"Herndon was born mediocre"

[RJNorton]

(12-02-2012 09:43 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  Didn't Billy Herndon say to Mary Todd at a cotillion, "you move like a serpent."

Regarding Herndon there is the following explanation which I believe the experts have different "takes" on. For what it's worth, here goes:

In 1837, when they were both very young, they were at a party and Herndon asked Mary to dance. After the dance, Herndon observed that Mary had seemed to glide through the waltz with the ease of a serpent. Mary was furious and responded that she didn't like being compared to a serpent, even if Herndon was just kidding her. She walked away and left him on the dance floor. From then on they never got along, and this cold relationship continued for the rest of their lives.