Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1906 — Page 2

Abraham Lincoln has been called the greatest American, not-except i»g even Washington. Washington gave a nation to the world: a- weak, puny nation and •no so embroiled in.bitter dissensions and internecine strife and - jealotuncs that 3L teas God's mercy that it ever held together. Abraham Lincoln come into the nation when it had grown to be a world power, and when it was in the gravest danger which could possibly threaten he »;ived it. Washington might have been ■Me to accomplish the same result un- - let flic same oir-cmnstntM cs. lAncoln did accomi it and we have no need to report to speculation. He circumstances of Abraham Linrola’a birth and early training arc fnmilfert to all who know American history and there is no need to repeat them here. Instead, 1.-t us look at him when lie was Mining upon the threshold of his political comer, when his highest ambitions weie hounded by the horizon of the United States Senate, a tribunal of the people which lie fell himself rill unworthy to ■nt*r.- "Just 1 liink of such a siiCkor as ni* being President, ’ lie said one day to n totwspfiper men who w ;in following him fn bis first senatorial eampaign in Illinois. the campaign, by the way. in which k« was defeated by bis lifelong friend and political rival, Stephen A. Douglas, This was a clmractertstie comment on tha position his wife had taken. Mrs. J«l*ptrttTwvas more farseemg than he was. Sh« was more ambitions, too. perhaps, and, Aid ’not hesitate to build her -ffiopes Hindi higher. Mrs. Lincoln followed lier husband's eampaign with the deepest interest. l-olstering up his failing courage and distrust in himself, and telling him that some-day-be would become President )n spite of himself. She knew the man's eapahtihios hotter than he knew tb *m li’.mseif. With her womanly eye ot intuition, slm seemed able to see into the future, and she did not hesitate to express bar hopes. "Just think of such a sucker as »e for President!"’ Vet live “sucker hecnine I'resident and his weak outer nature and distrust wen* displaced by bis atr«ng inner’ nature and lie cojved with and conquered the" strongest natioifal problem ever given to mail. Hieae are still living a considerable number of jxrsons who attended the joint debates between Lincoln and Dovglus which took place in that memorable senatorial campaign of 1858, and most of them will say, if not all, that while Douglas was tlie more flowery, the more polished, the more easy on the rostrum. Lincoln was the more convincing. Yet in the sober minds of the men of the, period Lincoln's very plainness was ■gainst him. In appearance he was most nnprrposscssing—not the unattraetivenoss •f Igno ranee, but the very acme of phy■ioal ugliness. Lincoln has been called the homeliest mail who ever entered American public life, lie Was very tall and scrawny, with huge bones seeming almost ready to push out through the flesh. His ft 'atures were irregular, his ■ nos lone, and ungraceful, and ho employed singularly awkward, almost abmird. gestures to give emphasis to his arguments. Yet the unprejudiced i**raou was at once impressed with his sincerity. Lincoln could not be long in the presence of any person without making tli' impression that he was singularly si uvre and truthful nnd possessed of toe true American spirit. In the time of Douglas, Lincoln was erode end undeveloped, yet he rounded ant in bis jwworful nature so rapidly when once be made A beginning that soon he was overtopping them all. And he always overtopped them all until his cancer was ended by the assassin's bullet. That memorable cainjuiign was one of the most trying experiences Lincoln ever nnderwent. The mental strain was not particularly severe, but the physical demands were something «errifle. Over <wduroy roads for hundreds of miles Jje roile; through mud, in rain, speaking after day, in on almost totally exhausted condition; these wen* a few of toe things he endured on that tour iu Illinois. However, his splendid constitution brought him through nlisolutel.v untouched of anything except weariness. Douglas here contracted the seeds of disease which Jater brought him to the grave long before his time. IJncolu regretted the death of Douglas very deeply. It was always his belief that had Dougins lived until be could have cleared himself of the entanglements which unfortunately dung to him, he would have out one of the most brilliant careers in the history of the nation. It urns one of the furthest things from the •boughts of either that two years after this campaign (hey would.be rivals again and this time for the highest office in the land. Lincoln's triumph was great and the things he did showed that in rejecting Douglas at that time the nation chose most wisely. Not that Douglas had not ability to administer the affairs of the country, hot the times demanded rpOMce rugged Mture, a more dependable

