Abe & Fido

[Eva Elisabeth]

...by Matthew Algeo. "Lincoln's Love of Animals and the Touching Story of His Favorite Canine Companion" - this subtitle covers everything!

When I thumbed through this little book at the Surratt Conference I just couldn't resist - and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It's charming, a real "Abe" book, but covers much more than just Fido and Lincoln's other furry and feathery friends. And the author IMO proved felicitous in choosing what else to feature, including less well-known things. Those of you who like the Randall books will like this one, too, still it is different. And sure everyone who posted here will love it:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-2296.html
BTW, I think I've never before read the Tabby account/story in such lovely detail ("in walked a beautiful tabby cat") as recalled by Mary Miner Hill:

"My father my father saw by the president's place an extre chair and also an extra fork. The door opened and in walked a beautiful tabby cat and jumped in the chair next to the President. Mrs. Lincoln said to my father: 'Mr. Miner, don't you think it is shameful for Mr. Lincoln to feed Tabby with a golden fork?' Mr. Lincol replied: 'Mr. Miner, if the gold fork was good enough for Buchanan I think it is good enough for Tabby,' and he fed the cat duri the meal."

http://www.amazon.com/Abe-Fido-Lincolns-...1556522223

[RJNorton]

I think Eddie Lincoln inherited Abraham's love of cats. One day, during the time Mary, Robert, and Little Eddie were staying in Lexington (1848), Robert brought home a kitten. Eddie was a sensitive boy, and when he saw the kitten, he immediately asked that it be brought water and fed it, himself. Mary Todd's stepmother, who apparently didn't like kitties, ordered a servant to take the cat outside. Eddie screamed and protested long and loud. Eddie loved the little kitten.

[LincolnToddFan]

Where is Gene? Does he know about this book on Fido?

All of the Lincoln kids inherited their father's fondness for animals. The only one I've never a critter story about was Robert. The Seward family gifted Willie and Tad with kittens when they first moved into the WH.

There is a book that was allegedly ghostwritten by Mariah Vance who was a freed slave who worked for the Lincolns in their Springfield days. Many stories in the book have been dismissed by scholars as dubious and apocryphal, and I tend to agree. But there is one concerning two of the family felines getting into a nasty fight...little Willie and Tad broke up the hostilities and tried to force the kitties to reconcile by making them "kiss" one another because as they told it "that's what Ma and Pa make us do when we fight".

Predictably it did not end well. Both little boys ended up getting mauled with nasty scratches!

[RJNorton]

Where is Gene? Does he know about this book on Fido?

Hi Toia. He knows. Here is a post Gene made on March 24, 2014. Mr. Algeo is the author of the book.

http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...l#pid31128

[Gene C]

I've got so many books in my "to read stack", I've been banned from buying any more till I read it down.
(Plus I purchase five more when I was stuck at home for two days during the recent snow storms)
If I'm good I will probably be off restriction in about two months.

I was also waiting for someone on the forum to review it (Thanks Eva) Abe & Fido is currently near the top of my wish list.
Plus I'm kind of frugal. The last time I spent more than $10 on a single book was 17 books ago.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Gene, I agree, this one is pricey, especially since has only less than 200 pages. I would probably have been more reasonable hadn't I had it in my hands. Plus I was on a book shopping spree. But I don't regret this quite "luxurious" purchase, it's a book I not only enjoyed reading but also like to posses. Reading this one "down" won't take you long (read it on the flight home...).
Gene, I can relate to the objection/issue to spend so much on especially such a "little" book. Shipping a single book isn't that much, I would offer you to borrow my copy as I am pretty sure you will enjoy reading this book.

[Gene C]

A very kind offer Eva, I will probably purchase it within the next few months. Your comments have increased my interest in reading and owning this one.

[Gene C]

Interesting book, 150 pages of text with good footnotes.

On such a narrow and undocumented subject, getting enough interesting information to fill a book must have been a challenge. Most of the book was filler material and background information. Interesting, but not really related to Mr. Lincoln or Fido directly. Several pages of history about Lincoln's life during the time Fido was a part of the family that wasn't new to anyone who has read a biography or two about Lincoln. Still the book has some interesting details, it was easy to read, flowed well.

It compares favorably with "Lincoln's Animal Friends" by Ruth Painter Randall, written in 1958, which is a book designed more for young people. Her book is stories and narratives, not limited to Fido. Mr. Algeo's book, written for an older age group, is more documented with historical references, and also not limited to Fido. Different approaches to the subject, different writing styles. Both books are good.

[Eva Elisabeth]

And isn't the ending (of Fido) INCREDIBLY sad?
I, too, couldn't say which of the books I'd prefer if I had to choose.

[RJNorton]

And isn't the ending (of Fido) INCREDIBLY sad?

I sure agree, Eva. It was so sad that for all my years in teaching I could never bring myself to say what happened out loud in front of the class. I did tell small groups who dropped by my classroom after school, but I could never discuss it while standing in front of the class.

[Christian]

Has anyone found any explanation as to why Fido didn't join Lincoln at some point in the White House?

[RJNorton]

Welcome to the forum, Christian! The most common explanations I have seen are:

1. President-elect Lincoln worried the dog would not survive the long train ride to the nation's capital.

2. He had noticed that the clanging church bells and loud cannons, which had announced his presidential nomination, had terrified Fido. I am guessing Lincoln felt life in the White House would have been too much of a change for a dog used to life in Springfield.

3. He felt the Roll family could definitely give Fido a comfortable, happy place to live. He feared life in the White House might not do so.

[Christian]

Thanks! I've often wondered about this decision but these explanations are plausible, particularly #2...

[RJNorton]

Many Lincoln books say the boys wanted to take a photo of Fido to Washington (once they learned/argued their father's decision). Thus, these books list 1861 as the year of Fido's photos. But there are indicators the photos may actually have been taken in 1865, not 1861.

http://alplm.tumblr.com/post/80497508509/fido

[Eva Elisabeth]

Welcome to the forum, Christian!

Welcome to the forum, Christian! The most common explanations I have seen are:

1. President-elect Lincoln worried the dog would not survive the long train ride to the nation's capital.

2. He had noticed that the clanging church bells and loud cannons, which had announced his presidential nomination, had terrified Fido. I am guessing Lincoln felt life in the White House would have been too much of a change for a dog used to life in Springfield.

3. He felt the Roll family could definitely give Fido a comfortable, happy place to live. He feared life in the White House might not do so.

As for #1 - my personal additional speculation:
a) He had vivid and haunting memories of almost losing his dog on the icy river when moving to Illinois,
b) maybe he had noticed Fido got sick on the buggy and/or refused to go on it?