Extra Credit Questions

[J. Beckert]

Schenectady.

[RJNorton]

You win, Joe.

In the 1960's and 1970's there was a major league baseball player named Jimmy Wynn. He used to destroy Cubs' pitching (bad memories for us Cubs' fans). His nickname was the Toy Cannon. You win an autographed baseball signed by the Toy Cannon.

[J. Beckert]

Could you send a few more tickets to Fred Smith's Wisconsin Concrete Park instead? I'm not much for baseball.

[RJNorton]

No problem. Will mail them tomorrow, Joe.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good morning!
According to Noah Brooks, Robert T.L. said "I never attended a play with my father". But once his father attended a production in which Robert appeared as a "guest star" in the final act. Since Abraham Lincoln did not remain to see the ending, he even might not have seen Robert's performance.

a.) Where did this happen?
b.) What was the title of the production?

Of course you may just guess one subquestion.

[RJNorton]

Was it when Robert was at Harvard?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Smart guess, Roger, but it was not at Harvard. And it was in 1861.

Here's a picture of the man by whom the production was. This year his 200th anniversary is celebrated.

   

[Eva Elisabeth]

Hint to (on?) a.):
This happened during the journey to the 1st inauguration.

Hint regarding b.):
The story is based on the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden in 1792, who was killed as the result of a political conspiracy against him. He was shot while attending an event which is the title of the masterpiece, and died 13 days later from his wounds.

Robert appeared in the "assassination" or "death scene", wearing a MASK.

[RJNorton]

Was it "A Masked Ball" at the Academy of Music in New York?

[L Verge]

If that's the right answer, there will be a brief mention of it in the September Surratt Courier in an article by John Fazio.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Kudos, Roger, that's right. The source is "Father Abraham and his sons" by Harold Holzer.

Here is an impression of the scene Lincoln missed and in which Robert appeared:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8ino09HBG4...8ino09HBG4

[Eva Elisabeth]

To whom did Abraham Lincoln say:

"Mrs. Lincoln's dinner without you, would be Hamlet with Hamlet left out"?

[RJNorton]

William Seward?

[Eva Elisabeth]

Good guess, Roger, but wrong.

Hint#1: Lincoln didn't know this person before his presidency.

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Eva. I was going to guess Stanton, so I will now try to think of someone else.