Mary Lincoln Extra Credit Questions

[LincolnToddFan]

"She was an amiable inoffensive girl"??

Yeesh Mary... Talk about damning with faint praise!

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kudos, Rogerm - I read quite a lot on Mary, but this comment was new to me - and I don't think Fanny would have come to my mind!

[Rogerm]

Mary Lincoln did not have a soft spot in her heart for the Seward family. But, I think the death of Fanny Seward still took Mrs. Lincoln greatly by surprise because of her young age; and perhaps the attempt on Henry Seward's life that took place about the same time that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated made Mrs. Lincoln a little more kindly disposed toward the Sewards.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Yes - you made a good point here, I think. I think Mary felt always sympathy for anyone, even "enemies", losing a child. (And I think Toia rightly observed, too...)

[LincolnToddFan]

Mary Lincoln did not have a soft spot in her heart for the Seward family. But, I think the death of Fanny Seward still took Mrs. Lincoln greatly by surprise because of her young age; and perhaps the attempt on Henry Seward's life that took place about the same time that Abraham Lincoln was assassinated made Mrs. Lincoln a little more kindly disposed toward the Sewards.

Yes, that makes perfect sense. Thanks Roger.

[Gene C]

Mary had always wanted a daughter, and Fanny wasn't much younger than Robert.
She liked Julia Taft, and she was a frequent guest at the White House along with her brothers, until Willie died

[Anita]

Gene, did Mary write about wanting to have a daughter or talk about it with friends?

[Eva Elisabeth]

She said to Julia Taft: "I wish I had a little girl like you, Julia". (I believe there were other statements about her desire for a daughter in her letters to Mary Harlan.)

[Anita]

Thanks Eva. My memory is going..

I think Mary appreciated Fanny's reserved nature so unlike that of Kate.

[RJNorton]

Name a hotel, not in New York, where both Mary Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth stayed (not at the same time).

[Gene C]

Willard's Hotel?

[RJNorton]

Gene, after I wrote the question I realized there could be more than one right answer. The hotel I have in mind is not in Washington. I do not know if Booth ever stayed at the Willard as I thought he usually stayed at the National when in Washington. Your answer is right if Booth ever stayed at the Willard.

[Eva Elisabeth]

May I ask - if Anita permits and it's ok with y'all, would it be possible to move the thread to the trivia category? Sometimes I miss questions - when I'm in a hurry I first check the trivia due to my guessing addiction... it's a great idea for a trivia thread btw, Anita! Thanks for your consideration!

[RJNorton]

Hi Eva - Yes, I think that is a good request. I have moved the thread to the trivia category. I am sure Anita won't mind. Good idea! Thanks.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks very much!!