Roxbury High School - Echo Yearbook (Succasunna, NJ)

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I Qshralqant flinculn I 1 5 4 1:73 ':'Q1.f LINCOLN was one of the greatest statesmen Q33 .1.1 jg . 1V. 'Ti '- . fgqlff America has ever produced. He was a true example of the new race being developed under the influence of pioneer life. if f-i5'.E:5 ,-r Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, now La gif Rue County, on February 12, 1809. He was born in the '55 humblest kind of home, in surroundings that were to create in him understanding of the poor and a desire to help them. His parents, though poor, were able so to mould the character of their son that he desired above all things honesty and wisdom. The roving disposition of Linco1n's father caused the family to have three different homes during Lincoln's child- hood. In the Indiana home, exposure and lack of necessities brought about the death of Lincoln's mother. His father unceremoniously performed the burial. Several months later, when the circuit preacher came, the youthful Lincoln took him to the grave and had the proper rites performed. Thus early did Lincoln show a desire for the proprieties. Soon after his mother's death, Lincoln's father desired a change of scene, and returned to Kentucky. He married again, and Lincoln's step-mother did a great deal for the betterment of the home, guiding his reading and incul- cating in the young Lincoln a strong desire for knowledge. Though Lincoln had very few books to read, the ones he had were the bestihis Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, and Robinson Crusoe. For lack of a school, he was forced to be his own instructor, but even in the task of teaching himself, he made the noblest efforts, and succeeded in acquiring a superior knowledge. As a boy Lincoln gained a reputation for wit and forceful speech. In 1831, Lincoln made a voyage down the Mississippi to New Orleans. Page 50

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R' ste R4hH.S. ROXBURY ECHO 1926 -o gp. Sixth mtual gheclztntatiun Cluntesi FOR THE 1920 DEBATING TEAM CUP ROXBURY HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM FRIDAY AFTERNOON. FEBRUARY 19. 1926 l. Alexf1nder's Store ,,,,.,,..,......,,....,,,,,,,,....,,,,,,,, ELLEN BRIMIJOHN, '27 2. Sydney Carlon's Death . .,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ALMA BEASLEY, '27 3. The Revolutionary Alarm .,...,,A., ,,e.., R OOSEVELT DE MARINO, '29 4. The La Rue Stakes .,,,..,...,,...,,e..,,,,,., ,,,,,,,,.,,,..., B ETTY PLUME, '28 5. The Storming of Missionary Ridge ,.,.. .,,...., R UTH BAKER, '28 6. The Lost Ship ....A,,,. ,,,,..,.,,,.,,,,.. ,...,.... H A ZEL PARKS, 28 7. No: Guilty .,.L......,,.,M.,7.......,,.e,,Y..AL,,,e,,,L , ,L,,L,L2L, , LEONA VLEIT, '27 8. Toussaint L'Ouerture ....,,,.,,,,.. . .,,, ..,,,,,....,,,,,,,,,, R OBERT BIOREN, '26 fMusical Programme-High School Glee Clubsj Won by BETTY PLUME Judges-Rev. F. Noel Palmer, Rev. D. H. Rorabaugh. dv-4... b llibrarg nies l E' NEW subdivision was made in the library this year. Through the l kindness of Mr. Vay, who is always ready to help us, shelves were built in the study hall. All the encyclopedias and reference books were placed on these shelves, and the library proper was not open for use during the time school was in session. Alas, one less place to idle away a study hour, one less rendezvous for a meeting of two! A number of books were donated to us this year by the Sunday School Library, and for these and all other donations we are very grateful. We have not yet purchased the usual number of new books this year, but contemplate doing so before the end of the term, We wish to take this opportunity to thank our librarians and friends who have so willingly helped to make the Library a success this year. GRACE BRODEEN, '27 Page 49

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'f iaagilr - R.H.S. ROXBURY ECHO 193.6 .Ng 4- While on this trip. so greatly was he influenced by' conditions of slavery in the South that he determined, should it ever be in his power to do so, to free the negro. In another year's time Lincoln felt that he was ready to undertake some of the public responsibility of a politician. Therefore, in 1832, he became a candidate for the Illinois Legislature. Though he was not elected, he held third place among the contestants-a testimony of the popularity of a Whig in a Democratic district. Having failed to be elected, he went back to his work on the farm, splitting rails and doing odd jobs. Then, in 1834, undis- mayed by his former failure, he again became a candidate for the Legislature, and succeeded in being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, an oflice which he held till 1842. It is interesting to note that when he was nominated for re-election in 1836, in one of his speeches he seemed to favor equal suffrage. The following year Lincoln made known his attitude on the question of slavery. He realized that slavery was an evil, but an evil that Congress lacked power to check: and that all the work of the Abolitionists was only increasing feeling between the North and the South. After long years of study and effort, he was admitted to the bar in 1837. Two years later he moved to Springfield, the new capital of Illinois, where he became a partner of one of the leading lawyers, John T. Stuart. Because his new partner was a political man, Lincoln was given most of the law cases. At the end of two years, however, Lincoln dissolved this partnership. In 1864, Lincoln received a new honor, election to the National House of Repre- sentatives. While serving as a Representative he seized the opportunity to speak against slavery. The close of his term in Congress brought another disappointment-the belief that his attitude toward the Mexican War had killed his political life. For this reason Lincoln retired to private life and resumed his practice of law. At this time we see in strong relief the supreme characteristics of Lincoln, honesty and justice. He refused to fight cases in which he knew his client was guilty, but when his client was in the right he would bring forth arguments well-nigh irrefutable. This rugged honesty assured Lincoln of the careful and concentrated attention of both judge and jury. As the cloud of war began to roll darkly over our nation, Lincoln once more put his efforts into political life. When Douglas, in 1854, was to justify the Nebraska Bill to the Illinois voters, Lincoln came greatly to favor the Abolitionists. He next became a candidate for the United States Senate- an unsuccessful candidate: but, undaunted by his defeat, he helped create the Republican party, and in 1858 the new party nominated him for Senator. In his speech of acceptance, Lincoln made clear his position with regard to seces- sion, saying: A house divided against itself cannot stand. Soon afterward. Lincoln challenged Douglas to a series of debates, the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debates. In the arguments, Lincoln made plain the conditions prevailing in the South, and foretold the coming crisis, which at that time seemed practically unavoidable. So great was Lincoln's speaking ability and so clear his reason- ing that Horace Greeley, a friend of Douglas, said: Lincoln is the foremost convincer of his day. Douglas, however, won the senatorship, but Lincoln. instead of being discouraged, simply battled so much the harder. Page 51