Lincoln's Birthday
So why, if it's his birthday, do we have nothing but funeral stuff? It's like having a thread about Christmas with nothing but Easter in it.
Great movie.
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Thank you Penny, well done!
Overmod-- Sincerely think that a reply to that will be not forthcoming. Should there be one I will gladly pass it on, but as they say " don't hold your breath".
MiningmanOvermod-- Sincerely think that a reply to that will be not forthcoming. Should there be one I will gladly pass it on, but as they say " don't hold your breath".
Needs no reply.
It's just that all this death trip belongs after the middle of April, in its proper season. Surely there's all sorts of stuff with trains and Mr. Lincoln alive that could have been provided today, especially from such a prolific source of such things.
Some of Mooney Warther's Lincoln carvings:
Overmod So why, if it's his birthday, do we have nothing but funeral stuff? It's like having a thread about Christmas with nothing but Easter in it.
Well I for one appreciate Vince's sentiment. Thanks Vince!
It's interesting to speculate how the Reconstruction period after the Civil War might have turned out with Lincoln's humanity and wisdom guiding it. What a waste.
In the Booth family plot in a Baltimore cemetery there's a plain stone that supposedly marks the spot where John Wilkes Booth is buried. Visitors leave Lincoln pennies on it as a gesture of contempt. "You're nothing Johnny, Abe's still on top!"
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grave-of-john-wilkes-booth
Interesting photos. I think those troops posted by the funeral railcar are from the Veterans Reserve Corps, a Union Army outfit made up of wounded combat veterans not fit for field service but who were still willing to serve. They typically were used as guards and administrative personnel for military installations in areas not near the front. They wore a sky-blue uniform which would account for the light color of what they're wearing.
And that convoluted route map of the funeral train? Bruce Catton, the dean of Civil War historians, said that was Secretary of War Stanton's way of "Twisting the knife in the wound," that is, keeping the grief, mourning, and outrage level up for Mr. Lincoln's assassination.
Sad time.
And Becky's right, that made-for-TV movie about Lincoln starring Sam Waterston was excellent! Mary Tyler Moore did a great job as Mary Lincoln as well.
Much of the film was shot here in Richmond, in the old Tredegar Iron Works, the State Capitol, and the Church Hill section.
Mooney Warther's carvings show some astonishing craftsmanship! Amazing!
More tunes
"The Lonesome Train," I knew there was something familiar about it. I went looking, and sure enough I heard it played in a music class in junior high school.
I did some more looking, and found a film made in 1973 with the original 1944 soundtrack. And here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zmlwPKUnxg
Now Mr. Lincoln wouldn't want us to go off all depressed, so I found something else I'm sure he'd approve of to lift everyone's spirits.
Go get 'em Ireland!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK3H4JJ-8Bg
Great post. Thanks Wayne
Miningman Great post. Thanks Wayne
You're welcome Vince! And here's another bit of Civil War trivia.
When the Marine Band came to the White House to serenade Mr. Lincoln on the night of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox he asked the band to play this tune for him.
"I've always liked it" he said, "And now that General Grant's captured it fair and square it's all right for you fellows to play it for me, so please do so."
They did too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kQX12S9YI Join the party!
I'm afraid that voices with Irish accents singing about "the Union" makes me a bit uneasy - I've only visited Belfast once...
Youtube gave me the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" sung by a U.S. Army choir...
As a foreigner, can somebody explain...
"He is treading out the vintage where the grapes of Wrath are stored"
It sounds ominous...
Peter
That's pretty rousing.
With all the Confederate statues being tore down or put away and the Confederate Battle Flag a symbol of, well you know, is this stirring song revering love of land and heritage now a dying culture?
M636CAs a foreigner, can somebody explain... "He is treading out the vintage where the grapes of Wrath are stored"
What, Australians aren't C of E any more?
See Revelation 14:19-20.
Overmod M636C As a foreigner, can somebody explain... "He is treading out the vintage where the grapes of Wrath are stored" What, Australians aren't C of E any more? See Revelation 14:19-20.
M636C As a foreigner, can somebody explain... "He is treading out the vintage where the grapes of Wrath are stored"
Technically I'm a Presbyterian....
I don't recall Revelations being a major part of our sermons.
I had looked up the actual quote and I'm not clear why that was quoted in the song rather than many other possible sections of the New Testament.
I understand that it dates to 1861 and is basically associated with the Civil War.
This ought to help explain:
http://www.indepthinfo.com/battle-hymn-of-the-republic/verse1.php
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