Sceney in the life of Lincoln the Emancipatpr

character, a man whoso backbone was -straight nnd strong and not inclined to bend at the will of others or to personal preferences. 1~..TT. ' In 18.10 the fame of Lincoln had spread far beyond his own limits, nnd in much demand to spread tho doctrines of the anti-secession and anti-slavery movement which was then just coming to a height. He even went out into Kansas and drove miles nnd miles over the prairies in ramshackle wagons supplied by the natives to spread the new gospel. •When once lie began to acquire fame his rise was meteonCall'y rap id. When Lincoln was elected to the presi-. deucy, lie was living in - the modest twostory dwelling in Springfield, 111., which lie always called ~*homi‘,‘* r "' JW matter whether ho was in Washington ot elsewhere. After his election to the presidency, he had thousands of visitors there, and it is characteristic of the man that it was not necessary for any caller to precede his coming with a card. The doors were open and- whosoever would was privileged to enter nnd speak to him. It was during the period between his election and going to Washington that lie put the keen~e(tge oh liis talent for argument. Here lie had his till. Men of all kinds and conditions- came to him -rough drovers and farmers who familiarly CaU&d. him “Abe:" sharp. sleek euinmereinl -men, who liad tidings for him front all parts of the country and who could swap stories w ith him to his .heart's conten; ; staid merchants. preacHera. - -clergymen, lawyors and other professional men; and last, but h6f»4east, tradesmen and work"ingmen; All these he received in the true spirit of; democracy and made a, personal friend of every one. ...Lincoln was never at loss for a story to enfori'e a meaning or- make a point, and many of his varus are popular to-day, -It made no differettre what stirt of a story it was if it served his purpose. It was during this period that he -selected liis cabinet, and it is somewhat remarkable that lie chose for the two highest places the men who had been his keenest rivals for the presidential nomination. Here again lie showed that quality of tactfulness for which he was famous, and also imbibed the sense of the deep responsibilities which had come upon him. Political passion wds rising higher nnd higher and was soon to cul-

minute in secession, to l>e followed by war. but not once in all those months did he give an inkling of the course he intended to pursue except to say that when as President he should be sworn to support the Constitution of the I’tiited States, and he should do so to the best of his ability, lie was often embarrassed by the efforts of rabid abolitionists to get an expression of opinion frum him. but his friends understood that at that time he was inclined to think that if the States wanted to secede they could not lie held iu the I’nion by force. He did make it clear that he did not desire to lie classed as nn abolitionist anil that he believed Mint the slaves should not be taken from their owners unless conii>eusation were given them. As political passion rose higher and higher, culminating in the establishment of the. Confederacy with seven seceding States as its component parts, his belief that a policy of conciliation might bo successful must have been shaken, yet up to the time he left Springfield he never lost faith that the North nnd South could once more be brought together without bloodshed. Certainly he never dreamed that upou him would rest the re*[H>nsibitity of raising armies and vies for tlie most bloody war in the history of"the western hemisphere. At this time he became'involved with the [>est of tlie times, the seeker of office. Then then' was no hint of civil service. The Jacksonian idea that to the victors lielong the spoils prevailed, and there was tight after tight for patronage. Every hotel in Sprtngfifld was the haunt of office seekers, whose tricks were many? and it might be said vain. Lincoln’s patience and shrewdness suffered some under these attacks, nnd finally he became a careworn man. It is a pathetic, fact in tlie life of Lincoln that that careworn look nevyr left him until death smoothed away all the great Emancipator’s perplexities and burdens.

