Lincoln and his cane?

[David Lockmiller]

My previous post brings up an important point about the accuracy of historical quotations and stories relating to Lincoln. How do we know how accurate these quotations and stories are? This question applies even to honest and well-meaning sources of the time such as I consider F.B. Carpenter to be.

The John Keats' ballad to which Eva Elisabeth provided a hyperlink makes no mention of a stick being used by Meg Merrilies. This was a stage prop (as shown by the Brady photograph) used by one of the great actresses of Lincoln's time, Charlotte Cushman.

And, why, you may ask, do I believe specifically that the actress in question was Charlotte Cushman?

The source authority that I cite is Doris Kearns Goodwin in her book "Team of Rivals" at pages 610-611: "Seward and Miss Cushman had met in the 1850's and become great friends. When ever she was in Washington, she stayed at the Seward home. . . . Fred Seward recalled that Lincoln made his way to their house almost every night while Miss Cushman visited. Seward had introduced Cushman to the president in the summer of 1861."

I could not find a specific reference as to when President Lincoln saw her perform in the role but obviously the Brady photograph does prove that she did play this role in Washington DC.