Proctor High School - Proctorian Yearbook (Proctor, VT)

Page 9 text:

THE SUTHERLANU '1 Inheriteti from his pioneer ancestors was a strain of deep melancholy that could not be hidden. With his indomitable will, he iived down the sharpness of these melancholy attacks, but beneath all his moods, even his merriest, lay a current of sobemess. 1n unguarded moments he gave way to grief with complete unconsciousness. Lincoln's understanding of people and human emotions stood him in good stead in his dealings with the affairs of the nation and its subjects. He was President during- the last vital stage in the early history of the American nation. By its mere magnitude the Civil War compelled a change which was presided over by Abraham Lincoln. It is beyond us to fathom how he was able to lead the country out of the old ways into the new. We do know. however. that every act of his private and public life testified not only to his belief in. but his reliance on, a Power higher and wiser than himself. Fate had placed America as an independent nation, and Fate placed one man at the cross-mads of national destiny as a leeden commanded by the laws of God and man. In the practice of justice and patriotism Lincoln completed the last chapter of his life with an act that no other man was so well fitted forethat of freeing the slaves. This meant more than severing the bonds of a foreign race. As an Emancipator, Lincoln liberated the citizens of his generation and those of future ages from the disastrous evils that result from slavery of any kind. What more could one citizen do for a nation? We wonder if that nation was worthy of so noble a. man? Abraham Lincoln was a man of patience, of faith. of broad principles and high aspirations; shaping and preparing in silent hope and meditation the path by Which the nation might mount to higher levels. Lincoln may have visualized the future of America, but whether the nation has reached or ever will reach the oasis of his dreams, we cannot say. Lincoln could not foretell what the country's higher levels would be. He only knew the mag- nitude of his task and that he was not dismayed. A life, governed by true seIf-sacrificing patriotism, jus- tice tempered with mercyein utter oblivion of self, with itaalglce toward none, with charity for all Lincoln, the Man of e s. Muriel Elem tBO.

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8 THE SUTHERLAND until he believed he had caught their meaning and significance. To the day of his death he kept this chiId-like attitude of heartehe was never too old to learn. We find that as a politician of the age in which he lived. Lincoln was ideal. His unfailing ability to mix with people of all types raised his popularity immensely. When on election- eering tours, he and oppoaing candidates sometimes spent the night under the same fann-house roof. One of Lincoln's op- ponents. who was also his personal friend. tells how Lincoln got the better of him on one of these occasions. When milking time came. the other, extremely anxious to win their hostess to his side, took the pail and steel from her hands and went to work, chuckling at the march he was stealing on his op- ponent. But When he had finished. to his dismay he discover- ed Lincoln leaning over the fence in fruitful conversation with the lady. Lincoln was then and always preeminenthr and es- sentially a pmatical politician. The average citizen knows little about the law or its pro- cedure in the hands of justice. This does not prevent enjoy- ment! in reading of Lincolnts career as a lawyer. Here in the courtroom especially, We find Lincoln an exemplary study of directness and simplicity. Hie method was to get to the point with as little ado about nothing? as possible. Any long fiowery speeches, containing numerous Latin terms, irritated him. He had little patience with men who obscured or tried to obscure their own trail. It reminded him, he said. of a little Frenchman out West, after a heavy snowfall. whose legs were so short that the seat of his trousers rubbed out his foot- prints as he walked. We next consider Lincoln, the Man of Ideals, as a Presi- denFthe most beloved man ever ,chosen by the people of America to be the representative of their desires. Never has such personal feeling of a nation been demonstrated as at the election of Abraham Uncoln. On the night of that eventful day, excitement in Springfield rose to its height and Demo- crats joined with Republicans in celebrating the victory of the latter party. Crowds danced, dined and cheered. Lincoln, meanwhile. sat alone in a little telegraph office reading the returns which convinced him of the victory of the Republicans. With this cunv-ietion there fell upon him an over- whelming and crushing sense of his coming responsibilities. Let us close our eyes and try to visualize this scene and its significance. The dimly lighted telegraph office, the noise of rejoicing- breaking into the room in incessant waves; in its midst the successful candidate site all alone. with head bowed, his deeply lined face sad and set-looking into the future.

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THE SUTHERLAND MOON AND MORTAL Oh moon what art thou? What meanest thou By thy radiance bright? Why castest thou Such weird light ? Is there yet hope for us, Mortals of great sin. Who into heinous depths Have sunk, Until We are akin To beasts who have no place In which to hide Their shame-marred face? Yea. Mortal, there is yet hope; For by my light ye shall know That in the darkest hour , A light Shines forth to guide You weaklings, who cower And shrink from final judgment. Seek! Seek that light And. finding. follow, And hold to the Truth. Lest you lose once more Your peace And Joy Sublime! -M. C. Elam. '30.