It was on Monday, Feb. 11, 1801, that Lincoln left Springfield to make the memorable journey t» Washington, and at that time he made that well-known address which has romp to lie one of the most prized possessions of the republic. Moved by the sad feeling by which he was 4 nboost overwhelmed, and going to things he knew not of, he gave utterance tq these worth* to the crowd of friends nn3 neighbors who came to say good-by: “My frieuds. no one not in my position can appreciate the sadness 1, feel at this parting. To this people I owe nil that I am. Here I have lived more than a quarter of a century; here my Children were born and here one of them lies buried., I know not bow soon I shall sec you again. A duty devolves upon me which is, perhaps, greater than that

whieh has devolved upon any other man sinoe the days of Washington. Ho never would have succeeded except for the aid of Divine Providence, upon which he at all timesrellcd. j feel that I cafinoT succeed without the same Divine aid which sustained him, and in the same Almighty Being I place my reliance for support ; and I hope you, nay friends, will all pray that J may receive that Divine assistance without which I cannot succeed, hut with which success is certain. Again I hid you nn affectionate farewell.” The old Lincoln home at Springfield stands ro-dny much as it did when theEmancipator saw it the last time. It is well preserved and as long as the patriotic people of Springfield can keep it froth ■d**eay it wiH stand a monument to the simple life of the great man. It has a sign over the front door which tells that it is Lincoln’s home. There is still standing near Ilogdenville, Ky„ tlie mill built by Thomas Lincoln, father of the President, in 1810. Abe’s birthplace was about a mile distant from the mill. It was In his early boyhood that lie nearly lost his life while playing about the stream not far from the mill. Ahe nnd a playmate had been started for church one Sunday morning hx their mothers, hut strayed away from the straight nnd narrow path nnd went to the mill. The stream was much swollen. from freshets and therefore dangeroifs. At one point a long log had lodged across the' creek and Abt* proposed that they “coon it” across. On the way over Abe became dizzy and fell in. The swift current Was carrying him down to certain death when liis companion managed to reach him yvitli n long pole, and drew

him out, so nearly drowned that there jyas little life left in him. It was some time before the boy regained consciousness nnd then only after repeated rollings to get the water out of his lungs. There are still the initials of the two boys carved on the inner side of the old water wheel. Abe made them while waiting for his clothes to dry. The boys were afraid to go home with wet clothes nnd they stayed naked under the wheel while the clothes weresdtying in the sun. Neither boy told, of the nffairfand it was only after the assassination < that Abe’s companion detailed his jmrt in the scrape which came near •mu-onseiouKly chiyiging the history of the country. Such are a few recollections of the great Emancipator. .Those who wish 'to follow his larger deeds will needs turn to United States history, where they nre boldly written. There never was another such man on the American continent ns Abrahnin Lincoln nnd probably there never again wi!> lw\ And future generations, in searching for the typical Amerimn.will inevitably and invariably turn to “Old Abe.”—\Y. T. EiehniondTiu Williamsport Grit. ’ .

" The Caspian Son is tlie lowest body of water on the globe. Its level has l»een growing gradually lower for centuries, and now It la eighty-flve feet below the level of the neighboring Black Sea. ■ : =*

ST. VALETINE’S DAY.

-j Saint Valentina's day ! And ’midst old recollection* ' That.+ush to my heart with an echoing ~ Joy, t remember once more the old hopes.and. dejections When you were a girl, dear, and I was s-.- -“ . • a boy ; When I sent you a rose on that February morning- , And with It a passionate, rhyme-halting lay, And met your reproaches and well-acted scorning By whispering : ‘‘Sweet, ’tls Saint VateiF tine’s day!” And, the sky was so blue, and the sunshine so yellow. And tlie soft southern wind blew so chilly and sweet, ■■ And each ttnx bird wing'no loud tO-TtS 'fellow, ■ ~ , / ; 4 While the snowdrops and crocuses bloomed at your feet. Small wonder our hearts broke to tremulotis heating, *''• As we learned in the wonderful, oldfashioned way. What the earth, and the sky, and the air were repeating In mystical cadence of Valentine's Dayi—-- t And now that the crazy-sweet babble and S laughter I "" Of golden-hatred children have rung la | our ears, And brought us the hope of a tender heres after ■ To link to the thought of those far-away ream— Once more- In the words of the happy boylover, I veil deeper meaning In whimsical way ; A meaning your heart will be quick to dls- " cover— By whispering : “Sweet, 'tls Saint Valentine's Day I” —Housekeeper.

