Lincoln and the theater, and theater in Lincoln's days

[Anita]

(01-24-2014 06:13 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Hi Anita. Yes, that is the incident. I asked whether others on the forum thought the incident (or at least parts of it) might be apocryphal. It appears Mike Kauffman agrees, based on what Eva and Dave found.

I also am unclear as to who was in the presidential party. Mary Clay is the source for the close-up finger pointing, "pretty sharp," etc. She says Sallie Clay was also with the presidential party. But, in his diary, John Hay says, "Spent the evening at the theater with President, Mrs. L., Mrs. Hunter, Cameron, and Nicolay. J Wilkes Booth was doing The Marble Heart." No mention of Mary Clay or Sallie Clay being with the group in the box.

Whether or not Mary Clay was there, her account is not credible. Mrs. Lincoln WAS there and she was fiercely protective of Lincoln. If Booth had behaved as Clay described there is no way Mary would allow the President to invite Booth to the box or the White House.