Alton High School - Tatler Yearbook (Alton, IL)

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An Estimate of Lincoln’s Character. BRAHAM LINCOLN has doubtless been the subject of more literary composition than any other man of modern times, although there is nothing eccentric or abnormal about him ; there were no mysteries in his career to excite curiosity, no doubt as to his purposes and no difference of opinion as to his patriotism or the success of his administration of the government in the most trying period of its existence. Perhaps there is no other man of prominence in American history, or in the history of the human race, whose reputation is more firmly and clearly established, and there is certainly none more beloved and revered, whose character is so well understood, or whose political, moral and intellectual integrity is so fully admitted by his opponents as well as his supporters. Ilis rise from obscurity to fame and power was almost as sudden and startling as that of Napoleon, for it may be truthfully said that when Lincoln was nominated for the presidency he was an unknown man ; he had occupied no important position ; he had rendered no great public service; his reputation was that of a debater and politician, and did not become national until he delivered a remarkable speech at Cooper Union, New York. When the American people were approaching the greatest crisis in their history, it was the hand of Providence that turned the loyal people of the North to this plain man of the prairies, and his rugged figure rose before them as though he had been created for their leader. The higher Lincoln rose the more modest became his manners, the more serene his temper, the more conspicuous his unselfishness, and the more patriotic his motives. With masterful tact and force he assumed responsibilities that made men shudder. He, an humble country lawyer and local politician, suddenly took his place with the world's greatest statesmen, planned and managed the legislation of Congress, proposed financial measures that involved the wealth of the nation, and in the midst of the confusion of war and the clamor of greedy politicians, solved problems that staggered the wisest minds of the nation. The popular story-teller of the cross-roads, the crack debater of the New Salem Literary Club, became an orator of immortal 10

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E. C. WATSON, A.B., Physics. E. L. KING, A.B., B.S., Mathematics and Civics. ESTELLA McCarthy, A.B., Language and Biology. AGNES HUTCHINSON, A.B., Latin and German. ROSE BIXLER, A.B., English and Pedagogy. BERTHA BAILS, A.B., Science and Mathematics. SARA E. HUDSON, Supervisor of Drawing. FRIEDA GOSSRAU, Supervisor of Music. 9

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fame, and the rail-splitter of Sangamon became the most honored and respected man of his generation. However, there was nothing prepossessing in his personal appearance. He was a very plain man. People called him ugly, but his ugliness was impressive. In all his movements he was as awkward as he was uncouth in appearance, but it was an awkwardness that was often eloquent. He enjoyed jokes at his own expense, and used to appropriate to himself this incident, told of so many ugly men : “In the days when I used to be on the circuit, he often said, “I was once accosted on the cars by a man who said: ‘Excuse me, sir, but I have an article in my possession which belongs to you.' ‘How is that?’ I asked, somewhat astonished. The stranger took a jack-knife from his pocket. ‘This knife,’ he said, ‘was placed in my hands some years ago with the injunction that I was to keep it until I found a man uglier than myself. Allow me to say, sir, that I think you are fairly entitled to the property.' ” As is well known, Mr. Lincoln's nature sought relief byrecalling incidents of a humorous character. Humor was his safety-valve, and when his memory awakened the story sought, there would be a sudden and radical transformation of his features. His face was an impenetrable mask, and people who watched him when a perplexing question was proposed could never tell what was going on in his mind. At times he stood almost transfigured, those with him declaring that his face would light up with a beauty as if it were inspired. In repose it wore an expression of perpetual sadness, which was due to his naturally melancholy temperament, as well as the continual strain and familiarity with the horrors inseparable from war. In his facial expression one could easily detect his sympathy for the sufferings and sorrows of the soldiers, and he seemed to share the grief of brokenhearted mothers whose sons had died in battle. His own career had been one incessant struggle, a ceaseless endeavor, and his tenderness is traceable to impressions thus formed. No man ever occupied a similar position, whose own experience had been so closely paralleled with that of the plain people whom he represented. His personality gives us an idea of his moral conscientiousness. He was not only concerned in the political questions of the time, but the moral considerations involved in them. He carried his conscience into every discussion, took no position that he did not believe was right, and made no statements that he did not believe fair and true. His natural tenderness, his affectionate disposition, his poetic temperament, his pity for the weak and sorrowful, and his instinctive 11