ST. VALENTINE’S MORNING.

Rellfflonaly It la a Festival Rather of Sorrow than of Joy, What older person, turning over keepsakes of childhood and coming upon a faded valentine, EaS failed to feel a throb of the heart at tW delights of youth departed? For thebe is nothing kept as a custom through the centuries that has in it more of the feeling of life’s April and May than this ancient February festival. It is a pretty fashion, indeed, and one worth keeping up for countless centuries more. It is for children, of course, and for those children of a larger growth whom all the world loves as lovers. They send to one another some little token, a 'scrap' of prettily decorated paper with a verse declaring undying affection. And the years roll by until more than once the very name of one’s long ago sweetheart is -gone from mind, but the paper reinains, and holds the. memory of something sweet and precious and gohe forever, just as perfume clings about a faded rose. St. Valentine, as a matter of fact, ha» nothing whatever to do with the custom, lie, poor man, had his bead cut off by the second Claudius on the Flaminian Way in ancient Rome on Feb. 14, <269, hie, crime consisting solely in having helped other poor Christians whom the bloody emperor was persecuting for the faith that was in them. He never sent love letters to anybody so far as the records show. In the mildef lind Inofe equable clime the day set aside for rejoicing was really a celebration of the first coming of spring. Celebrations like this, founded upon a universal interest in the annual movements of the seasons and grounded even more deeply in the human affections, are little likely to pass away, but'if anything could make them it would be the hideous

practice of sending comic valentines. Hurting the feelings of another and shielding one’s self behind one’s nameiessness is the act of a coward if done intentionally, or of a fool if done thoughtlessly. . It is a matter of eohgmtulation that so evil a practice is dyipg out and becoming more nnd morn , restricted year by year—*a pleasant proof of advancing civilization. But tlie older and better custom, of sending little words of cheer and affection, shows no sign of falling off. Children love to get valentines, and nothing ran lie more kindly thap for grown folk tq spend a few cents nqd take pains tv* remember all the little folk they know. Small girls especially long for many valentines, and are corretqiondingly disapjioiiitetl if they do not come. If there is any sentiment left in your soul after this graceful little performance, it will be well to remember your faithful H|totißc nnd see the. blush of pleasure mount to the cheek at the unexpectedness of tin* remembrance. St. Valentine’s day is nothing if not for this and affairs of sentiment like it. 'There is none too much loving kindness hi this busy workaday world. Add a drop or two of its essence, and ace how happy it will make you.—Wallace Rice in Chicago Journal. Out of 1,548,054 votes polled in the Gpcent election in Mexico only 92.172 Were against Dias V

That’s Different.

YTUI* - .JHe—Smith told nie that when he ■went home yesterday, tired and hungry, and ashed his wife for something to eat jshe gave him the “cold shoulder. She—A nice wife she is! He—Yes; she gave him the cold 6houlder all right, but he said she had made it - up into delicious salad.— Baltimore American, i i

LOST 72 POUNDS.

Waa Fait Drifting? Into the Fatal Stawea of Kidney SickaeM. . Dr. Melvin M. Page, Page Optical Co., Erie. Pa., writes; “Taking ‘too many Iced drinks in New York in 1803 sent me home with a attack of I tJ kidney trouble. I had acute congestion - shar P P a bi in tlie b ac k> headaches an< * attack ® dizvziness - My eyes gave out, and with the languor and sleeplessness of the of tho disease upon me I wasted from 194 to 122 pounds. At the time I started using Doan's Kidney Pills an abscess was forming on my right kidney. The trouble was quickly checked, however, and the treatment cured me, so that I have been well since 1596 and weigh 188 pounds.” Sold by all dealers. 30 cents a box. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.

