Lincoln's autocrat

[kerry]

(11-04-2017 06:41 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(11-04-2017 06:11 PM)kerry Wrote:  A newspapers.com and genealogybank.com search shows the first mention in 1890, in an excerpt from Nicolay and Hay's book. I saw a website referencing the stenographer Tanner's account as the first, saying "He belongs to the angels/ages now." But Tanner gave that account in 1905, I think, and he admitted his pencil broke and he was unable to record Gurley's prayer or the aftermath. According to him, Stanton sobbed through the prayer, and then said it when Gurley was done.

“As ‘Thy will be done, Amen’ in subdued and tremulous tones floated through the little chamber,” Tanner later wrote, “Mr. Stanton raised his head, the tears streaming down his face. A more agonized expression I never saw on a human countenance as he sobbed out the words: ‘He belongs to the angels now.’ ”

I hadn't realized that the quote, in either form, first appeared that late. If Tanner gave that quote in 1905, it could be a faulty memory based on hearing the "ages" form of the quote anytime within the previous 15 years.

Yeah, and Tanner's whole account is dramatic and fits certain narratives, so I tend to think he just incorporated what he heard. It's certainly understandable if that did happen over all those years. It's possible Hay heard Stanton make this remark at another point and included it as a fitting embellishment.

As an aside, Tanner is quite struck by the agony of Stanton - he made a similar comment about Mary Lincoln. This man served in the war and lost his legs! He certainly knew agony, but I guess it paled in comparison.