Library hosts Gettysburg Address re-enactment
History comes alive when Friends of the Lisle Library presents a re-enactment of the Gettysburg Address a few days before its 145th anniversary.
Beyond "Four score and seven years ago," two men addressed attendees on Nov. 19, 1863, at Soldier's National Cemetery in Pennsylvania. Edward Everett, considered the nation's greatest orator of the time, struck an emotional chord when he spoke to the crowd for two hours. People cheered his eloquent words and powerful delivery.
Then President Abraham Lincoln, the second speaker of the day, stood and spoke for two minutes. His address, acknowledged with polite applause, would become one of the most widely quoted speeches in American history.
"If you asked President Lincoln who delivered the Gettysburg Address in 1863, he would have laughed and said, of course, it was the Honorable Edward Everett, an orator of respected accomplishments," said Jim Cooke, a professional actor from Massachusetts who will portray Everett at the library. Cooke will condense Everett's 13,607-word speech closer in length to Lincoln's 272-word address for the presentation at Lisle Library.
In the original lengthy speech, Everett recapitulated all the things leading up to the American Civil War and the three-day battle at Gettysburg that ended July 4, 1863.
Wheaton actor Max Daniels will present Lincoln's carefully crafted speech in which the president encapsulates 87 years of history.
"Lincoln had a great gift of rhythm in his speech," Daniels said. "He states here is where we started, where we fought, where we are now, where I hope we go, what we have accomplished and what he hopes the world learns from the struggle."
In a letter to Lincoln written the following day, Everett praised the president for his concise speech, saying, "I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
Friends of the Lisle Library President Doug Cunningham shaped the free public presentation because of his own curiosity to experience what happened the day Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address. He selected actors Daniels and Cooke because of their superb portrayals of historical figures.
At 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the Lisle Library, the re-enactment also will include American heritage music performed by the Battlefield Balladeers. Wheeling resident David Corbett will play guitar, banjo and harmonica, while Nita Kinney of Lockport will play fiddle.
As a Civil War re-enactor, Corbett finds the authentic music his group performs from original sheet music, on Edison cylinders and in old movies. His accomplishments include performing at the opening of the Lincoln Museum in Springfield.
Actors who portray historical figures do a lot of research to develop their characters. At the Massachusetts Historical Society, Cooke found Everett's collection of personal papers. It is largest single collection housed there. Everett, the renowned orator, was once an editor of poetry and literary journals, a Harvard College president, the governor of Massachusetts and an ambassador to England.
At one time, Everett also saved Mount Vernon by giving a rousing speech on George Washington and his beloved home situated on the banks of the Potomac River. It was a speech Everett delivered 137 times as he traveled the length of America at his own expense. All speaking fees were donated to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association for purchase of Mount Vernon, which then was opened to the public in 1860.
Professional actors Max and Donna Daniels will portray Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln at the library. The Wheaton couple stepped into those roles 20 years ago.
Max Daniels admits his classmates were a bit surprised at the last reunion to learn of his profession since he was neither in drama nor the history club as a student. But somewhere along the line, as the professional actor began to age and resemble the 16th president of the United States, it paved the way to his new endeavor.
With authentic costuming and between 200 and 250 appearances a year, the Daniels have a full schedule that promises to be more demanding in 2009, Lincoln's 200th birthday.
Daniels is drawn to Lincoln because of the former president's straightforward honesty and deep concern for the common man.
"Lincoln was a man who had great vision for the country," Max Daniels said. "He believed strongly that the Declaration of Independence meant exactly what it said, that all men are created equal, endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights like liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness."
A question the Daniels often are asked is whether Lincoln wrote his Gettysburg remarks while en route on the train to the dedication. The answer is an emphatic, "No."
"Lincoln never would have left such an important task to the last minute," Max Daniels said. "He always was focused in doing the right thing for the nation."
On the day of the address, Mrs. Lincoln, portrayed by Donna Daniels, was in Washington caring for the couple's son Tad, who was sick. At the Lisle Library, she will be on hand with the others for the question-and-answer period.
The Battle of Gettysburg's human loss was the greatest of the civil war with some experts putting the number close to 700,000 deaths. The two historical men who spoke on the Pennsylvania battlefield that afternoon wanted to make sure the dead did not die in vain. Each encouraged the audience to a new birth of freedom for a nation of the people, by the people and for the people.
<p class="factboxheadblack"> Re-enactment of the Gettysburg Address</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 2 p.m. Nov. 16</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Lisle Library, 777 Front St., Lisle</p> <p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 971-1675 or <a href="http://www.lislelibrary.org" target="new">lislelibrary.org</a></p>