973.7L63 Kent, C.W. Lincoln ' s Momentum LINCOLN ROOM UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY MEMORIAL the Class of 1901 founded by HARLAN HOYT HORNER and HENRIETTA CALHOUN HORNER iHiVFi 3 7 1, iH£UBKAKrOFTHE B3 Mi "OCT 25 19.41 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LINCOLN'S MOMENTUM 1. Momentum! What is momentum? It is a force. It is a power. It is an imponderable nothing. It is intangible. It is something which always ac- companies matter in motion and disappears as soon as motion ceases. It might well be called the life or soul of motion. 2. Like electricity, momentum eludes the al- chemist's crucible and the chemist's retort to dance attendance before our eyes. What it is or what causes it we have never been able to tell. That it is always present under certain conditions and acts according to well defined laws, we can easily see. Whether it does great harm or is of special service to man, depends upon its application. 3. It is no great strain upon the imagination to think of the soul as being encompassed in death. What becomes of death, and what death does with the soul — we seek through Revelation. In like man- ner momentum is encompassed by friction. If it wasn't for friction momentum would live forever. Friction consumes momentum and momentum de- vours motion, and when motion ceases it is because all the momentum in the body has been converted into friction. Friction is a destructive force, but man has learned to apply it to useful purposes. 4. Motion assumes one of three directions — straight lines, circular and elliptical orbits. Since 1 we have seen that momentum is an accompaniment of motion, it is obvious that their lines of manifesta- tion are inseparable, and we may now think of straight, circular and elliptical momentum. To utilize these forces man has invented and constructed various machines and devices. 5. Straight momentum separates into two divi- sions — perpendicular and non-perpendicular. One is an increasing force; the other an expending power. In a falling body gravitation pulls down- ward and acts in conjunction with any internal energy that pushes in the same direction. To move in other than a downward direction an object must have push but has no pull. 6. For the utilization of perpendicular momen- tum we have the piledriver, a machine in w T hich between two guiding uprights a large weight is slowly raised to a great height and then dropped. Pulled by gravitation and pushed by an accumulat- ing momentum it increases its speed and power until its downward flight is suddenly stopped by an object placed directly beneath, whereupon all the momentum developed is instantly converted into friction and the friction pushes the obstruction downward with tremendous force. 7. For the utilization of the other kind of straight momentum, the gun is familiar to all. A bullet or heavy missile is fitted to slip into a barrel or tubing and energy is applied behind so as to eject the obstruction with terrific velocity. Being 2 guided in its escape by the interior wall of the barrel, the bullet will continue in a straight line until it strikes some object or loses all its momentum through atmospheric resistance. We can point the gun so as to hit a mark in any direction and shoot anything that happens within striking distance. 8. To utilize circular momentum man has con- structed the wheel and placed it upon an engine. Push force is developed by some chemical or me- chanical process and in escaping is fed into the wheel, which like a winding reel turns and winds the force around its circumference like a skein of thread. Whirling it round and round, the force is kept in motion — the motion in the wheel and the force accompanying the motion in the form of momentum. Reconverting momentum into force in motion, it is unwound from the wheel in an endless strand of pull power. Pull power is adaptable for the continuous operation of all kinds of machinery. The amount of force coiled around the wheel is a reserve supply and can be used to meet any emer- gency. 9. Elliptical momentum appears to be the fa- vored choice of the universe, all the planets and stellar bodies moving in elliptical orbits and having elliptically curved surfaces. Man has invented few machines for utilizing this force, but by nature, he himself is so constructed as to give it first action. Primitive man swings the war club and beats down his foes. Civilized man swings the ax and the great 3 forests tumble over and become a shelter and pro- tection for his family. 10. If we give attention to our breathing we will note that the air flows into our lungs for a while, then we put forth an effort and push it out again. This occurs over and over and at rhythmic intervals. The action of the heart is similar. The blood flows into and fills up the auricles, the valves open and it passes into the ventricles, whereupon the heart contracts violently forcing the blood out into all parts of the body. The heart contracts, or what we call beats, at regular intervals. In these motions of the lungs and heart we recognize periods of stress and recovery and we think of an object passing around an ellipse, gaining speed in the flat- tened sides and playing it out passing around the corners, or vice versa. 11. A very powerful machine is the rockcrusher which furnishes macadam to pave our highways and boulevards. A hugh fluted bur weighing many tons turns in a concave and is so arranged that it pushes in and out rhythmically; pushing in and grinding rock, expending nearly all its momentum, then pulling away and receiving a new charge for another crush. 12. Under the laws of gravitation every particle of matter attracts every other particle of matter in the universe. When an object is attracted and is prevented from moving to the point of attraction it is said to possess weight. Weight is the measure 4 of capacity any object possesses as a vehicle for carrying momentum. Therefore there is a direct relation between momentum and gravitation. 