Are those stories about Mary abusive to Abraham overstated???

[Mylye2222]

(01-11-2020 09:01 PM)L Verge Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 03:39 PM)Mylye2222 Wrote:  I'd add: Yes MTL was capable of abuse. But she was also able of tenderness.
In Carl Sandburgs book "The Prairie Years and the War Years", there's recollection of a story involving MTL act of kindness.

One day, in the morning, a young woman called at the Executive Mansion. With her were three kids, the latter of small age, a little older than a baby. She entered the hall, but was told that the President was helding Cabinet meeting. Therefore, the poor lady took her kids to the East Room, sat them on the floor and told a staff member she intended, as her husband died in battlefield and she couldn't anymore take care of them, to simply leave them to an for the President Lincoln. She was ascertained to have been a "deranged mind provoked by deep affliction". Soon Mary Lincoln was found and dealt with the singular case. She gave humanitarian directions for the distressed family to be taken care of.

Unfortunately the rest of the story is lost, we don't know how this family ended, I hope well and relieved, but it shows that Mary also could display the same level of her husband's compassion.

And remember the numerous visits to the soldiers that were hospitalized around Washington and arriving with fresh fruits and flowers and ready to read to them or write letters.

Yes, that's too.
At the end, Mary realized, that like her husband, she could find solace and balm on her personal suffering, by taking care of others in need. She found that way by visiting hospitals and contraband camps. Abraham stated his "office hours" were also a source of comfort when he could relieve ordinary citizens burdens.