Extra Credit Questions

[L Verge]

As an analytical sidebar, I have wondered if Mr. Lincoln was just too tired after the traveling, the politicking, and finally running the war to even care what Tad was up to... Was it just easier to turn a blind eye or tune out the noise?

William Herndon wrote that the "let the children have a good time" attitude also existed in Springfield. This is from Herndon's Life of Lincoln:

"He (Abraham Lincoln) exercised no government of any kind over his household. His children did much as they pleased. Many of their antics he approved, and he restrained them in nothing. He never reproved them or gave them a fatherly frown. He was the most indulgent parent I have ever known. He was in the habit, when at home on Sunday, of bringing his two boys, Willie and Thomas — or "Tad" — down to the office to remain while his wife attended church. He seldom accompanied her there. The boys were absolutely unrestrained in their amusement. If they pulled down all the books from the shelves, bent the points of all the pens, overturned ink-stands, scattered law-papers over the floor, or threw the pencils into the spittoon, it never disturbed the serenity of their father's good-nature. Frequently absorbed in thought, he never observed their mischievous but destructive pranks — as his unfortunate partner did, who thought much, but said nothing — and, even if brought to his attention, he virtually encouraged their repetition by declining to show any substantial evidence of parental disapproval. After church was over the boys and their father, climbing down the office stairs, ruefully turned their steps homeward."

Guess that takes care of the "exhaustion" issue. It appears that Mr. Lincoln just chose to condone unacceptable behavior. IMO, shame on him.