Madness of Mary Lincoln

[RJNorton]

(11-14-2017 11:29 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  Tonight I was flipping through Jason Emerson's "Mary Lincoln's Insanity Case," which includes letters from and to Robert to his family and friends during this period. It makes for sad reading. I don't think anyone who reads it with an open mind could come away with the impression that Robert lightly or callously made the decision to have his mother declared insane and confined. He felt that his mother had reached the point where something had to be done, and made his decision after he consulted with people he respected and trusted. Certainly he didn't gain any peace of mind from his decision.

I think you are definitely correct that Robert did not do this lightly or callously. Yet Catherine Clinton writes that Leonard Swett threatened handcuffs if she did not come to court willingly. Swett would not even allow her to change her clothes before leaving for the court appointment. I just wonder if there weren't a more humane, sensitive way of doing the whole thing.