ON THE EDGE OF GREATNESS
That which an individual does which gains fame for him or her is ,quite often, something they say.
We have entire volumes of quotations which contain quotes from people you .otherwise, have never heard of otherwise.
Abraham Lincoln is said to have scribbled a few words on the back of a used envelope and from it delivered the celebrated “Gettysburg Address”. There were poets at the time who could have created many special works with worthy meanings honoring the men who had died at Gettysburg. There was another speaker on the program. He was widely accepted at the time as being the nations' most outstanding orator. He was introduced to the assembled throng by the presentation of a special ode composed by Benjamin B. French and sung by the Baltimore Glee Club. The musical moments introduced the famed orator Edward Everett who began a speech which lasted for several hours.
We remember nothing of Ben French's “Ode” and less of what Edward Everett took three hours to say.
Everett has been much maligned over the years because of the length of his speech – which varies in different accounts from two or three hours - when it can be shown that he, as a professional orator, delivered well-organized and thorough evaluation of the memorial circumstance of the day. He should be revered much more than ridiculed, and that, in part, for me, at least, is borne out in the known fact that Edward Everett who's long speech followed Abraham Lincoln's short remarks. He actually wrote to Lincoln requested a copy of the “Gettysburg Address” and praised him for it's sincerity, clarity and brevity,
We might also recall that the cartaciture media representation of Lincoln at that time was not the most pleasant. How could one expect
anything of merit from an awkward country bumpkin,; an ignorant, shambling dummy his enemies made him out to be in those troubled times.
Imagine, the preparations which must have been made to set up the Gettysburg memorial event. Think of all the work involved to get things ready. Some difficult foot work had to be done by the committee in charge of the celebration, and they invited the leading professional orator of their day as being best qualified to do the main speech. They wisely invited President Lincoln and members of his cabinet to be present and the same officials decided the President might be asked to say a few Dedicatory words prior to the main address. Lincoln accepted and stayed within the slot assigned him . He himself has been said to feel that his words were a failure. Newspaper persons showed themselves to be unaware of the lines, and only a few of the more energetic among them reported his having spoken the words , save for the reporter for The Chicago “Tribune” who saw in them key to the occasion and a durable literary work. It is not reported by the members of the cabinet thought - those few who showed up.
This sort of thing happens so often. It happens today in our times. People are, often on the very edge of greatness and don't realize it.
There are always key people involved in civic projects ...ones we never even hear about. while other are lauded for their overt presence.
For example: ”Who was the reporter mentioned above as being from the Chicago “Tribune?.” He was one men we have left sanding on the edge of greatness.
A,L.M. July 7, 2003 [c654wds]
