Unlearned in the cant and quip of schools,
Uncouth, if only city ways refine;
Ungodly, if 'tis creeds that make divine;
In station poor, as judged by human rules,
And yet a giant towering o'er them all;
Clean, strong in mind, just, merciful, sublime;
The noblest product of the age and time,
Invoked of God in answer to men's call.
O simple world, and will you ever learn,
Schools can but guide, they cannot mind create?
'Neath roughest rock the choicest treasures wait;
In meanest forms we priceless gems discern;
Nor time, nor age, condition, rank nor birth,
Can hide the truly noble of the earth.
[Illustration: LINCOLN'S OFFICE CHAIR]
This chair was used by Mr. Lincoln in his law office at Springfield,
Illinois, where, before leaving for the City of Washington after his
election as President, he wrote his Inaugural Address and formed his
Cabinet, frequently conferring with his twenty-year law partner,
William H. Herndon, on such matters, and adopting changes as suggested
if he considered them advisable. It was presented to O. H. Oldroyd
while living in the Lincoln Homestead, Springfield, by Mr. Herndon,
March 18, 1886.
James Riley was born in the hamlet of Tang, one mile from the town of
Ballymahon, County Longford, Ireland, and two miles from Lissoy,
County Westmeath, the home of Oliver Goldsmith--on the road between
the two--August 15, 1848. Published _Poems_, 1888; _Songs of Two
Peoples_, 1898, and _Christy of Rathglin_, a novel, in 1907. His poem
_The American Flag_, has been rated often as the best poem written to
our banner. Four lines on the loss of the Titanic brought from Captain
Rostron words in which he said: "With such praise one feels on a
higher plane, and must keep so, to be worthy of continuance."