A Minor Trouble.

“Did yo’ heah ’bout our bad luck? No? De oT man was smokin’ in bed an’ he sot things afiah an’ burnt de haidboard an’ de pillers, an’ de fiahmen dey fro wed water all ovah de feathali tick! I nevab did see no such a run o” bad luck.” “An’ what ’bout de oP man?” “De ol’ man? Qh, he was daid!” — Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Sweet.

“Whadda you think o’ my sister, Mr. Spoonalot?” ‘Why, Johnny, I think, sbe’s very sweet.” ' ’ “Gee! She thinks that about you, “Oh, indeed? That’s glorious. How do you knowT T “I heard her tellin’ ma you was a regular puddin’.”—Cleveland Leader.

Nothing Doing.

“My dear,” said the poet’s wife, noticing his abstracted look, “you appear to be worried about something.” “Eh?” he exclaimed. “Yes.” “Tell me, dear, what you have on your mind.” “Nothing. That’s what worries me.” —Philadelphia Tress.

31 Boxes of Gold

300 Boxes of Greenbacks For the most words made up from these letters V-1 =O - Grape - Nuts -331 people will earn these prizes

Around the fireside or about the well-lighted family reading table during the winter evenings the children and grown-ups can play. with their wits and see how many words can be made. 20 people making the greatest number of words will each receive a little box containing a $lO gold piece. 10 people will each win one box containing a $5 gold piece. 300 people will each win a box containing $1 in paper money and one person who makes the highest number of words over all contestants will receive a box containing SIOO in gold. It is really a most fascinating bit of fvln to take up the list evening after evening and see how many words can be added. A few rules are necessary for absolute fair play. Any word authorized by Webster’s dictionary will be counted, but no name of person. Both the singular and plural can be used, as for instance “grape” and “grapes.’’ The letters in % “Y-I-O-Grape-Nuts” may be repeated in the same word. Geographical names authorized by Webster will be counted. Arrange tlie words in alphabetical classes, all those beginning with A together and those beginning with E to come under E, etc. When you are writing down the words leave some spaces, in the A, E, and other columns to fill In later as new words come to you, for they will ■prlng Into mind every evening. ’ It is almost certain that some contestants will tie with others. In such cases a prize identical in value and character with that offered In that class shall be awarded to each. Each one will be requested to send with the list of words a plainly written letter describing the advantages ot GrapeNuts, but the contestant Is not required Repurchase a pkg. These letters are not to contain poetry, or fancy flourishes, but simple, truthful statements of fact. For illustration: A person may have experienced some incipient or chronic alls traceable to unwise selection of food that failed to give the body and brain the energy, health and power desired. Seeking bettef 'conditlona a change in food ia made and GraperNutß and cream used In place of the former diet. Suppose one quits the meal, fried potatoes, starchy, sticky messes of half-cooked oata' or wheat and cuta out the coffee. Try, say, for breakfast a hit of fruit, a dish of Grape-Nuts- and cream, two softboiled eggs, ■ slice of hard toast and a' cup of Postum Food Coffee. Some amateur says: “A man would faint I away on that,” bat, my dear friend, i we will pat dollars to your peonies

BABY COVERED WITH SORES.