13. The human mind being adapted to appreciate these phenomena of nature, presents a counterpart existence. Ambition stands for gravitation. Intelli- gence or knowing is the active or motive principle. What a person accomplishes or succeeds in doing represents the momentum produced and the uses to which it is put. 14. Abraham Lincoln, born in Kentucky Feb- ruary 12, 1809, was the son of pioneer parents and grew to manhood in pioneer settlements. His father was a stalwart, self-reliant, and practical frontiers- man; his mother a refined and educated woman. From his father, Lincoln inherited a body of great physical strength and endurance; from his mother, a keen intellectual mind. 15. These qualities manifested themselves at a very early age. He could outrun, jump, throw, or whip any of his playmates, and even those of more mature years. Learning to read and write at his mother's knee, the precarious child mind fluttered, flew and soared above the community. In school he excelled his masters, could spell down everybody, set writing copies for his elders, and wrote poetry. 16. These superiorities of childhood gratified his approbation and inflamed his ambition. He de- termined to maintain them during life. While still in his teens, he declared himself, "Big buck of the 5 lick,'' a position and challenge he was ever ready to demonstrate physically, socially or intellectually. 17. The Bible, dictionary, Pilgrim's Progress, Life of Washington and Burns' poems comprised the literature and principal companions of Lincoln's early youth. Almost by heart he learned them. Constantly delving into their depths, seeking the secret of their greatness, in flights of fancy he be- came a part of them and they in return became a part of him, transfixing the awkard boy into a presence transcendent, majestic and impressive. 18. Of an adventurous spirit, Lincoln early in life chafed at his prosaic surroundings and the sameness of events. He had read of the great world and he wanted to see it. At nineteen he hired as bow-hand upon a flatboat and made a trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to the great slave mart and commercial emporium, New Orleans. Re- turning home and moving to Illinois, he delighted to tell his new friends about his river exploits. A Mr. Offutt being assured that a flatboat could, without great difficulty, be sent down the Sangamon River, outfitted an expedition and placed his young acquaintance in command. Upon navigators bold two wonderful stories are told, of how Columbus made an egg to stand on end, and Lincoln bored a hole in the bottom of the boat to let the water out. 19. The Black Hawk war breaking out, Lincoln, always eager for a new adventure, promptly en- listed and at the youthful age of twenty-three years 6 was chosen captain of his company, intensely to his liking and greatly to the chagrin of one of his former employers. In this campaign, being some- what of a factor among men and affairs, he came into personal contact and association with men of prestige, and makers of present, past and future history, namely: Zachary Taylor, son of Alexander Hamilton, Jefferson Davis, and Major Anderson. 20. While engaging in no battles (with the en- emy) he served with distinction and courage (as a wrestler) and was truly esteemed an idol and champion of the soldier boys. Being mustered out during the close of the war, he ran for the State Legislature and had the pleasure of knowing that nearly every one who knew him voted for him. 21. Greatly encouraged by his popularity and the plaudits of his townspeople, he launched into the store business, landed the postmastership, and floated around as deputy surveyor. Taking up the study of Blackstone, he purchased a book of busi- ness forms, solicited patronage as a drawer of con- tracts and wrote all kinds of legal instruments. He scattered his work from place to place among the people of his political district, rapidly extended his acquaintance, and again trying for the Legis- lature, won. 22. At a time when the old maxim, "Children should be seen, not heard," was in great repute and practice and elders claimed precedence as by divine right, we behold this young, presumptuous, 7 ambitious upstart of twenty-five years sedately taking his seat among the sovereign law-givers of a great state. Again, and again, and again, four times in succession the people vouchsafed him this preferment. He went to Vandalia to sit in the Illi- nois Legislature. He brought it home with him, and the Illinois Legislature now sits in Springfield. 23. We next find Mr. Lincoln devoting himself assiduously to the practice of law, going from cir- cuit to circuit and pleading at the bar of all the state and federal courts. It has been said of him that "he was a poor pleader for a bad cause." Stephen A. Douglas, the brilliant American Sophist, politician and jurist, said, "Lincoln cannot be beaten when he has justice on his side," and "He is liable to beat you when you have justice on your side." To say that his retention in a cause always insured justice for his clients is the highest enco- mium that can be bestowed upon human achieve- ment. 24. The linguistic seed of social wit and mirth sown in youth at the frontier log-rollings, barn- raisings and house-warmings matured into a na- tional harvest of forensic eloquence, laden with the sharp analysis of human nature, the understanding of events and the potent use of language. We as a nation are just beginning to realize that Abraham Lincoln towers above all others as a master of the English language, and that therein lies the secret of his greatness. He has left a better legacy of 8 touching phrases, epigrams, syllogisms, maxims, axioms, truisms and striking sequences than any other public man of our times. 