Lincoln's Hands

[L Verge]

I have almost finished reading Bill O'Reilly's Killing Kennedy book - and enjoying it! It's like remembering current events of fifty years ago and before.

Anyhow, in describing Dr. King's speech against the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial, the book states that Daniel Chester French's magnificent seated Lincoln statue shows one hand using the American sign language symbol for the letter A, and the other hand doing the same for the letter L.

I don't remember ever seeing or hearing that before. Am I a slow learner, and is this correct?

[Anita]

Is Lincoln signing his initials using American Sign Language?

No, this is yet another myth. The artist studied casts of the former President's hands to get the proper appearance. They were both in a closed shape for the casting, the artist decided to open one up a bit to give a more life-like aspect.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

[L Verge]

(09-12-2013 06:09 PM)Anita Wrote:  Is Lincoln signing his initials using American Sign Language?

No, this is yet another myth. The artist studied casts of the former President's hands to get the proper appearance. They were both in a closed shape for the casting, the artist decided to open one up a bit to give a more life-like aspect.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

Thanks for making me feel better, Anita. I thought I had missed out on some education somewhere along the line. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)

---

(09-12-2013 06:09 PM)Anita Wrote:  Is Lincoln signing his initials using American Sign Language?

No, this is yet another myth. The artist studied casts of the former President's hands to get the proper appearance. They were both in a closed shape for the casting, the artist decided to open one up a bit to give a more life-like aspect.

http://www.nps.gov/linc/faqs.htm

Thanks for making me feel better, Anita. I thought I had missed out on some education somewhere along the line. (No comments from the peanut gallery, please.)

[J. Beckert]

Another myth is that Gen. Lee was carved into Lincoln's hair.

http://dclikealocal.com/dclikealocal/201...oldem.html

[BettyO]

Joe -

That has to be one of the weirdest things I've ever heard! Lincoln as a Janus....

[L Verge]

I'm trying to remember the details of a letter I got over a decade ago from someone whose relative had rebuilt the replica of the Lincoln rocker for Ford's Theatre's restoration. I turned the information over to the NPS, but if I remember correctly, the elderly gentleman was an unreconstructed Rebel and wrote Sic Semper Tyrannis on the chair's supports before the upholstery went on. Remember the bumper sticker of the old Reb with the words "Forget, Hell!"?

Jim Garrett -- did I tell that correctly?

[LincolnMan]

Ive heard of this before but dont remember where. It is an interesting curiousity but nothing more.