Mary Lincoln Extra Credit Questions

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Roger - the prize has arrived (sunny 85℉, which is mild here due to sea breeze), love it!

[Gene C]

What a great piece of history.
Hard not to get a little misty eyed while reading that.
Thanks for sharing.

Roger, thanks for creating this forum and thanks to those who share so many things we would never know without it.

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Gene. I hope folks will continue to educate us all on the forum. It's been a wonderful experience to meet so many terrific people.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I second Gene's "thank you"!!!

Here are two further articles on the topic:

NYTimes of July 23, 1882:
MRS. LINCOLN IN THE HOSPITALS.
To the Editor of the Chicago Journal :

Chicago, July 18.— The death of the widow of the American emancipator will cause a feelingof sorrow and sadness all over the country, but it will be a cause of particular sorrow to the soldiers of the Army of the Potomac, who, when sick or wounded in the Washington hospitals, were the objects of her especial care and attention. At the first battle of Fredericksburg I received a painful wound in the face; the bullet splintered the jaw and knocked out half a dozen teeth. I was taken to the Armory-Square Hospital, at Washington, and Dr. Bliss, who attended Gen. Garfield, was the man who saved my face from utter disfigurement. Amongst the many who came to the hospital to speak cheering words to the afflicted none were more kind or showed a nobler spirit than the wife of the chief magistrate of the Nation. She called regularly bringing with her, by attendants, flowers and delicacies, and bestowing those with her own hand, with a grace worthy of the station she held. The cycle of time is ended with her. She is at rest with her sorrow, but though dead she still lives in the memory of those whose agonies she soothed with loving words.
Frank G. Thompson


Washington Star of August 29, 1862:
Mrs. Lincoln Among The Sick And Wounded

Among the many ladies who visit our sick soldiers
with cheerful words and offices, none are more indefatigable than Mrs. Lincoln. She, yesterday, visited the Odd Fellows Hall Hospital, Navy Yard, much to the gratification of the sufferers there, and kindly administered to their wants in various ways — bestowing gifts, kind words and, among others, Mrs. Lincoln visited the bedside of one old soldier, over sixty years of age, who had expressed a desire to see her. After some conversation, she bestowed upon the old soldier a handsome donation. Her visit will long be remembered by the invalids.

[L Verge]

Too bad Michael Buringame didn't cut the First Lady some slack and include a few of these articles in his volumes. Of course, in fairness, maybe he did. I have not read (and probably will not read) his tomes.

[davg2000]

In 2009 I heard Michael Burlingame say approximately this: "Mary Lincoln was very, very, very, very bad." (He was referring to her time in the White House. The four "veries" are verbatim.) Mary's biographer, Catherine Clinton, was at the speakers' table as well. She tried to mollify Dr. Burlingame, saying, "We can agree to disagree" about Mary. Burlingame would have none of that.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I wonder about Abraham Lincoln's reaction had he been in the audience. And I wonder if Mr. Burlingame has ever thought about this.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I do wonder about people who seem to have an almost personal animosity to a long-dead historical figure.

[Gene C]

I agree, She may have caused him some grief, but no question she was devoted to him.
"Mrs. Abraham Lincoln", by W A Evans, seems to me to be one of the better, unbiased books that explains Mary's personality, even though it was written in 1932.

[RJNorton]

I agree Laurie, Dave, Eva, Susan, and Gene. I also recommend the book Gene cited. One thing I really like about that book are the pages titled "Incidents Affecting Mrs. Lincoln." These pages are like a timeline of her life and are very helpful to the reader.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I second recommending this book! IMO essential for insight on the topic!

[Anita]

When the Lincolns had a big party in Springfield Mary ordered a special item to grace the table. What was it and where did she order it ?

[Eva Elisabeth]

I think I know but will hold back for now...

[Anita]

(06-22-2016 03:34 PM)Anita Wrote:  When the Lincolns had a big party in Springfield Mary ordered a special item to grace the table. What was it and where did she ordered it from?

Hint: The place where the item was ordered also played a part in a momentous day for the Lincolns.

[RJNorton]

I don't know the item, but was it ordered from Chatterton's Jewelry Store? (the store where Mary's wedding ring came from)