Sons and parents

[RJNorton]

I have an "unusual" question. Mary Lincoln's dressmaker and friend, in the White House, Elizabeth Keckly, wrote about something she heard and saw after Willie's death in 1862. Mrs. Keckly said she overheard Abraham take Mary by the arm, lead her over to a White House window, point to an insane asylum in the distance, and tell her, "Mother, do you see that large white building on the hill yonder? Try and control your grief, or it will drive you mad, and we may have to send you there."

My question assumes Mrs. Keckly saw and heard correctly. If true, I doubt Abraham was really being serious, but I don't know that with absolute certainty. (Was it Laurie who once said she didn't feel there was an asylum that could be seen from the White House?)

Does anyone know if Abraham discussed his concern with Robert? Or could Mrs. Keckly have told Robert about this at some time when he was not at Harvard?

The reason I ask is I am wondering that if Robert knew of this (incident as described by Mrs. Keckly) whether it could have influenced him when he caused his mother to stand trial for insanity in 1875. I am just wondering if the knowledge of what Abraham said in 1862 could have lingered in the back of his mind and helped give him confidence to do what he did 13 years later (knowing that he felt his father may have considered similar).

Obviously the situations in 1862 and 1875 were completely different, but I am still curious if anyone has an opinion on this.