25. To convince and win over juries, he devel- oped and perfected a "jury language," elliptical and momentous in its action. At the beginning of his sentences, he swings away from the object and bespeaks justice to his opponent, then gently round- ing, returns with a flash that illuminates his client in the right and ends in victory. Subtle, seductive, sublime! Instructive, convincing, conquering! "Abe" Lincoln's body lies mouldering in the tomb, but his "jury language" still goes marching on. 26. Always plucking those beautiful flowers which exhale the sweetness of place and distinction, Lincoln at the age of thirty-eight enters the House of Representatives at Washington. In our republic all men were created equal that hope might spring eternal in each human breast, and we esteem it but patriotism that every congressman, scenting the sweetest bloom, keep his ears attuned to the buzzing; buzzing of the bee — the presidential bee. Lincoln saw what few others have seen, that Washington is the most likely place to get stung; stung by the bee — the presidential bee. He made friends, ob- served, studied conditions, methods of remedying public affairs, and told some of his famous stories. He made a couple of excellent speeches and even went so far as to oppose the President's policy in relation to Mexico, but on the whole he restrained his energies. Declining to enter a contest for re- nomination, he returned to Springfield and again busied himself with the practice of law. 27. The cruelties men inflict upon their fellow men are the danger signals of history; they but mark the defects of the human architect. Our fore- fathers failed to practice what they preached and at the close of the Revolution some were unwilling to give up their slaves. The Constitution adopted would not plumb with their Declaration of Inde- pendence, so the momentum developed in one pro- duced friction in the other, disintegrating the entire structure. Lincoln saw the danger signals and gave the alarm. "A house divided against itself cannot stand." He did not believe our government could endure permanently half slave and half free. He did not expect the Union to be dissolved, he did not expect the house to fall; he did expect it to cease to be divided, and when the time came to remodel it, history selected him to be the architect. 28. The ancients foretold events by the flight of birds. Lincoln always claimed to be superstitious and I like to think of him as out upon the vast prairies of Illinois upon a sultry August afternoon. Over a newly mown field soars a hawk in search of prey; it hovers, dips and rises with a little field mouse in its beak. From afar, from the top of a dead cottonwood an eagle's eye marks the plight and begins pursuit. High in the heavens, around and around they go in narrowing and lowering 10 spirals until the eagle fastens his talons upon the hawk and they drop to the ground. Surrounded only by the immensity of nature, they struggle and pull and flop and squawk. The hawk, with feathers badly ruffled and many missing, nearly drops the mouse, holding it but by the tail. The eagle, quick to per- ceive an advantage fastens his beak upon little mouse's head and pulls. Rending that which nature hath put together, the hawk sorrowfully flies away with the little mouse's tail and leaves the body to the eagle. 29. In 1858, Stephen A. Douglas, still soaring under his political policy of Popular Sovereignty and seeking re-election to the Senate, was hovering — ready to dip and rise with the White House in his beak, when Lincoln with eagle eye marked the plight of affairs, announced his candidacy for the same office and began pursuit. Bitterly opposed to slavery under restriction and determined to fight its extension, "Honest Abe" challenged the "Little Giant" to joint debate. Far from the Washington crowd, over the vast prairies, around the great State of Illinois they contended. They fought the Nation's political war, monopolized its adoration, and claimed the prize. 30. Douglas was never the superior man, but he had the majority party behind him. With an adroitness and dexterity without parallel, Lincoln so ruffled and pulled the feathers and befogged the issues of his adversary as to cause a portion of his followers to repudiate him and bolt the party. A 11 split party was equivalent to defeat. Douglas re- tained his Senatorial honors (the mouse's tail) and in the next Presidential campaign was nominated for the Presidency by a divided Democratic con- vention; Lincoln by a united Republican conven- tion. Douglas campaigned North and South, making a titanic effort to unite and save his disrupted party. Lincoln retired within his domicile and modestly cited all inquirers to his former utterances. Fight- ing over a senatorship, Lincoln won the Presidency. 31. The presidential reign of Abraham Lincoln covers the most critical and momentous period of our national existence. Upon taking his seat one- third of the population and domain had seceded from the Union and set up a separate government, in order they maintained that four million people of an inferior race might be continued in perpetual servitude. In the previous Republican convention various sections of the country had put forth favor- ite sons and supported them for the presidency. Lincoln wisely concluded that if these popular representatives were acceptable to large followings for the Presidency they would be acceptable in a lesser capacity, so invited them to form his official cabinet. 32. Genius never sees the down turned thumb, but mistakes it for the out stretched hand of the angel of destiny beckoning onward to ambition's goal. Each of these eminently able gentlemen under- judged his superior and cherished the vain delusion that the President had selected him to be Prime 12 Minister, and rule in fact if not in name. Lincoln being of a humble disposition (so by design) was well pleased to sit back in the White House and see a President in the War Department, a President in the Treasury Department, and another President in the State Department; all putting forth herculean efforts and achieving results worthy of the respon- sibility they presumed to be carrying. Never did ruler devolve a strategy for obtaining greater effi- ciency from his ministers. Lincoln not only knew how to get out of himself the best there was in him, but knew how to get it out of everybody else as well, and what is more he got it out and used it to preserve the Union. 33. At times these deputy presidents essayed to mete out mosaic measures, only to find that, "They were right under Lincoln's thumb." "With malice towards none, with charity for all; yet firm in the right as God gave him to see the right," this thumb pushed in and out greaving the little and grinding the big. Perseverance, patience, superior numbers, and vaster resources crushed the Confederacy and Lincoln left to his successor a single nation and people, united and free. 34. That one's adversary be led to bring about his own downfall was held the ideal consummation of Greek diplomacy. Socrates was the originator and perfector* of a peculiar form of logical dis- course by virtue of which history accredits him to have been the world's wisest philosopher. It pos- sesses what your author calls perpendicular momen- 13 turn. To illustrate it, let us fancy the great Athenian initiating his pupil, Plato, into its divine mysteries. 