Lincoln Discussion Symposium

"Let me go! Let me go!"

These were the last words of what famous Civil War person, who went on to do even greater things off the battlefield?

Clara Barton?

Wow - I thought I would stump everyone with that. Yes, Miss Barton died on April 12, 1912, in her Maryland home after a long battle with pneumonia. She is buried in her family's plot in Oxford, MA.

Her name entered my brain because you mentioned her in a post in another thread.

That's where I got the idea. I had mentioned that one of our bus tours at the March conference will be to her restored D.C. office for missing soldiers. That made me find out more about her than what is generally known about her efforts with the American Red Cross.

This is frightening, Roger. I once said I thought we were twins separated at birth because we think so much alike. This is one more example... Good thing I know that you are a month older than I.

WITHOUT CHEATING -- who can tell me one word that is a synonym for Brobdingnagian?

I don't know, but that's the type of word I would expect to see in Gulliver's Travels.
The writing style of that book was a huge challenge for me.

You are definitely on the right track, Gene. What was Brobdingnag?

I'd tell you, but I had to look it up.

It's the country where everything is XXL-size. (No cheating.)

Correct, so the first word I gave you is an adjective form referring to that quality -- substitute a simple, one-word adjective for Brobdingnagian. Huge, enormous, gigantic would work; and welcome to the world of Victorian language.

If you are wondering where I came up with this word, I found it while preparing a Christmas article for the Surratt Courier on Varina Davis's description of her family's last Christmas in the Confederate White House. In her writings, she describes a thimble as being Brobdingnagian. If I am interpreting her correctly, she is referring to a gift that had been sent her by a Mr. P. after returning home to claim his proper title. She appears to be talking about the Prince of Wales. Did he visit the Davises when he toured the U.S.?

On February 16, 1854, Mary Lincoln strolled into Springfield's John Williams & Co. store and made one purchase for $1.50? What did Mary buy for $1.50?

Was it strawberries or some type of cloth?

A pair of boy's boots.

Joe B. - Good try, but not correct.

Joe D. and Eva - you are both correct. Good job! Indeed Mary bought one pair of boys boots on that date. I am temporarily out of boots to send you both, so you simply receive my very best wishes for a wonderful day.