Trivia Advent Calendar

[Dave Taylor]

Decorations on the the funeral train?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Another very good guess, Dave, but, I'm sorry, not correct.

Hint 1: Think rather of a Lincoln family member.

[RJNorton]

(12-05-2014 04:22 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Hint 1: Think rather of a Lincoln family member.

Although Old Bob, Lincoln's horse, was too old to run in the Kentucky Derby (he was much slower than Bayern, too), he was able to pose for pictures at the time of the slain President's funeral in Springfield. This looks like Old Bob's mourning blanket which he wore on May 4, 1865.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Brilliant, Roger! It is indeed Old Bob wearing the mourning blanket:
   

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good morning and happy St. Nikolaus (Nicholas) day! Guess what he put in your boots today:
   

[RJNorton]

I have no idea - possibly some type of fabric? - I'll guess one of the handkerchiefs detective John Lee found when he searched George Atzerodt's room at the Kirkwood House?

[loetar44]

(12-06-2014 04:50 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Good morning and happy St. Nikolaus (Nicholas) day! Guess what he put in your boots today:

In the Netherlands we speak of "Sinterklaas" and he put presents in one of your shoes. Did I find the conservation cloth on an old flag of the Union? Looks like removed stitching along the top edge of the flag (where it connects to the fringe). Right?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good guesses, Roger and Kees, you are on a good track, but neither hankerchief nor flag is correct.
Hint #1:

(12-06-2014 06:28 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  In the Netherlands we speak of "Sinterklaas" and he put presents in one of your shoes.

In Germany St. Nikolaus does the same, and what you are looking for would have come very handy.

[loetar44]

(12-06-2014 06:53 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Good guesses, Roger and Kees, you are on a good track, but neither hankerchief nor flag is correct.
Hint #1:

(12-06-2014 06:28 AM)loetar44 Wrote:  In the Netherlands we speak of "Sinterklaas" and he put presents in one of your shoes.

In Germany St. Nikolaus does the same, and what you are looking for would have come very handy.

Is it a close up of a small piece of Lincoln’s small brown leather wallet lined with purple silk ?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kees, what a smart idea!! And what a pity St. Nicholas doesn't stop at my place anymore - otherwise next year I'd try to put the polished wallet out for him to fill instead of the boots...(maybe a bit too grabby though...). Kees, I'm sorry, it's not the wallet.

Hint #2 (as addition to hint #1): ...especially in size 14!

[loetar44]

(12-06-2014 09:27 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Kees, what a smart idea!! And what a pity St. Nicholas doesn't stop at my place anymore - otherwise next year I'd try to put the polished wallet out for him to fill instead of the boots...(maybe a bit too grabby though...). Kees, I'm sorry, it's not the wallet.

Hint #2 (as addition to hint #1): ...especially in size 14!

Okay! "Sinterklaas", shoes ..... Lincoln had big shoes to fill. According to Johnston & Murphy, which has made shoes for presidents since 1850, Lincoln had a size 14 shoe, the biggest in presidential history. It was one size bigger than Bill Clinton (President Obama wears a size 12). Is it the lining of Lincoln's shoes?

[Rogerm]

Being almost six feet, six inches in height, I also wear a size 14 shoe. That means that I could literally fill Lincoln's shoes; but certainly not figuratively.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Roger, Lincoln used to say to visitors who were a bit taller than his own six feet four inches: "You actually stand higher today than your president."

Kees, you almost nailed it, but this is a special pair of shoes Mary didn't always find appropriate when Lincoln did.

[L Verge]

House slippers that he was known to wear even when holding meetings or greeting visitors?

[Dave Taylor]

Lincoln's goat slippers.