Would Scratch and Tear the Flesh Unless Hands Were Tied—“ Would Have Died but for Cuticura.” “My little son, when about a year and a half old, began to have sores come otit on his' face. I had a physician treat him, but the sores grew worse. Then they began to ebme on his arms, then on other parts of his bodyi and then one came on his chest, worse than the others. Then I called another physician. Still he grew worse. At the end of about a year and a half of suffering be grew so bad I had to tie his hands in cloths at nighty to keen him from scratching the sort's qnd tearing the flesh; He got to be* a mere skeleton, and was hardly able tb walk. My Aunt advised me.to try Cuticura, Soap and Ointment. I sent to the drug store and got a cake of Soap and a box of the Ointment, and at the end of about two months the sbres were all well. He has never had any sores of any kind since. He is now strong and healthy, and I can sincerely say that only for your most Wbnderful remedies my precious child would have ' died from those terrible sores. Mrs. Egbert Sheldon, R. F. D. No. 1, Woodville, Conp., April 22, 1905.” -

A Chinese Criminal.

Here is a grim story, showing the guile of the “heathen Chinee.” One day Dennis Spencer, a prominent criminal attorney of Napa, received a call from a Chinese, who, without circumlocution, at once put tbis question; “Splose, Mr. Spencer, one Chinaman kill ’notber Chinaman with hatchet, how chlarge make him clear?” “Oh,” said the lawyer, carelessly, “I’d take the ease for $500.” In about a week the Chinaman returned and laid the sum of SSOO on Mr. Spencer’s desk. “What’s this for?” asked the lawyer. “You say you take case for $500,” explained the Oriental. A light burst upon Mr. Spencer. Horrified, he exclaimed, “You mean to tell me that since I saw yon last one of your countrymen has been killed?” “Certainly,” calmly answered the Chinaman. “I kill him last night”

So, There!

. “Hal You refuse me, then, proud beauty? Well, I know your reasons? Were I rich you would be but too glad to accept me.” “Mayhap, it is even so, Rupert Fit:? goobler. But by my troth you would have to be a whole lot richer than anybody else in the world, I’ll tell you that.” —Cleveland Leader.

Official and Final.

He sent fqr a pass to Mr. Cassatt, Who answered, “You pay or you stay where you’re at.”

that the noon hour will find a man on our breakfast liuskief and with a stronger heart beat and clearer working brain thun he ever had on the old diet. Suppose, if you have never really made a move for absolutely clean health that pushes you along each day with a spring in your step and a reserve vigor In muscle apd brain that makes the doing of things a pleasure, you join the army of “plain old common sense” and start in now. Then after you have been 2 or 3 weeks on tixe Grape-Nuts training you write a statement of how you used to be and how you are now. The simple facts will interest others and surprise yourself. We never publish names except on permission, but we often tell the facts in the newspapers and when requested give the names by private letter. There is plenty of time to get personal experience with Grape-Nuts and write a sensible, truthful letter to be sent in with the list of words, ns the contest does not close until April 30, 1900. So start in as soon as you like to building words, nnd start in using Grape-Nuts. Cut this statement out and keep the letters Y-I-O-Orape-Nnts before you and when you write your letter you will have some reason to write on the subject, “Why t Owe Grape-Nuts.” Remember 331 persons will win prizes, which will be awarded In nn exact and just manner as soon ns the list can be counted after April 30, 1900. Every contestant will be sent a printed list of names and addresses of winners on application, in order to have proof that the prizes are sent as agreed. The company is well known ail over the world for absolute fidelity to its agreements and every single one of the 331 winners may depend on receiving the prize won. Many persons might feel It useless to contest, but when one remembers the great number of prizes—(33l)—the curiosity of seeing how many words can really be made up evening after evening and the good, natural fun and education Ih the competition, it seems worth the trial; thebe is no eosL.x»othing to lose and a fine opportunity to win one of the many boxes of gold or greenbacks. - \k’e make the prediction that soma who win a prize of gold or greenbacks will also win back health nnd strength worth more to them than a wagon full of money prizes. ’ . , There are no preliminaries, ent out this statement and go at It. and send In the list pnd Jettcr before April 30, 1900, to Postmn Cereal Co* Ltd., Battle Creek, Mich., and let your narnft and addresa be plainly written.