'Soul Journey: From Lincoln To Lindbergh' - By Richard Salva

Here are some excerpts showing ‘lifetime’ similarities between Lincoln and Lindbergh; though to notate a few is like presenting a lopsided view of the book.

• “The sun shone brightly on Charles Lindbergh as he rode in a shiny Lincoln automobile through the crowded streets of Springfield. (People has thronged to felicitate him on his achievement in flying across Atlantic.) …he had prized Springfield more than the other stops along his route. …Home – this is what Springfield feels like.”

The mayor of St. Louis was excited on reading a telegram. “…the nearby city of Springfield was in need of a nicely appointed hearse for the funeral of Abraham Lincoln.” The mayor was only too glad to oblige.

• “Anne Lindbergh frowned. Her husband’s speech was going well, but …what was he doing with his voice? Somehow, it had ascended until it was almost falsetto. He was squeaking his words. Then, too, Charles had began using a Midwestern accent, sounding like someone who had just stepped off the praires. He normally didn’t speak like that. It sounded strange.”

“Lincoln had a queer way of talking. It wasn’t only his Midwestern accent. It was the fact that Lincoln’s timbre rose while addressing the crowd, becoming high-pitched.”

• Lindbergh hated politics. “He preferred ditch-digging over politics.”

“Lincoln had meant it when he told someone shortly after moving into the Executive Mansion, that he felt like finding a good stout rope and hanging himself.” As Richard explains, if your one desire is fulfilled in spades in one life, you probably won’t want it in your next life – even if you have a natural inclination towards it.

• “Lincoln stepped up to give his speech on the battle of Gettysburg. … His talk was short – so short that the audience stood for a few moments in surprised silence before they realized it was over.”

Lindbergh’s Washington speech shattered records for brevity. Several newsmen who were present had the same thought: ‘That was just like Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address!”

• “Standing at the army cadet school firing range, Lindbergh took a deep breath. He had come in his off-hours, determined to free himself from something that had haunted him since his first day of training school. Why should the loud noise a gun made frighten him?”

“Ford’s Theatre was dark except for the stage lights. …Lincoln leaned forward in his chair, and … suddenly, a gunshot exploded right behind his ear. A brief spark of pain, a very brief and natural reaction of fear, then peace.”