James Arthur Edgerton, born at Plantsville, Ohio, January 30, 1869. Graduated at the Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, in 1887. One year's post-graduate work, Marietta, Ohio, College. Editor county and state papers several years; on editorial staff of _Denver News_, 1899-1903; American Press Association, New York, 1904; _Watson's Magazine_, 1905. Editorial writer _New York American_, 1907; Secretary State Labor Bureau of Nebraska, 1895-9; received party vote for clerk United States House of Representatives. Author, _Poems_, 1889; _A Better Day_, 1890; _Populist Hand-book for 1894_; _Populist Hand-book for Nebraska_, 1895; _Voices of the Morning_, 1898; _Songs of the People_, 1902; _Glimpses of the Real_, 1903; _In the Gardens of God_, 1904. WHEN LINCOLN DIED When Lincoln died a universal grief Went round the earth. Men loved him in that hour. The North her leader lost, the South her friend; The nation lost its savior, and the slave Lost his deliverer, the most of all. Oh, there was sorrow mid the humble poor When Lincoln died! When Lincoln died a great soul passed from earth, A great white soul, as tender as a child And yet as iron willed as Hercules. In him were strength and gentleness so mixed That each upheld the other. He possessed The patient firmness of a loving heart. In power he out-kinged emperors, and yet His mercy was as boundless as his power. And he was jovial, laughter loving; still His heart was ever torn with suffering. There was divine compassion in the man, A godlike love and pity for his race. The world saw the full measure of that love When Lincoln died. When Lincoln died a type was lost to men. The earth has had her conquerors and kings And many of the common great. Through all She only had one Lincoln. There is none Like him in all the annals of the past. He was a growth of our new soil, a child Of our new time, a symbol of the race That freedom breeds; was of the lowest rank, And yet he scaled the highest height. Mankind one of its few immortals lost When Lincoln died. When Lincoln died it seemed a providence, For he appeared as one sent for a work Whom, when that work was done, God summoned home. He led a splendid fight for liberty, And when the shackles fell the land was saved; He laid his armor by and sought his rest. A glory sent from heaven covered him When Lincoln died. [Illustration: A STUDY OF LINCOLN