lincoln in springfield

[Eva Elisabeth]

Just to add re: "Robert Todd Lincoln was afflicted with strabismus(cross eyes) in childhood, so he must have inherited the condition from his father" -

Strabismus can cause diplopia, and thus perhaps the following occurence:

On June 8,1864, the day of his renomination, A. L. allegedly told Carpenter and Hay:

" A very singular occurrence took place the day I was nominated at Chicago, four years ago, of which I am reminded to-night. In the afternoon of the day, return ing home from down town, I went upstairs to Mrs. Lincoln's reading-room. Feeling somewhat tired, I lay down upon a couch in the room, directly opposite a bureau, upon which was a looking-glass. As I reclined, my eyes fell upon the glass, and I saw distinctly two images of myself, exactly alike, except that one was a little paler than the other. I arose and lay down with the same result. It made me feel quite uncomfortable for a few minutes, but, some friends coming in, the matter passed from my mind. The next day while walking the street, I was suddenly reminded of the circumstance, and the disagreeable sensation produced by it returned. I had never seen anything of the kind before, and did not know what to make of it. I determined to go home and place myself in the same position, and, if the same effect was produced, I would make up my mind that it was the natural result of some refraction or optics, which I did not understand, and dismiss it. I tried the experiment with the same result; and, as I had said to myself, accounted for it on some principle unknown to me, and it ceased to trouble me. But the God who works through the laws of Nature might surely give a sign to me, if one of his chosen servants, even through the operation of a principle in optics."

The Fehrenbachers give it a "C", however (please go to the next page on the link for the comments!)
https://books.google.de/books?id=L1FyFWc...CBcQ6AEwBQ