Powell's Hair being "Filed?" What's THAT about?!

[Gene C]

Aren't we easily amused?

I'm glad we can make it look easy. It takes a lot of knowledge about history to understand some of the humor.
I will politely disagree with you Bill. If you thought this was funny, that just means you have a keen and sophisticated sense of humor.
And I think you do (and there is no cure) (and your not supposed to begin a sentence with "and") ,,,,,,,,

[Rsmyth]

Betty's PhotoShop skills are amazing. I thought sure I would see a mullett in this thread.

[BettyO]

Rich -

Some of these skills also belong to MaddieM! She's amazing as well.....

[LincolnMan]

Gene: I absolutely love your humor-and you are very correct in what you said. The average person would have no idea what we're even talking about!

[Linda Anderson]

Gene: I absolutely love your humor-and you are very correct in what you said. The average person would have no idea what we're even talking about!

I was thinking of that too, Bill, so I will give the background for my articles in Conspirators' Quarterly.

Live in the moment-How to entice the ladies when you are on trial for your life. Davey Herold would toss his hair and show off his handcuffs to the ladies in the courtroom.

Plan for the future -How to write the perfect thank you note for the presents the ladies send you in case you survive this whole ordeal and want to marry one of them. - Lewis Powell received a handkerchief from a lady. That may have been the same handkerchief he dipped in water and tied around his neck in the courtroom to keep cool.

Mastering the difficult art of crossing your legs when your legs are shackled by a six foot long chain to which is attached a 50 pound ball. [i]The New York Times mentions how Powell would cross his legs in court resting his shackled hands on his top leg.

[MaddieM]

Gene: I absolutely love your humor-and you are very correct in what you said. The average person would have no idea what we're even talking about!

I was thinking of that too, Bill, so I will give the background for my articles in Conspirators' Quarterly.

Live in the moment-How to entice the ladies when you are on trial for your life. Davey Herold would toss his hair and show off his handcuffs to the ladies in the courtroom.

Plan for the future -How to write the perfect thank you note for the presents the ladies send you in case you survive this whole ordeal and want to marry one of them. - Lewis Powell received a handkerchief from a lady. That may have been the same handkerchief he dipped in water and tied around his neck in the courtroom to keep cool.

Mastering the difficult art of crossing your legs when your legs are shackled by a six foot long chain to which is attached a 50 pound ball. [i]The New York Times mentions how Powell would cross his legs in court resting his shackled hands on his top leg.

For real? That's quite comical. Didn't reports describe Herold as a bit immature and child like?

[Jenny]

Oh, wow, Powell and his spikey hair! And I just about died when I saw the manipulation of Mrs. Surratt and her "Wok 'N Roll" shirt. You guys!!

Yes, Maddie, a lot of reports described Davey as immature/child-like but I think he was a LOT more intelligent than the press at the time let on. And you have to give him points for going to Georgetown College and working as a pharmacy assistant. There was a discussion on why David Herold wasn't the childish individual he was made out to be but I have no clue where it is/was. Help?

I have lots of hair (still) and it was an easy style to maintain - just wash and wear and out the door in the morning to teach. The whole cut was done with a razor, so maybe I was having my hair filed.

Yep, it sounds like you had your hair filed, Laurie!

[Laurie Verge]

I am glad to see that so many of us have a good sense of humor about our favorite subject. It's what holds us together. Someday, I will convince Betty and Joan Chaconas to combine their cartoons about the Lincoln assassination conspirators into a book. Judging by this forum, we could do stand-up comedy and flash cartoons in a PowerPoint presentation!

And, you know what??? I bet we could get Mr. Lincoln a-chuckling.

P.S. In some instances, it is acceptable to begin a sentence with the word "and."

[Jenny]

P.S. In some instances, it is acceptable to begin a sentence with the word "and."

Ha! That's a HUGE bad habit of mine! I just love beginning sentences with "and." It's acceptable in some instances, but I tend to abuse it.

[Linda Anderson]

Maddie, this is a description of Herold from prison guard Isaac M. Marshall. "Helped to Guard the Conspirators. Philadelphian Remembers the Appearance of Arnold and Others after Lincoln's Death." Philadelphia Inquirer. Dec 15, 1902.

"David E. Herold was handsome, and he knew it. He had long black hair and frequently pushed it above his forehead. There were many young women present-admitted by card-and to some of these he frequently bowed. One of his peculiar actions was to raise his hands so they could see his manacled wrists."

[MaddieM]

Maddie, this is a description of Herold from prison guard Isaac M. Marshall. "Helped to Guard the Conspirators. Philadelphian Remembers the Appearance of Arnold and Others after Lincoln's Death." Philadelphia Inquirer. Dec 15, 1902.

"David E. Herold was handsome, and he knew it. He had long black hair and frequently pushed it above his forehead. There were many young women present-admitted by card-and to some of these he frequently bowed. One of his peculiar actions was to raise his hands so they could see his manacled wrists."

You now what's really sad about that kind of thing, it shows the really human side of them, the humour, the foibles and weaknesses we all have.

[Laurie Verge]

My great-grandparents knew David Herold, and the story that came down to me was that he was nobody's dummy. He had book smarts and some common sense, but had lacked male guidance -- growing up in a house full of women (mother and seven sisters) with father at work.

The term "trifling" was used on him, but I have always understood that to mean someone without enough incentive to go out and really work for a living. One who prefers to fritter away the day in doing whatever pleased him. The term does not relate to stupidity in my understanding of it.

[Linda Anderson]

The word "slacker" comes to mind. It is defined in the Urban Dictionary as

"A person who does anything they can to avoid doing work."

"...someone who while being intelligent, doesn't really feel like doing anything. A good example would be someone who gets Bs and As, while doing absolutely nothing other than playing video games on occasion."

"someone who does the least that is required. in school they take classes that require the least amount of effort such as band or if possible a study hall and in those classes they play cards if possible. slackers also procrastinate often. they are also often characterized by laziness."

[Craig Hipkins]

I might be going out on a limb, but perhaps "filing" refers to what us ex-marines call a "high and tight. Basically shave the head around the sides leaving a small patch on top.
On another note I wonder what Powell would look like with dred locks

Craig

[L Verge]

OMG, Craig -- I bet Betty and Maddie are both heading for whatever program allows them to create these comical renditions of our favorite assassins!