prey upon you. it is a certain truth, that you can enter, and graduate in Harvard University: and having made the artempt. you must succeed In it. 'Must' is the ' word. "1 know not how to aid you, save in the assurance assur-ance of one of mature age. and much severe experience, expe-rience, that you can not fail, if you resolutely determine that you will not. "The President of the institution, can scarcely be other than a kind man; and doubtless he would grant you an interview, and point out the readiest readi-est way to remove, or overcome, the obstacles which have thwarted you. , "In your temporary failure there is no evidence that you may not be a better scholar, and a more successful man in the great struggle of life, than many others, who have entered College more easily. "Again I say let no feeling ot discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed." suc-ceed." An interesting view of the increasing demands made upon Lincoln after he became President is presented by Mr. Angle in the text wbich supplements supple-ments some of the letters and papers dated In 18b"1. "To a grenter extent, perhaps, than any other President, Lincoln held himself at the disposal dis-posal of callers." be writes. "Patience on the part ot ihe visitor was the only quality requisite to the attainment of an interview. Of course the number who sought audience was immense. "Normally, rhe stream of callers would have subsided affpr the last appointments to office had been made. But, because of the war. It never ceased. Men seeking commissions, officers seeking promotion. Inventors with all sorts of new devices of destruction, wives and mothers of soldiers wanting favors of all kinds these and others crowded the Presidential offices at every opportunity. oppor-tunity. Lincoln listened to all. Sometimes he acted summarily upon the case, sometimes he referred re-ferred the applicant to the proper official with a certain line of action recommended, and sometimes some-times he simply wrote a brief letter or card of introduction." Lincoln's kindly humor and his ability to smile through the darkest hours of those four tragic-years tragic-years are reflected in this note of recommenda tlon. the original of which Is preserved In tbe Henry E. Huntington library in California: "This man wants to WORK so uncommon a want that I think it ought to he gratified. I shall be obliged to any Head of a Bureau, or Depari ment, who can find work for him." "Lincoln's interference in army discipline wa notorious," writes Mr. Angle. "The Secretary ot War, the Attorney-General, the Judge-Advocate General, rhe commanders of the army in the liel all protested against his wholesale clemency but he went right on making each case refers-to refers-to him the subject of personal investigation, an-remitting an-remitting sentences wherever it was at all pos-ble." pos-ble." The following order, the original of which is owned by Gabriel Wells of New York city, is typical of this fact: "U is said that Simon Read. has recently been tried hy one of our Military Courts In this city. 1 can tell no more of the case; but his poor wife is boiherlng me and I will thank you, if practicable, to procure the record and report on the case." ty Western Newspaper CdIod.1 |