Honest Abe in Meredith debut OCTOBER 8, 1980 THE TWIG PAGES by Ann Stringfield Abraham Lincoln, six teenth President of the United States spoke to a captive audience Wednesday night, October 1 at Cate Center. The gathering was a celebration of President Lincoln’s recent re- election. Mr. Lincoln seemed quite pleased with his re- election, observing that the wartime election shows the strength of the nation. Mr. Lincoln was in rare form Wednesday night. His stories were numerous and humorous. As Mr. Lincoln said, “Levity changes the heartbreak of this terrible world.” Mr. Lincoln again spoke against slavery, saying, “K slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.” Afterwards, Mr. Lincoln answered questions from the audience and the press. One small boy asked Mr. Lincoln about his favorite color. “I have three,” Mr. Lincoln replied. “Red, white, and blue.” Mr. Lincoln concluded the evening with his Gettysburg address, per request a member of the press. And thus ended Richard Blake’s performance as Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Blake has starred in over 2000 portrayals of Lincoln, in cluding the recreation of the Lincoln-Douglas debates during the Bicentennial celebration. Mr. Blake wore a three- piece black suit with tails and, of course, a stovepipe hat. His stance was decidedly Lin- colnesque, his accent definitely Kentuckian. Mr. Blake fielded all questions well. At one point he was asked whether he had been to Ford’s Theatre recently. As the audience laughed, Blake as Lincoln observed that a new comedy must be playing at the theatre. “A Day With President Lincoln” is a national touring program under the spon sorship of the National Lin coln Life Insurance Company. Richard Blake, as Abraham Lincoln in the national touring program “A Day With President Lincdn.” CCCO warns of the dangers surrounding draft The Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, the nation’s largest draft counseling agency, warned ^is month that the start of draft registration has added to the increased likelihood of an actual draft. Larry Spears, Director of CCCO’s Youth and Con scientious Objection Cam paign, says, “This past summer’s draft registration of men born in i960 and 1961 was just the first step toward returning to the draft. This coming January, Selective Service plans to register those men born in 1962. After January 5, men (and perhaps women) bom in 1963 will be required to register as they turn 18. It should be noted that the U.S. has never ha.d _a registration without a draft, and rarely a draft without a war.” “The need for young people to be informed and to consider going on record as a conscientious objector to war has never been greater that it is this Fall,” says Spears. “The Supreme Court’s decision on Goldberg vs. Tarr, a sex-discrimination case involving the draft and registration, will be final this Winter,” comments Spears. “It is especially important for women to realize that they could be ordered to register for the draft, and perhaps be drafted. They too must con sider their position on war.” CCCO has sued Selective Service for their draft plans and learned that they plan to allow registrants to claim hardship, medical, and conscientious objector status only at the last possible moment after induction or ders are issued. “Unless students begin to think about, and collect evidence for, conscientious objection claims and other options, they are certain to be caught unprepared,” says Spears. “There is also growing sentiment within Congress to begin debate early next year on whether a peace-time *aft should be started,” he says. “It is important for young people to realize that under the current draft law, all men between the ages of 18 and 26 are eligible to be drafted. Also, students should know that there is no longer a college student deferment under the new draft laws.” “Young Americans must start thinking about whether they could participate in the military.” Spears states that CCCO has already registered over 20,000 young people through its conscientious objection card. “These cards are available, free of charge, from CCCO, P.O. Box 15796, Philadelphia, PA 19103. They simply state ‘Because of my beliefs about war, I am op posed to participating in the military’.” “The usefulness of this card,” says Spears, “is that it provides a record of an in dividual’s opposition to war and the military. This CO card will help to demonstrate to the military that hundreds of thousands of young people will not serve in the military. Conscientious objectors, along with the large number of non registrants and the vocal anti- draft movement may help to deter Congress from establishing a peace-time draft.” CCCO was founded in 1948 as the Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors and is a national, non-proit agency counseling young Americans facing the prospect of military service, or those already in the military. >'WWWW Ridgewood Beauty Shop Ridgewood Shopping Center' 833-4632 ^Blow cuts • Shampoo and blow dry ^ 814.50 valne for 812.00 THE MACKE COMPAIVY From 5 to 5,000 FREE ESTIMATES Tel: 787-2913 Raleigh 477-7413 Durham s|j» ; owner 1000w-m ar Catiy Ccntir WifT cjf aflT Pier jovcJc ^ cCeftv^er^