35. Pledging Plato to the utmost secrecy not to reveal any of the elucidations of the Institution upon penalty of offending the Gods, Socrates con- ducts his matriculate from the outer chamber into the inner court of the Academy. Under a great beam is fastened a pulley through which passes a small rope, the ends of which rest upon the ground. Attached to one end of this rope is a leaden weight, around which are grouped in a circle the disciples, seemingly in the deepest abstraction. Plato — "Why such noble looking and devout men passing their time in idleness?" Socrates — "They contemplate upon momentum." Plato — "Why this leaden weight, this rope, and that pulley attached to yonder beam?" Socrates — "They are instruments to induce momen- tum to leave its intangible abode in the universe and come and perform in the presence of the disciples." Plato — "But, show me this impossibility." Socrates — "Certainly. Just step within the circle, pull lightly upon the rope. See! The weight ascends, and I place it gently upon your head." Plato — "I feel the weight of the leaden object upon my head." Socrates — "Just so. Now pull some more upon the rope. The weight has traveled to the beam, so you may now release your hold upon the rope." (The weight descends upon poor Plato's head) . 14 Socrates — "You again feel the same object upon your head." Plato — "But there was a decided difference the last time." Socrates — "Now, take a seat among the disciples, and consider the nature of momentum." 36. The first demagogue to acquire position in the political affairs of Illinois was, perhaps, George Forquer. He had been Assemblyman, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and State Senator. His party falling into the minority, he turned from the Whigs to the Democrats and was made registrar of the land office at Springfield at a handsome salary. Being wealthy he lived in style, built a fine resi- dence, and erected thereon the first lightning rod ever seen in Sangamon County. 37. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! "Abraham Lin- coln ! He has fulfilled the expectations of his friends and disappointed the hopes of his enemies!" Hur- rah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Having served one term in the Legislature and seeking re-election, Lincoln entered the 1836 campaign and put forth all the energy of his twenty-seven years for the success of his party. At a popular assembly in which only Whig and Democratic candidates were selected to address the multitude, he was given the opportunity to make his first speech at the County Seat. He so excelled his opponents and colleagues as to arouse the jealousy of his political rivals, and to recover the day, Mr. George Forquer, who was not a candi- date, presumptuously took the platform, and ad- 15 dressing the astounded crowd, pointed toward Lin- coln and said, "This young man must be taken down." He then proceeded to interweave with his political arguments, references to the size and per- sonality of his adversary. A Stoic in mind and deportment, Lincoln submissively listened to this personal abuse, again stepped to the rostrum, ably and thoroughly answered the new arguments pre- sented, then in summing up said, "Mr. Forquer commenced his speech by announcing that the young man would have to be taken down. It is for you, fellow citizens, not for me to say whether I am up or down. The gentleman has seen fit to allude to my being a young man ; but he forgets that I am older in years than in the tricks and trades of politicians. I desire to live and I desire place and distinction, but I would rather die now, than, like the gentleman, live to see the day that I would change my politics for an office worth three thousand dollars per year, and then — have to erect a lightning rod to protect a guilty conscience from an offended God." 38. President Lincoln was able to vary his momentum from the perpendicular and shoot it straight to the mark as is shown in an incident that happened during the Peace Conference between the North and the South at Fortress Monroe in Febru- ary, 1865. Messrs. Stephens and Hunter repre- sented the South and Lincoln and Seward the North. Mr. Stephens had been instructed to make it a con- dition of conference that Lincoln should recognize 16 Jefferson Davis' rank as Commander or President. Lincoln demurred, and Mr. Hunter delicately re- called the precedent of Charles I and his parliament. Lincoln replied, "Upon questions of English history I must refer you to Mr. Seward for he is posted in such things and I don't pretend to be bright. My only distinct recollection of the matter is that — Charles lost his head." 39. In reaping and sowing the movements of the body resemble a wheel working through a portion of its arc. A good example of Lincoln as the reaper and sower is found in excerpts from his address upon "The Perpetuation of Our Political Institu- tions," in which as a reaper, he said, "I know the American people are much attached to their govern- ment; I know they would suffer much for its sake; I know they would endure evils long and patiently before they would ever think of exchanging it for another." I judge that enough for one bundle, so we will imagine it threshed and the same hand seed- ing it back in these fruitful words, — "Let reverence for the laws be breathed by every American mother to the lisping babe that prattles on her lap; let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in primers, in spelling books, and in almanacs; let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice; let it become the political religion of the nation, and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay of all 17 sexes and tongues and colors and conditions sacri- fice unceasingly upon its altars." 40. Let me present before your vision a veritable giant, six feet four inches tall, slim, gaunt and wiry. Before him stands the forest primeval. Upon his shoulder rests an ax of the largest pattern. He grasps the tip of the handle and extends the ax straightway before him. "When I was eighteen years of age I could perform that feat, there has never been a day since that I couldn't," he exclaims. Entering the forest he selects the tallest oak. Swing- ing the ax it sinks deep into the tree. A few swings and the tree falls to the ground. 