Extra Credit Questions

[RJNorton]

Excellent guess, Eva! Many Lincoln books do say this. Surprisingly, it was not the Lincolns. Recently a researcher discovered the real author's name.

P.S. Your guess was so good and logical - you win my very best wishes for Germany to beat Algeria in Monday's match.

[RJNorton]

Hint #1: It was written by a teenaged girl who did not even live in Illinois. She lived in St. Louis.

[RJNorton]

This is such a recent discovery that I cannot think of more clues. Two years ago I received an email from James Cornelius telling me of a new find. The real author of "Little Eddie" had been discovered. She was a young girl whose name was Mary E. Chamberlain, but she was using the pseudonym Ethel Grey.

The whole story is online. Please see the article by Sam Wheeler entitled "Solving a Lincoln Literary Mystery: ‘Little Eddie’" here.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Wow, what a find IMO! Thanks for bringing this up, Roger! Very interesting also how it comes that false assumptions (the parents wrote it) become popular belief.

[RJNorton]

Two part question:

Who wrote this letter?
To whom was it written?

[Gene C]

I'll guess it was written to Ida Tarbell.

Does this have anything to do with Grace Bedell?

[Eva Elisabeth]

(That the letter mentioned in the letter was Grace Bedell's came to my mind, too, but that doesn't answer any of the two questions...)

[RJNorton]

Gene and Eva, you are both on the right track. Grace Bedell wrote the letter. (Ida Tarbell is not involved, Gene).

To whom did Grace Bedell write the letter?

Both of you win best wishes for a nice weekend (and Eva that includes Germany beating Argentina tomorrow).

[Gene C]

To whom did Grace Bedell write the letter?

Robert Lincoln's wife, Mary Harlan Lincoln?

[RJNorton]

Correct, Gene. Very good! I believe nowadays the original letter Grace wrote to Abraham is in the Burton Historical Collection of the Detroit Public Library.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Both of you win best wishes for a nice weekend (and Eva that includes Germany beating Argentina tomorrow).

That would be more than nice - that would be fantastic!!! I hope with such good wishes it will work out!!!

[RJNorton]

Mary Lincoln attended one of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates. Which one did she attend?

[Eva Elisabeth]

The last one in Alton. Plus Robert as a member of the "Springfield Cadets".

[RJNorton]

Kudos, Eva! Among other things Alton is known for its orchestra. You win one free ticket to hear the Alton Symphony Orchestra.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, I love the prize!