Happy Birthday, Abe

We in the US usually force Abe to blow out the candles with George, because at some point two different holidays so close together became a pain in the butt, so they were fused into a single Monday event.

This year, on this day, Abe does get some special attention, throwing George into the shade, because it's his 200th. Still, even on this occasion, Abe has to share props with Charles Darwin.

This blog has done its bit for Darwin already -- last week Link here. So I'll devote the remainder of this entry exclusively to Lincoln.

In the filing cabinet of my mind, as in that of most conemporary Americans, there are any number of Lincoln myths, along with a more-or-less clear understanding that they are myths. There's the notion, for example, that the immortal language of the Gettysburg Address was dashed off on the back of an envelope while he was riding on the train to give the speech.

Lincoln actually showed a "rough draft" of this speech to James Speed, his Attorney General, on November 17, two days before it was to be delivered. He admitted to Speed that he had been laboring over it and was having difficulty.

That train ride from DC to Gettysburg, by the way, was a long one. It would take two hours today. It took fifteen in 1863. The train arrived at Gettysburg at 5 PM pm the 18th, and Lincoln (who may for all we know have continued to labor on the speech over those 15 hours -- that would hardly be a matter of dashing it off!) stayed overnight at the home of David Wills, the principal organizer of the dedication ceremonies.

We know that Lincoln was still working on the speech that evening. He apparently went to another home, where his Secretary of State William Seward was staying, at 11 PM and read him the speech looking for reactions. We don't know what Seward said or what revisions may have resulted.

So this was a product of turmoil. The point is important, I think, because the myth that eloquence is casual, just a 'gift' some people have when they toss things off, has had a pernicious effect. It helps contribute to the general notion that achievements are the product of talent, that effort is secondary, and that if something doesn't come easily to you, there's no point working at it.

"I can't write an immortal speech in a few moments on the back of an envelope, so why should I worry about composition at all?"

I doubt many people would put it just that way, but I do think it should be understood that eloquence, like so much else is life, is the product of effort, though perhaps effort working in co-ordination with talent.

Rest in peace, Mr. Lincoln.