41. Let us fix the direction traversed by the ax in each of those mighty swings. We see that it forms a beautiful ellipse, and if we imagine an axis through it lengthwise the beginning and end will lie before the workman, the middle part behind his back. We watched the ax start slowly, saw the giant sway his back, and as the ax returned to the start- ing point, saw it receive the powerful impetus. 42. Lincoln always preferred to be known as a "stump" speaker, perhaps he felt that he swung his language like he swung the ax, and chopped down his opponents as though they were trees. If so, it ought to help us understand the man. Nothing inspires as primitive poesy robed in garments of dazzling splendor, so in deference to our pioneer, we will carry our woodland scene and let it serve as a stage upon which we depict the glorious inci- 18 dents of his life. The stump shall serve as a ped- estal upon which we feature wrong, and language the ax that cuts it down. The words becoming vis- ible will form an ellipse as following the orbit of an ax. 43. The scene of the forest fades and we pass down life's journey until we come to a court room. There upon the old familiar stump stands a culprit defiant and arrogant. To one side sits the jury in deepest perplexity. With hand to brow, and elbow upon the desk, the judge inclines his head. Now comes a giant with ax in hand: one swing and he passes from view. The judge removes his hand, and as he lifts his eyes, in the pathway left by the ax, he sees these momentous words — "You can fool all the people part of the time, and part of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time." 44. Our next scene is laid in the Nation's Metropolis, at the people's forum, Cooper Union in New York. Upon the stump stands an African slave, burdened under the yoke of oppression. Below sits a world cringing and trembling. The giant comes forth, swings the ax and passes on. The peo- ple lift their eyes to the pathway made by the ax, and there behold these momentous words — "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us to the end dare to do our duty as we under- stand it." In an instant the timid populace is transformed into abolition soldiers; the battle cry sounded, and the war begun. 19 45. Weary and careworn, tramping along life's toilsome journey plods a tall, gaunt, broken and sad faced man. In one hand he clasps a child scarcely more than old enough to toddle; the other holds an ax of keenest edge. He calls the child, "Little Union" and tells of its father and mother passed away, and how he came to be its step-daddie, and how he wants it to grow up to be a big man some day. They come to a great battlefield where all is desolate and waste, and there, far from any habi- tation, black night overtakes them. In despair they sink to the ground. Ferocious beasts have scented their trail and threatening growls are heard. The man arises and gropes his way in the dark, presently he finds a tall stump upon which he places "Little Union," and grasping his faithful ax, determines to defend the situation. The growls grow closer and more threatening. He swings the ax to the north, to the east, to the west, and to the south. With howls of pain the foe retreats. But see! Is it magic or Eden's enchanted ground? Surrounding the stump in the pathway cleaved by the ax, there burns in bivouac the campfires of the soldier dead, and in the flames to the north we see these momentous words — "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, con- ceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men were created equal." To the east — "We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those, who here gave their lives, that that nation might live." To the west — 20 "From these honored dead we take increased devo- tion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion." To the south — "This Nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." The sun rises, the campfires die down, and "Little Union" is saved. 46. Hold! What have we done? In forming these sentences around an ellipse have we not set them to measure and prepared for scansion? What is poetry? Abraham Lincoln always played like he was talking to the jury and now we play like he was a poet, giving to the world a new poetry; the world's sweetest poetry — the poetry of the elliptical rhythm, whose feet are scanned by the golden rule, which measures out to others, then measures back to you. Composed by C. W. Kent. "All rights reserved." 21 LINCOLN'S MOMENTUM- COMMENTARY Ladies and Gentlemen: The first attraction which we present to your attention is Lincoln's Momentum, the mechanics of thought or the human frankenstein, on the stage to the right. It is a fantastic combination of psy- chology, metaphysics, biography and history so interwoven into a romantic personification as to offer a profound study in the art of mind analysis. In all literature, there is nothing like it or even similar to it. Any one who studies Lincoln's Mo- mentum thoughtfully and learns to interpret it understandingly will gain a greater insight into the real Lincoln and the function of the human mind than can be obtained from a study of his many other biographers. They tell you what he did. This reveals how and why he did it. It is a study in imagery, allegory, metaphor and symbolism em- bracing our three planes of existence — materializa- tion, personification, and mentalization — showing how we or the human frankenstein are but a ma- chine into which is fed the subject in the material realm and grinds out the predicate in the mental realm. In the mechanical frankenstein, we associate substance and motion for the subject, and it turns out a predicate of power to help us do our work. It has no mind. Nature is just a step in advance 22 23 of us, and in the human frankenstein she associates sub- stance and mind for the subject, and it turns out a predicate of intelligence to help her think. Things in the material realm through vibration are asso- ciated with our sensory nerves, and through our function of generation or mentalization become the subject of our freedom of movement, then through our motor nerves are symbolized or predicated from the mental realm. Every symbol or predicate in our mental realm is but a similarity of its substance in the material realm and every substance in the material realm can be predicated or symbolized by its similarity in our mental realm. The animal kingdom is nature's machine or frankenstein through which all things must pass when moving from the material to the mental realm. Our subject must come from the material realm and our predicate must come from the mental realm; that is the similarity and the difference upon which our connec- tion is concepted. In my commentaries, I will first present the subject in the material realm and you, no doubt, will be delighted to study its metamorphosis as the similarity and symbol is mentalized and predicated in the language of our illustrious character. Abraham Lincoln lived close to nature, other- wise we would be unable to subject and predicate his mind as is done in Lincoln's Momentum. 