Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Ice cream?

I am sure Susan is right but will guess flowers for variety.

(02-07-2018 07:52 PM)L Verge Wrote: [ -> ]I'm confused.

I am the one who is confused - I mistyped the question! Yes, Laurie, you are correct about the $1000 donation she received. She ordered $200 worth of lemons and $100 worth of oranges from that donation to be sent to the hospitals.

Additionally, she sent 1,000 pounds of something to the hospitals.

It was not ice cream (good try, Susan) nor was it flowers (good try, Eva). What was it?

Hint #1: It was edible.

(02-08-2018 05:57 AM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]

(02-07-2018 07:52 PM)L Verge Wrote: [ -> ]I'm confused.

I am the one who is confused - I mistyped the question! Yes, Laurie, you are correct about the $1000 donation she received. She ordered $200 worth of lemons and $100 worth of oranges from that donation to be sent to the hospitals.

Additionally, she sent 1,000 pounds of something to the hospitals.

It was not ice cream (good try, Susan) nor was it flowers (good try, Eva). What was it?

Hint #1: It was edible.

Grapes. I remember thinking of the old I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel were stomping them for wine.

You are correct, Laurie. Kudos! She ordered 1,000 pounds of grapes to be sent to the hospitals.

My source is Lincoln and Medicine by Glenna R. Schroeder-Lein (p.65).

In addition to the above items what else did Mary make sure the hospitalized soldiers received?

Not really an item, but the ability to have someone write letters for them to loved ones??

(02-08-2018 05:03 PM)L Verge Wrote: [ -> ]Not really an item, but the ability to have someone write letters for them to loved ones??

I agree totally. If soldiers' injuries were such that they could not write their families, I think this was an extremely thoughtful act of kindness by Mary. I've read in several sources that Mary spent time writing these types of letters for the soldiers.

I found this short article from Lincoln Lore interesting about the hospital visits.

https://archive.org/details/marytoddlincolnlinc_10

Sorry for the delay. I was at the dentist. Laurie, Roger and Gene, your posts point out Mary's acts of kindness in her thoughtful gifts, letter writing and cheerful visits. The item I am referring to is a consumable Mary didn't purchase but forwarded to the soldiers.

I think some alcoholic beverages/liquor.

Kudos Eva, it was indeed liquor!! Jean Baker's book "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography" states on page 186:

"...And she made certain that unsolicited gifts of liquor to the White House went to the soldiers."

In the years prior to her marriage to Abraham Lincoln Mary Todd was once courted by the grandson of one of the Founding Fathers. Which Founding Father was this?

Wild guess - Jefferson?

The grandson of Patrick Henry - who some thought exceeded his noble ancestor.

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(02-08-2018 09:41 PM)Anita Wrote: [ -> ]Kudos Eva, it was indeed liquor!! Jean Baker's book "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography" states on page 186:

"...And she made certain that unsolicited gifts of liquor to the White House went to the soldiers."

In addition to the items already mentioned, Mary also purchased chickens and turkeys to be sent to the hospitals for holiday meals.