State Box

[L Verge]

I would disagree that Miss Harris was seated in an armchair. Hoop-skirted ladies of the day did not sit in armchairs because the arms caused their hoops problems. Armchairs of the day were actually termed "gentlemen's chairs;" ladies sat on straightbacks (often matching pieces to the gentlemen's chairs, but without arms and termed "ladies' chairs") or on settees and the like. It would be interesting to see what the original seat of Miss Harris was.

Likewise, for some reason, I have always pictured Clara in Box 8 close to the center pillar with the settee near the far wall of that box and slanted so that it pretty much followed the wall, but with the far end positioned close to Clara so that Henry could sit close to her.
Does anyone know whether or not the settee was a standard feature of that area or whether it was brought in the occasion?

I also re-read Ferguson's account yesterday, and he describes Lincoln's position as being almost completely out of view of the audience and also mentions the lace curtains which surrounded the boxes to help obstruct the view. Ferguson also repeats twice that Booth's spur caught in the folds of an American flag draped over the box. It sounds more like he's referring to the bunting over the balustrade.