1. This dramatic introduction is patterned or predicated very much after the style and manner of expression used by Victor Hugo. 2. The alchemist's crucible and the chemist's retort rep- resent the two known ways of analyzing the physical and chemical properties of matter. Momentum baffles our efforts of analysis and persistently provokes us by its presence. We cannot analyze it and we cannot get rid of it, but have to submit to it. 3. Being baffled in obtaining a material analysis the mind seeks to obtain a mental analysis and after tracing it through personifications or different phases, decides to make the best of it. 24 4. Motion is an accompaniment of momentum and insepa- rable, so we proceed to classify or attempt to analyze mo- mentum by classifying or analyzing motion. 5. Defines the two kinds of straight momentum. 6. The pile-driver presented as an instrument or subject to be mentalized and symbolized in the predication of per- pendicular momentum. 7. The gun presented as an instrument or subject to be mentalized in the predication of ordinary straight mo- mentum. 8. The wheel or engine presented as an instrument or subject to be mentalized and symbolized in the predication of circular momentum. 9. The human body presented as an instrument or sub- ject to be mentalized and symbolized in the predication of elliptical momentum. 10. The lungs and the heart are parts of the human body most directly influencing the actions of the mind. 11. The rockcrusher presented as an instrument or sub- ject to be mentalized and symbolized in the predication of elliptical momentum. 12. Momentum is expressed not only in the form of di- rection as previously shown, but by weight. 13. The mind presented as an instrument or subject to be mentalized and symbolized in the predication of mo- mentum. 14. Abraham Lincoln presented in whose mentalizations and predications will appear the symbolization of the various machines and instrumentalities of momentum herein intro- duced. 15. Lincoln's early aptitude for leadership. 16. His dominant ambition. 17. Early foundation for mental development. 18. Lincoln becomes an adventurous argonaut in search of the golden fleece. The story goes that when the crew were about to mutiny and throw Columbus overboard he be- guiled their time by teaching them to stand an egg upon 25 end upon the deck of the vessel. After many days of trial and they had all failed, Columbus set the egg down rather hard so as to break the shell. Lincoln's flatboat leaked and became lodged upon a mill dam, so he bored a hole in the part of the boat that extended over the fall, let the water out, and was then able to push the boat on over the fall or dam. 19. Lincoln obtains military training and is brought into personal contact with big men of affairs in the national government. He also becomes an expert swordsman, and later in life being challenged to a duel exercised his pre- rogative by choosing broadswords as weapons, which put him to such known advantage that his adversary pleadingly withdrew the challenge and apologized. 20. Lincoln's captainship in the Black Hawk War gave him an intimate knowledge of the soldier's problems, which, when he became commander-in-chief during the Civil War, enabled him to mitigate the soldier's hardships, and become the idol of the army. 21. The soldier's lot is pathetic indeed. His enlistment tears him away from all the ties of life-long endearment, and when he is mustered out and has to start in again, the old ties, if remaining, seem strange to his mind and he feels out of balance when brought in contact with the old associa- tions again. Lincoln finally hit upon the law which opened all the portals to his future success. 22. Being elected to the legislature at the age of twenty- five is a rare occurrence and three successive reelections be- speak unusual confidence. That their confidence was justi- fied is shown by his securing the Capital for his district. 23. Marks Lincoln's further advancement as a lawyer and introduces a profound question for our serious contempla- tion. How much are our misfortunes, adversaries or com- petitors responsible for our own success? 24. Lincoln was a student of Euclid and trained his mind to geometrical precision. He was not only able to under- stand the theorem of life, but delighted in explaining it to his fellow man. 26 25. This ""jury language" was Lincoln's adaptation or com- bination of the Greek Syllogism and our Golden Rule, to do unto others as you would wish to be done by. The Golden Rule disarmed opposition and formed the major premise. The minor premise then clinched the proof and won the ver- dict. It is also a clever application of the three keys to the human mind. Intelligence is the only true predication and cannot be obtained until prejudice has been overcome, so Lincoln hits the nail on the head by overcoming preju- dice first, then appealing to impulse to enlighten intelligence. 26. Lincoln finds himself somewhat out of step and his party headed for the graveyard. Having no ambition to lead a funeral procession, he restrains his energies and retires from the struggle. 27. A new procession begins to form and Lincoln steps into line for leadership. Also note beautiful figures of speech. 28. An allegory or symbolism of the Lincoln Douglas debates in which Douglas represents the hawk and Lincoln the Eagle; the mouse the prize. 