Wayne High School - Anthonian Yearbook (Good Hope, OH)

Page 36 text:

'nib K. ,.g:' 25' ESSAY ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN tBy Evangeline Hammanj Eta, i Abrahin Lincoln, one of the world's greatest countrymen, was born on the twelfjfi of February, 1809. He started life in very humble circumstances, and his Tateii success is all the more significant because of this. In early boyhood, Lincoln idevelopedcan intense desire for knowledge. He was eittremely interested in litera- ture, and the books with which he soon became familiar were: The Bible, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, Weems Life of Washington and the poems of Robert Burns. Shakespeare was his favorite poet, and the greatwvorks of this Writer gave Lincoln much food for thought. Ile went to school for a short time, but his mother was one of his best teachers, and he loved her dearly. Lincoln also obeyed and re- spected his step-mother, and she thought well of him. He was very influential, and when he talked, men listened. When he was seventeen he could write legibly, and he was very accurate in arithmetic. He took up surveying and was successful at it. Lincoln was the type of fellow who achieved that which Ile sought. He was very strong and tall, had coal black hair and a clean cut face. He was strong of mind and character, and neither drank, smoked nor gambled, he allowed himself to grow into splendid manhood. , Following Lincoln's seventeenth birthday he struggled onward, trying to make the best of his meager surroundings. The Lincoln family consisted of his father, step-mother, his sister Sarah, the three 'children of his step-mother and Honest Abe. In 1830 the family moved from Indiana to Illinois. Lincoln aided his father in constructing a cabin in which he often sat by the fire-place, studying and writing with charcoal until a late hour at night. His first employment was work on a. flat- boat. llc was storekeeper, postmaster of New Salem, deputy sheriff and lawyer, while yet young. In spite of all Lincoln's philosophic ideas and earnest struggling he did not escape the natural emotions of other men. He fell deeply in love with Ann Rumedge, the daughter of James Rutledge, one of the founders of New Salem, an intimate friend of Lincoln. Unfortunately, Ann died shortly after their engagement, but lincoln always cherished her memory sacredly. At twenty-five he became a member of thc Illinois legislature. On the third of March, 1837 he began his anti-slavery measures which were ended in the Procla- mation of En1neipation and in the amendment to the Constitution abolishing slivcry entirely. At this time it took courage to write against slavery because there wei c many people forwarding itg but it required such a man as Lincoln to accomplish superior duties. His early speeches, which were extremely intelligent for one so young and with so many inconveniences, brought him great renown. One of his notczl speeches before he was twenty-eight years of age was on the Perpetuation of our Political Institutions. ln all of our records of heroic deeds of great men th'-rc is no man showing a deeper or truer sense of patriotism than our Abe Lincoln. 32 -- Unk W.. g.......r- -'.......4-I.- , .-,.. 1 1 ggi

Page 35 text:

A 'B jr. X Nu! Reno, Huchison, Morrison. Smalley, Craig, Hamman, Long King, Darlington. Schneider. Sollars, Smith. Pendegraft, OMEGA LAMBDA SIGMA Sl'!'I'f'fRll'j' - 'I'1'v:1s111'01' . . . Bvatrivv Lmlg , President . . . RVZlllQ.l'l'l.llI' llmnmaln xvivl'-Pl'0Sill0Ilt . . . . . . Flmrlcrm Smith S1'l':l'l'2Illt-Elf-AVIIIS . . . . . Ualrrm-ll Thhfllftlll AIM Tn pr-mlm-0 or sponsor mueivul, 0l'Hf0l'i1'il1 or litm'il.1'y an-Tivitlvs for tho svhnol and l'0IllIIll.lllitj' -W 31

Page 37 text:

V gn' I . . be milfs- ! ' i On the fourth of November, 18-12, Lincoln and Mary Todd, whose great uncle had been Governor of Illinois, were united in marriage. Lincoln's wife did not have much to do with political matters but stayed at home and attended to her do- mestic duties. To her were born four sons, Robert Todd, Edward Baker, lVilliam Wallace and Thomas Lincoln. In December, 1847, Lincoln took his seat in Congress as the only llihig mem- ber of Illinois. He was u great debater and could firmly convince his audience with his emphatic arguments. His speech on the Mexican War secured his reputation in Congress. The most outstanding and important act that Lincoln accomplished in Congress was the entering of a bill into the White llouse to abolish slavery in the District of Columbia. Quoting from Lincoln, he believed that slavery was unjust to the slave and impolitic to the nation. But his efforts in trying to enforce this bill were a failure. Ilis term as a memler of Congress expired on March 4, 1849, and he was not a candidate for re-election. Lincoln's term in Congress having expired, and he having failed to secure an appointment .as commissioner of the General Land Office, he proceeded to take his wife to his prairie home. Later he ret.urned to Illinois and practiced law. He wus not the type of man to be defeated so he went at his law practice with zest. Lin- coln made a great success of it but was paid in very smallyfees. He lived com- fortably, respectably, and simply in Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln entertained their friends frequently and hospitably. Excellent food was served, l.ut most of all the guests enjoyed the hearty welcome, conversation and wit of the host and hos- tess. The first impression a stranger received of Lincoln was that he was kind and sincere. He was liked, at first sight. Alas! How few men we have today are equal to Lincoln. It is a sad but true fact that a. very scanty number of men in all our history have ever come 11p to the standard of our Abe When we look back through the vague throng of years that have elapsed, the face of a. tall, sincere, noble man always does, and will continue to loom before us, inspiring us with new hope, ambition, and courage. Lincoln may be rightfully classed to have been at times as great as any orator who has been on the face of the earth. In reality, he started on life's work when he was about forty years of age. Slavery was one of the great factors that then harassed men's lives. If it hadn't been for this the nation would undoubtedly have clung together and co-operated for a connnon cause. Lincoln was elected Senator of the United States and at the Illinois Repub- lican convention he made wonderful speeches. Stephen Arnold Douglass of Illinois, as member of the Senate, and Abraham Lincoln, conducted a long debate in 1858. It was the greatest discussion in reference to the ability of the speakers, the im- portance of the subjects, and the influence on events known to the world. Lincoln was against slavery and Douglass was for it. Douglass could, perhaps, carry away the most popular applause, but Lincoln impressed the people more subtly. After a long series of arguments, Lincoln won. Following the debate, Lincoln visited in Kansas and spoke in Columbus and Cincinnati. Just think, in our cities in Ohio! lIow.we would have enjoyed hearing him! People began to consider him as a can- 33 ' fglmfs' - ..- J. A