On Abraham Lincoln’s birthday 2010, I was in Springfield. It was cold! Naturally, I had to visit some of the “Lincoln spots.” This one is hard to miss. It stands out in front of the Capitol building. I like this statue. It is said to depict the President-elect making his farewell speech to his friends and neighbors while standing on the platform of the railroad car about to leave Springfield for the journey to Washington. That date, by the way, was February 11, 1861. Lincoln looks sad to me. We know it was a sad occasion-so it fits. What doesn’t fit is the fact that Lincoln is beardless. I’m sure that by the time of his leaving Springfield for Washington, Abe had a beard. At any rate, it is a great statue. It was dedicated in 1918. Almost 100 years old!