29. The mouse materializes not only into the senatorship, presumably for which they were fighting, but into the fu- ture Presidency which some politicians could foresee. 30. Lincoln's foresight told him that his debates with Douglas meant more than the Senatorship in view and that he could well afford to lose the chance of being Senator if it advanced him in line for the Presidency. 31. Lincoln knew that his administration would meet with tremendous opposition, that he could not depend upon per- sonnel but would have to rely upon location, so he selected his cabinet geographically in order that each section of territory would have to repudiate its own favorite son be- fore it could attack or desert him. 32. Note beautiful figure of speech. We think of intelli- gence as predicating our educational institutions and it was incomprehensible to these educated politicians that Lincoln without recognized standards of education, could be their 27 peer in understanding, and their vanity and presumption led them to underestimate their superior. 33. A beautiful allegory or symbolism in which Lincoln'? thumb, guided by his intelligence, materializes into a power- ful rock crusher into the hopper of which are dumped the contending political personages. The prints of the thumb, when magnified many fold, resemble the flutes or greaves in a grinder or crusher. The little ones escaped by fall- ing into the crevices or grooves but the big ones were squeezed and crushed as the big bur in its elliptical orbit, and with its powerful momentum, opened or closed, crush- ing all the big pieces into little pieces. 34. Imagine yourself standing under a pile driver. The weight ascends, is tripped, and descends upon your head unawares. You are instantly crushed to death. That is an illustration of perpendicular momentum. It is one of the fundamental principles of nature and manifests itself in many phases of our life. It is always convincing and leaves no ground for further argument. Socrates developed and perfected such a method of reasoning. You are a little slow to comprehend or anticipate the answer as the logic develops in your mind, but when the logic is absorbed, then comes the answer or concept vibrating through your entire system with a preciseness that leaves no room for further doubt, and you never forget it. 35. The concept perpendicular momentum, the funda- mental principle of Socrates' logic, is the most mentally overpowering of all known forms of argument or proof. 36 and 37. Lincoln scores his first political knockout blow with "perpendicular momentum" impulsively and pre- judicially blended to fit the occasion. 38. Mr. Lincoln points his mental or intellectual gun at Mr. Hunter, takes deliberate aim and blazes away with a load of "straight momentum." 39. This is a portrayal of Lincoln's words to represent cir- cular momentum, round and round, the first part featuring him as swinging the old fashion cradle, and the latter part 28 as broadcasting. In broadcasting, a sack with grain is usually swung around one's neck, and with each, or each alternate step, he thrusts his hand into the sack, gives the hand a swing and scatters the grain in a circular swath. 40. To extend the ax, you grasp the handle in the right hand, bring butt of palm to chin, keeping the ax handle pointing straight in front of you. You then extend your arm at full length holding the ax handle parallel with your wrist. If the wrist bends, you lose. You must return butt of palm to chin, all the while holding the ax pointing di- rectly in front of you and parallel with your shoulder or chin. In pioneer days and among woodsmen this was a feat for testing each other's strength. 41. Swinging the ax as in chopping is an expression of elliptical momentum. 42. Let us visualize Lincoln's mind as being in the ax, and his body the strength behind the ax, the words as com- ing from the face of the ax and forming into the elliptical orbit through which the ax was swung. 43. Figurative language. Think of a slave chaser in a free state as standing on the stump and demanding the right to return his captured slave back to bondage, and the rising indignation as Lincoln's argument to influence the court to reject the request becomes symbolized in the ax. 44. Lincoln's "Cooper Union" speech was one of the most epoch making in the history of the United States. It made him president, saved his country, and was the death blow to human slavery. 45. An allegory of the Civil War in which Lincoln and the ax represent the Union Army. "Little Union" the slave, and the Gettysburg address the battles. The words of the address becoming materialized in the ellipse formed by the swing of the ax, portray the power, rhythm and sweetness of elliptical momentum. 46. In English poetry, the sound is set to rhythm. In the poetry of Lincoln's Elliptical Momentum the thoughts are measured and our bodies respond to the rhythm. 29 30 THE MENTAL CONCEPT, THIRD DIMENSION TO INTELLIGENCE. The concept is always formed in this manner. Either objectively through the senses or subjectively through memory two associates or objects are mirrored upon the mind and there is a vibration of recognition. The mind in comparing their similarity detects a difference and this difference of relation is then stored in the mind as a concept. The objective mind belongs to the subject, or noun, is arith- metical in scope and functions as an adjective making notation of the fact, position or order. It is always looking for sameness or similarities and asks the question, how? The subjective mind belongs to the verb, is grammatical in scope, and functions as an adverb, working out the manner or method. It is always looking for motion, change or difference and asks the question, why? When you perceive the bow and why and the objective and subjective minds are associated together by a harmonious vibra- tion, your problem is solved and your answer is the concept — the arithmetic of substance and the grammar of motion — the two associates that lead to intelligence. The fundamental principle of the concept is the fundamental principle of all creation and gives us the universal formula, A + B = C, the grammar or language of nature. The concept or first effect is our beginning. The causes prior thereto are readily discerned, but yet to be explained. THE INTELLECTUAL TOOL BOX. A + B = C MATERIAL + FORM = COSMOS All things that are made are made mechanically by putting two together to make another. All things that are made have form and body. Form comes from the intellectual part and body from the material. To make all kinds of forms only two tools are neces- sary — the square and the compass. To fashion all sorts of bodies only the hammer (putting on tool) and saw (taking off tool) are needed. Upon these four tools rests the fundamental principles of mechanics and all the tools of modern civilization are but various interpretations of their primordial elements. With them you can build anything the mind can conceive from a three legged stool to a temple. If deprived of the knowledge and use of any one of these mechanical tools, what could you build? How helpless would you be? There are four intellectual tools that are just as fundamental and necessary to the builder of knowledge as are the square, the compass, the saw and the hammer to the mechanic. Have you the faintest idea what any of the intellectual tools are? Do you know how to use them? Upon what is your intelligence predicated? Temples of worship are not so spiritual but that they have to be built by human hands. The intellect is never so complete but that it can be improved by a new concept, and to be able to form a concept you must have a mechanical brain. The four intellectual tools, the fundamental principles upon which all human knowledge is founded are the Formula of Crea- tion, the Three Primordial Elements, the Concept, and the Three 31 Keys to the Human Mind. Under this scope must come the word of truth, else it remains to be proven and no one as yet has advanc- ed the principles upon which such proof can be proclaimed or refuted. The Formula instructs us how things are made; the Primordial Elements what they are made of; the Concept what we know, and the Three Keys to the Human Mind, how we apply it. What more is there to learning? What other tools could you use? Then, why not use these from now on? THE FORMULA OF CREATION A -I-B = C SUBSTANCE + HANDIWORK = FINISHED PRODUCT This is the formula by which all things are made that are made, and by the application of which all things that are known will be known. A is the substance, B the handiwork, and C the finished product. By putting two together you always make another, so you see, the whole inheres in every part and no part can be greater than the whole. THE THREE PRIMORDIAL ELEMENTS A +B = C SUBSTANCE + MOTION = CREATION or INTELLIGENCE There are three primordial elements in the Universe; Substance, Motion, and Intelligence. These three primordial elements com- pose the Universe and all created things therein contain some part of each of these primordial elements, the preponderance of its primordial element determining its plane of existence, material, vital or intellectual. Substance and Motion are the associates and Intelligence the relation. THE CONCEPT A +B = C SIMILARITY + DIFFERENCE = CONCEPT The Concept is the unit measure of intelligence. It is always formed in this manner. Either objectively through the senses or subjectively through memory two associates or objects are mir- rored upon the mind, there is a vibration of recognition, the mind in comparing their Similarity, detects a Difference, and this differ- ence of relation is then stored in the mind as a concept. THE THREE KEYS TO THE HUMAN MIND A + B = C IMPULSE + PREJUDICE = INTELLIGENCE (DEGREE) There are but three keys to the human mind. You can appeal to one's impulse, to his prejudice or to his intelligence. Impulse and Prejudice represent one's personality and Intelligence his quality. We calculate mathematically, speak grammatically, and think psychologically. Grammar of Nature — Key to the Master's Mind, 143 page internationally copyrighted book simplifies knowledge and the mental process, evolutionizes previous educational ideas and gives you the Superiority Complex. Freedom from intel- lectual slavery. Sent by mail postpaid upon receipt of price, $2.00 (two dollars). Address, C. W. Kent, Peoria, 111., U. S. A. All rights reserved IHt *Jbr\M\r ur IHt 32 OCT 2 5 1941 UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS Grammar of Nature, or Key to the Master's Mind, un- abridged edition, 143 pages. Copyright 1934 in U. S. A., Canada and International Copyright Union. Handsomely and durably bound, price Two ($2.00) Dollars each. Sent by mail postpaid upon receipt of price. All rights reserved. Liberal discount in quantity lots. Grammar of Nature, Popular 64 page abridged edition, prepared especially for teachers, educators and students. It contains most of the fundamental philosophy, present- ing an academic exposition and analysis of the Mental Concept; deleting the Author's personal references of its practical application to present day conditions, which as yet are controversial and beyond the understanding of the ordinary mind to grasp and appreciate. Price Fifty^ (50c) cents each or $2.00 per dozen. Sent by mail postpaid upon receipt of price. Lincoln's Momentum, (the Lincoln Classic?), excerpt from Grammar of Nature — one of the Intellectual Side Show attractions. A piece of literature as original, good and different from any other piece of literature as Lin- coln was original, good and different from any other man. Not the best historical record of what he did; but the best mental and physical analysis of how and why he did it. The most relevant piece of study literature ever introduced into the class room for educational purposes. Price Twenty-five (25c) cents each, or $1.00 per dozen, by mail postpaid upon receipt of price. The Concept Chart, with explanatory text and Intellectual Tool Box analysis on opposite side; will become one of the world's historic stepping stones in intellectual ad- vancement. Price Twenty-five (25c) cents per dozen, or $1.00 per hundred. Sent by mail postpaid upon receipt of price* The Concept Chart, printed in three beautiful colors, suitable for framing. Price Ten (10c) cents each, or 50c per dozen. Sent by mail postpaid upon receipt of price. C. W. KENT, Author and Publisher, 2301 North Adams St., Peoria, Illinois. U. S. A. All rights reserved, liberal discount in quantity lots. Printed in U. S. A. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 973.7L63B3K41L CQ01 LINCOLN'S MOMENTUM. PEORIA 12 03179719