Madness of Mary Lincoln

[Eva Elisabeth]

(11-14-2017 11:29 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I don't know what influence Mary Harlan had, but Robert very bluntly told his aunt in a letter of August 7, 1875, that if his mother came to live with him, it would mean a separation from his wife and children. And Mary Harlan was pregnant with her third child during the insanity trial and the subsequent events (she gave birth in November 1875), so her condition was doubtless a concern of Robert's during this time.

Well, since we were talking of people doing what was done in their times - was the core family living alone (parents and kids) the usual way of life? (Abraham and Mary Lincoln were an exception I read and think.)
I agree with Laurie - Robert seems self-centered. Besides I wonder what had become of him had he grown up under the same conditions as his father did - his parents enabled his career (and he wasn't the smartest at Harvard). He piled wealth to a sickening degree way beyond what one needs for an even luxurious life while the Pullman workers as I read had to work for little under near slave-like conditions, and I do not recall reading about much benevolent Robert did for others (his mother did if not moody). From all I read I think him cold-hearted, mainly acting from sense of duty.