No, sorry Gene (or I should say William Berry is not the person I'm thinking of)

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Ok, that youtube hyperlink was not quite historically correct on my part (sorry about that) ...

I should have used a hint that Mel Gibson had a connection with the person's name.

If I wrote a Tibetan word ... that might give it away ...

Mel Gibson had a connection with two of the person's names (not the surname though).

A brother of this person was with a President who was shot ... and would have been with another President that was shot, but was late.

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The surname that we want is the same as a cathedral city in the UK.

I still feel clueless - Tad Lincoln? Willie Lincoln?

(12-10-2018 06:03 AM)AussieMick Wrote:  A brother of this person was with a President who was shot ... and would have been with another President that was shot, but was late.

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The surname that we want is the same as a cathedral city in the UK.

Ah you mean Robert Todd Lincoln. He was at President Garfield's assassination and his train was late getting in to Buffalo, NY for President McKinley's.

(12-10-2018 01:08 PM)GustD45 Wrote:  

(12-10-2018 06:03 AM)AussieMick Wrote:  A brother of this person was with a President who was shot ... and would have been with another President that was shot, but was late.

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The surname that we want is the same as a cathedral city in the UK.

Ah you mean Robert Todd Lincoln. He was at President Garfield's assassination and his train was late getting in to Buffalo, NY for President McKinley's.

Sorry, Gus!!!! That's not the name of the person I'm wanting.

(12-10-2018 06:03 AM)AussieMick Wrote:  A brother of this person was with a President who was shot ... and would have been with another President that was shot, but was late.

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The surname that we want is the same as a cathedral city in the UK.

Trying to guess the cathedral narrows it down to several hundred or more!

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Roger guessed this earlier, and you said no, but I still think this refers to William Wallace Lincoln. William Wallace was the real name of Gibson's character in Braveheart; I'm pretty sure there is a Lincoln Cathedral in the UK; Robert Lincoln would fit the role of the brother present at another assassination and late to another.

What are Roger and I doing wrong? And no, we have not collaborated on this together. The Gibson clue got me started.

Woops !!! Sorry Roger and congrats to you Roger and to Laurie ... I missed your second answer, Roger (Tad or Willie).

Yes, William (Willie) Wallace Lincoln.

My only excuse is that I myself initially confused William and Robert. I must have double-checked 20 times that it was William who asked for a quarter and got 5 cents.

many thanks to Laurie for persistence and for pursuing along the lines of 'there is something not quite right here' philosophy.

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http://americanaejournal.hu/vol6no1/watson-berger

"Lincoln had a way with children, his own and others. It was he and not Mrs. Lincoln who seemed to understand the children. One day while talking with the press, Willie rushed into the President’s office saying he needed a quarter. Lincoln replied “I can’t let you have a quarter. I can only spare five cents.” The President put five pennies on his desk but Willie refused it and ran out of the office. “He will be back after that in a few minutes,” Lincoln observed to the newspapermen. “As soon as he finds I will give him no more, he will come and get it.” As predicted, a little while later, Willie came in and quietly put the money in his pocket, leaving without saying a thing (Thomas 1954, 232)."

The Tibetan word clue was 'Bardo' ('Lincoln in the Bardo' ... I havent read the book though).

And yes William Wallace was Braveheart. He fought "Proud Edward's Army" but I think The Scots National Anthem 'Flower of Scotland' is praising Robert The Bruce who came after William Wallace and who beat Edward at Bannockburn.

Oh, and I really wanted to mention that Robert was at the death of one President, present when another was shot, and was just too late to be there when another was shot.

(Yes, Gus !!! You got there too.)

Wonderful question, Michael! Here is the original source. It's in a letter from John S. Bliss to William H. Herndon, January 29, 1867:

"Willie, his son, came in and begged his father for twenty-
five cents. 'My son,' said the father, 'what do you want
with twenty-five cents?' 'I want it to buy candy with,'
cried the boy. 'I cannot give you twenty-five cents, my son,
but will give you five cents,' at the same time putting his
thumb and finger into his vest pocket and taking therefrom
five cents in silver, which he placed upon the desk before
the boy. But this did not reach Willie's expectations; he
scorned the pile, and turning away clambered down-stairs and
through the spacious halls of the Capitol, leaving behind
him his five cents and a distinct reverberation of sound.
Mr. Lincoln turned to me and said, 'He will be back after
that in a few minutes.' 'Why do you think so?' said I.
'Because, as soon as he finds I will give him no more he
will come and get it.' After the matter had been nearly
forgotten and conversation had turned in an entirely
different channel, Willie came cautiously in behind my chair
and that of his father, picked up the specie, and went away
without saying a word."

http://www.hellenicaworld.com/USA/Litera...coln2.html

I think Lincoln was not simply being economical or 'smart'. I have no real idea of the cost of things in the US in the 1860's ... but I'd say Lincoln would have known that Willie would be able to get quite an amount of candy for five cents. For a quarter, I'm guessing that he'd be able to get quite an armload. And Lincoln, the shopkeeper, knew that of course.

Not only a great President but a great parent. Indulgent when he wanted to be, but aware of when his son was 'trying it on'.

P.S. Don't put down Robert the Bruce -- he's one of my ancestors.

(12-10-2018 07:09 PM)L Verge Wrote:  P.S. Don't put down Robert the Bruce -- he's one of my ancestors.

I wouldnt dare to, Laurie.

( Allows me to watch Amy MacDonald again singing Flower of Scotland,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0Wz8ig2y9Y )

(12-10-2018 05:52 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  I think Lincoln was not simply being economical or 'smart'. I have no real idea of the cost of things in the US in the 1860's ... but I'd say Lincoln would have known that Willie would be able to get quite an amount of candy for five cents. For a quarter, I'm guessing that he'd be able to get quite an armload. And Lincoln, the shopkeeper, knew that of course.

Not only a great President but a great parent. Indulgent when he wanted to be, but aware of when his son was 'trying it on'.

Would that help?
What cost $0.25 in 1860 would cost $6.93 in 2017.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2017 and 1860, they would cost you $0.25 and $0.01 respectively.
https://westegg.com/inflation/infl.cgi

Thanks, Eva. Thats a useful tool. I had seen it once before a long time ago (or similar) but was too lazy to search again. I'll add it to my bookmarks.