Mary Lincoln Extra Credit Questions

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you so much, Laurie, for your elaborate comment and expertise!!!

Is it possible Mary wore both, a bonnet and a veil?

This is from "Behind the Scenes":

"The dress that was worn by Mrs. Lincoln on the night of the assassination was presented to Mrs. Wm. Slade. It is a BLACK SILK WITH A LITTLE WHITE STRIPE. Most of the other articles that adorned Mrs. Lincoln on that fatal night became the property of Mrs. Keckley. She has the most of them carefully stowed away, and intends keeping them during her life as mementos of a mournful event. The principal articles among these are the earrings, the BONNET, and the velvet cloak. "

From the Knigge (see here: http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...e#pid25532 ) point of view it would not be appropriate for ladies to wear a hat inside the theater, not even in a box where no one's view would be affected. Did/does this rule also apply to Victorian (English/American) ladies? I have never seen anyone who did not take off his/her headwear inside the theater/opera, so I would think if Mary wore a bonnet on the way she certainly would have taken it off inside the box.

Keckley's description of the dress ("black silk with a little white stripe") also doesn't match the fabric on the Chicago History Museum's site, which looks dark blue with grey flowers.