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L Verge · 10-29-2013, 08:20 AM

It could refer to either in English, but I'm more inclined to think that Mrs. Edwards is referring to carriage rides at this time in Mary's life.

RJNorton · 10-29-2013, 09:48 AM

I agree with Laurie. I do not ever recall reading that Mary did any horseback riding after her Lexington days. (That's not to say it never happened.)

BettyO · 10-29-2013, 11:05 AM

I too would agree with both Laurie and Roger. Mary's horseback riding days were long over. I would definitely assume that this meant carriage rides.

Eva Elisabeth · 10-29-2013, 03:22 PM

Many thanks for your comments!

Eva Elisabeth · 03-30-2014, 08:20 AM

Due to a question on another thread I re-read what Elizabeth Keckley in "Behind the Scenes" (pp. 179-182) writes about the Lincolns and their goats. This passage struck me this time:
"Well, come here and look at my two goats. I believe they are the kindest and best goats in the world...See, Madam Elizabeth,' exclaimed the President in a tone of enthusiasm, 'my pets recognize me. How earnestly they look! They go again; what jolly fun!' and he laughed outright as the goats bounded swiftly to the other side of the yard. Just then Mrs. Lincoln called out, 'Come, Lizabeth; if I get ready to go down this evening I must finish dressing myself, or you must stop staring at those silly goats.'
Mrs. Lincoln was not fond of pets, and she could not understand how Mr. Lincoln could take so much delight in his goats..."

I wonder if E. K. was not perhaps treating Mary unjustly? I can't find it right now, but I seem to recall that Julia Taft in her book claimed that Mary loved pets and children (can someone confirm?). And didn't she love horses? And what about Fido?

Well, there's also the story about not to feed Tabby with the golden fork, but I think we once anyway discussed that might have been apocryphal. http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...y#pid23940

What do you think - was Mary fond of pets or not? Or only of certain pets? Do you recall/know of other accounts about Mary and her attidude towards pets?

Susan Higginbotham · 03-30-2014, 09:19 AM

(03-30-2014 08:20 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: What do you think - was Mary fond of pets or not? Or only of certain pets? Do you recall/know of other accounts about Mary and her attidude towards pets?

In Mary's letter to Lincoln describing how her stepmother made a servant take Robert's kitten away, she writes, "Bobby in his wanderings today, came across in the yard, a little kitten, your hobby" (italics in original). She characterizes her stepmother's actions as "unfeeling," but on the whole she doesn't seem to be very upset about an incident that would have probably infuriated an animal lover.

BettyO · 03-30-2014, 09:53 AM

I know Mr. Lincoln (as well as Mr. Seward) loved cats and kittens. I don't know if Mary was a "cat person" or not; but I have read/heard that as a child she begged her father for a white show pony which she had seen perform at a circus. She wanted the pony so much that her father bought the animal for her.

STS Lincolnite · 03-30-2014, 09:58 AM

A friend of mine was recently reading a book he came across at the local library - Horses and Mules in the Civil War: A Complete History with a Roster of More than 700 War Horses by Gene C. Armistead. I was interested as it seems to fill in one of those nooks and crannies in American Civil War history. I would have to assume there would be a lot information on horses and equipment of the era. I looked it up on Amazon.com and it has gotten very good reviews. It is, however, a very expensive book in print - about $45 paperback - (better priced electronically - about $16). So, I will be waiting until it is available at the library. I will touch base with my friend and see what he thought of the book.

BettyO · 03-30-2014, 10:03 AM

Thanks, Scott!

I will look for this book....seems like something I would definitely be interested in.

L Verge · 03-30-2014, 01:10 PM

I know nothing about horses, but imagining what those wonderfully trained animals did in the middle of raging battles brings tears to the eyes of this old war horse. Check that, I'm more of a mule.

Gene C · 03-30-2014, 01:47 PM

(03-30-2014 08:20 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: I wonder if E. K. was not perhaps treating Mary unjustly? I can't find it right now, but I seem to recall that Julia Taft in her book claimed that Mary loved pets and children (can someone confirm?). And didn't she love horses? And what about Fido?

Well, there was the occasional muddy paw prints, the shedding hair, chasing the cat. But when Mr. Lincoln was away from home for extended periods, I was a comfort in stormy weather, barked at strangers, and helped the boys with their chores by licking the dishes clean. What's not to love?

Fido

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 03-30-2014 04:04 PM by Eva Elisabeth.)

(03-30-2014 01:47 PM)Gene C Wrote:
(03-30-2014 08:20 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote: I wonder if E. K. was not perhaps treating Mary unjustly? I can't find it right now, but I seem to recall that Julia Taft in her book claimed that Mary loved pets and children (can someone confirm?). And didn't she love horses? And what about Fido?

Well, there was the occasional muddy paw prints, the shedding hair, chasing the cat. But when Mr. Lincoln was away from home for extended periods, I was a comfort in stormy weather, barked at strangers, and helped the boys with their chores by licking the dishes clean. What's not to love?

Fido

You forgot to mention all the slimy slobber on the sofa...neverthless I agree this is sure universal truth:

(03-30-2014 01:47 PM)Gene C Wrote: What's not to love?
Fido

PS: Betty, wasn't that the pony she showed off at Henry Clay's?

LincolnToddFan · 03-31-2014, 03:16 AM

(08-31-2013 11:20 AM)Gene C Wrote: Maybe they called it a McClellan saddle because it was a pain in the @$$ ?

OH. MY. GOD...!! Why didn't I come up with this...it's spot on as our Brit friends would say!!

BettyO · 03-31-2014, 04:52 PM

Quote:...wasn't that the pony she showed off at Henry Clay's?

Yes, from what I've heard....so Mary DID ride and was a lover of horses....

STS Lincolnite · 03-31-2014, 07:09 PM

Has anyone every seen any documentation of Mary's response to the death of the horses in the February 1864 stable fire?

From what I remember, a pony formerly belonging to Willie and a pony that belonged to Tad were killed along with 2 of Lincoln's horses and 2 of John Nicolay's horses. Lincoln had to be pulled away from the fire while trying to save the pony that had belonged to Willie. I think there was also a report of him being seen weeping after the incident.