Lincoln's Melancholy

[Angela]

Roger, the word "over-magnified" is perfect. I kept wondering where all this "depression" talk came from in later biographies because I found so little facts that would back this in the original writings from Lincoln OR others. He himself might have been a little dramatic with the choice of words at times - but he often used that kind of language for positive as for negative thoughts.

What I also noticed is that many people described him as social and entertaining and how his expression would become animated when talking.
Could it be that - due to the stark differences in his facial features - people would notice the difference between happy and sad as far more intense that it actually was?