146 BIEDS AND POETS 



is. Indeed, it may be said of Mr. Lincoln's entire 

 course while at the head of the nation, that no 

 President, since the first, ever in his public acts 

 allowed the man so fully to appear, or showed so 

 little disposition to retreat behind the featureless 

 political mask which seems to adhere to the idea of 

 gubernatorial dignity. 



It would hardly be fair to cite Everett's speech 

 on the same occasion as a specimen of the opposite 

 style, wherein ornate scholarship and the pride of 

 talents dominate. Yet a stern critic would be 

 obliged to say that, as an author, Everett allowed, 

 for the most part, only the expurgated, compliment- 

 ing, drawing-room man to speak ; and that, consider- 

 ing the need of America to be kept virile and broad 

 at all hazards, his contribution, both as man and 

 writer, falls immeasurably short of that of Abraham 

 Lincoln. 



"What a noble specimen of its kind, and how free 

 from any verbal tricks or admixture of literary sauce, 

 is Thoreau's " Maine Woods " ! And what a marked 

 specimen of the opposite style is a certain other 

 book I could mention in which these wild and grand 

 scenes serve but as a medium to advertise the au- 

 thor's fund of classic lore! 



Can there be any doubt about the traits and out- 

 ward signs of a noble character, and is not the style 

 of an author the manners of his soul? 



Is there a lyceum lecturer in the country who is 

 above manceuvring for the applause of his audience ? 

 or a writer who is willing to make himself of no 



