Extra Credit Questions

[L Verge]

As you can tell from my posts, I tend to side with Eva on thinking that much of Tad's behavior was uncalled for - especially in the 19th century when children were expected to be "seen and not heard." It is a shame that it took the deaths of Willie and his father (and the reaction of his mother) to finally snap him into being a more considerate young man. I suspect that the education in a German environment helped too (and probably why Mrs. Lincoln chose that country to live in). Germany has always been a leader in education - and discipline, which is a key ingredient to learning.

I'm an old-timer who remembers quite well that good discipline and proper manners were required when company came or when out in public. My mother was the disciplinarian in the family, and the first signal for me to behave was her utter silence. If it went further than that, her weapon of choice was an aspen switch aimed at the ankles. Just the sound of that aspen's whine as she swung it in open air would bring me into proper behavior immediately - I didn't have to feel the switch, just hear it. As a teacher and then as a mother, my clue to behave one's self was that same silence and a raised eyebrow.

Now, at the museum, I watch as elementary school children run rough shod over their teachers and are not disciplined. In the days when I could climb the stairs to a school bus, I actually had several occasions to climb on board and settle the kids down before I allowed them to visit the museum. I actually had one teacher thank me for getting them under control; and I wanted so badly to tell her that she was getting paid a lot more than I and could take care of the situation also. It doesn't take violence to teach respect for law and order - and learning.

As an analytical sidebar, I have wondered if Mr. Lincoln was just too tired after the traveling, the politicking, and finally running the war to even care what Tad was up to... Was it just easier to turn a blind eye or tune out the noise? I know that Willie was "active" also, but was it to the same extent as Tad? I have not studied the Lincoln family enough, but I just have a gut feeling that there was a slight personality disorder lurking there.