Lincoln & Herndon

[Mike B.]

(06-28-2014 10:36 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  

(06-28-2014 05:10 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(06-27-2014 03:06 PM)Gene C Wrote:  3. Do we know what the real cause or beginning of the hard feelings between the Lincoln familly and Herndon?

Perhaps the childrens' behavior contributed to it?

Herndon wrote, "It happened that sometimes Lincoln would comedown to our office of a Sunday with one or two of his little children, hauling them in the same little wagon, and in our office, then and there, write declarations, pleas, and other legal papers. The children spoilt ones to be sure would tear up the office, scatter the books, smash up pens, spill the ink, and (go to the bathroom) all over the floor. I have felt many and many a time that I wanted to wring their little necks, and yet out of respect for Lincoln I kept my mouth shut. Lincoln did not note what his children were doing or had done. When Lincoln finished his business, he would haul his children back home and meet the same old scolding or a new and intensified one. He bore all quite philosophically."

Because he had such high feelings for Lincoln perhaps Herndon (in his own prejudiced mind) gave Lincoln a pass and blamed only Mary for the boys' antics in the law office?

I think that he gave Lincoln a pass because Lincoln permitted the boys to do so. But, go to the bathroom? There must have been limits.

Doug Wilson has said that the evidence of a Herndon/Lincoln fight before the 1866 Ann Rutledge lecture. Mary was very gracious in her letter to Herndon agreeing to an interview before that and said how much her husband had appreciated and liked Herndon.