In Mary's personal letters....

[RJNorton]

(08-04-2014 11:36 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  As for your last question - I'm just at the very beginning (and also still reading two other books - all too fascinating to delay), so far not the but four children, but to word it plainly, he presumes that the Lincolns' sexual abstinence due to Mary's physical damage (a fact to him) from Tad's birth, plus the seperated bedrooms and frequent travels opened the door for a Lincoln-Derickson relationship for which A. L. actively sought the latter (being attracted to him at first sight).

On page 45 of "Abraham Lincoln: The Man Behind the Myths" by Stephen B. Oates it states:

"Still, their intimacy suffered in later years. After the birth of Tad in 1853, Mary contracted a serious gynecological disease which, in the judgement of one specialist, 'probably ended sexual intercourse between the Lincolns.' After that, both became increasingly active outside their home, Mary in trips and shopping expeditions and Lincoln in politics. In 1858, the year Lincoln challenged Stephen A. Douglas for his seat in the United States Senate, he and Mary had separate bedrooms installed when they enlarged and remodeled their Springfield home."

Does anyone know who this "specialist" is? I do not see why Tripp would regard this as fact. How in the world would anyone other than Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln know what the fact was? At this point this seems speculative to me, not fact. I do not see sufficient evidence in Mary's writings to conclude this.