Did Mary Lincoln need committal?

[LincolnToddFan]

(04-14-2014 09:29 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(04-13-2014 09:46 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  I don't believe she ever had another day of true happiness after April 14 1865.

She still had Tad till 1871. He was a lively, positive, energetic character, and she loved and took pride in him - don't you think as long as Tad lived she also experienced happy moments with and due to him? And - what is a day of true happiness? IMO happiness is predominantly to be found in the "little" everyday delights - like a blackbird singing from a rooftop in the golden setting sun of a quiet, peaceful evening. She travelled Europe, and sure travelling, the impressions of all the different landscapes and sights, distracted her at times and provided such touching moments.

Yes, she definitely took pride and comfort in having Tad with her. Robert too(until the insanity trial). And the birth of her first grandchild and namesake thrilled her. But was she truly happy? No, I don't believe so. Most or all of her letters reflect an overriding gloom and sadness even when Tad was with her and even before her estrangement from Robert. Remember that they did not have a permanent home and lived in boardinghouses and hotels, which humiliated her. She was constantly worried about money. Her headaches plagued her. She wrote to several friends that it was only the presence of her sons in her life that kept her from wanting to die.

As Liz has pointed out when viewed from a haze of grief, depression and illness, sunshine and flowers do not necessarily reflect the glory they otherwise would.

At Mary's funeral, the minister likened Abraham and Mary Lincoln to two trees that had grown intertwined. One tree was struck by lightening and was killed outright, the other seemed on the outside to continue to live but in fact had died as well. I think that described Mary's situation perfectly.