The 1998 Spittoon Debate in the Lincoln home.

[RJNorton]

(01-30-2017 08:23 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  And was it the kind of guests Mary would have appreciated at all?

I sure agree, Eva. But I think she was not able to always choose who entered the Lincoln home during the time frame before and after the 1860 election.

(01-30-2017 09:18 AM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  Lincolns had large mixed gatherings, spittoons would have been set out for the convenience of guests,

Excellent point, Susan. I think the "large mixed gatherings" were especially prevalent during the c.1860 time frame.

Out of curiosity I checked Pratt's book on the Lincolns' finances and drew a blank. No mention that I could find of a purchase of spittoons.

Two spittoons are listed in the Historic Furnishings Report: Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

https://archive.org/stream/historicfurni...z_djvu.txt