On a Bronze Medal of Lincoln
This bronze our Lincoln's noble head doth bear,
Behold the strength and splendor of that face,
So homely-beautiful, with just a trace
Of humor lightening its look of care,
With bronze indeed his memory doth share,
This martyr who found freedom for a Race;
Both shall endure beyond the time and place
That knew them first, and brighter grow with wear.
Happy must be the genius here that wrought
These features of the great American
Whose fame lends so much glory to our past—
Happy to know the inspiration caught
From this most human and heroic man
Lives here to honor him while Art shall last.
MARBLE HEAD OF LINCOLN
In Statuary Hall, Capitol in Washington, Gutzon Borglum, sculptor
Ella Wheeler [Wilcox] was born in Johnstown Centre, Wisconsin, in 1845. Was educated at the public schools at Windsor and at the University of Wisconsin. In 1884 she married Robert M. Wilcox. Contributed articles for newspapers at an early age and also wrote and published a number of books of poems.