Mary's purchase ....

[BettyO]

Quote:Regarding whether or not Mary purchased items "just in case" they were needed -- it was considered bad luck for women to have unneeded mourning items in their home. Often, as soon as a woman was finished with one stage of mourning, she gave her attire to someone who was in need. I do not know if Mary did this or not. As Laurie mention, Mary held a "fascination" with the 'thin veil that separates the living from the dead.' She was also somewhat superstitious. I don't see her making purchases for items if owning them would bring bad luck to the owner.

Quite accurate! Mary Lincoln DID indeed have a fascination with that "thin Veil" between life and death and had seances in the White House. I've read that Lincoln himself attended a couple (more or less at Mary's insistance!)

Was it ever recorded what he thought of them?

[Gene C]

(04-30-2013 11:20 AM)BettyO Wrote:  I've read that Lincoln himself attended a couple (more or less at Mary's insistance!)

Was it ever recorded what he thought of them?

I don't believe he thought much of them, but tolerated her attendance as a way to deal with her grief. I read fairly recently that he asked two of his friends to sit in on the seance to determine how they were conducted and to try to catch them in the act of "faking it". Unless someone can beat me to it, I'll try to look that info up this evening.

[BettyO]

Great! Thanks, Gene. That should be interesting. I would like to know more regarding this aspect.

I had read somewhere that Mr. Lincoln was not too keen on the seances, but contributed in order to appease Mary.

[RJNorton]

Lincoln Day By Day has Abraham attending only one of the séances (April 23, 1863). Here's what it says:

"President allegedly attends spiritualist séance in the White House. Nothing happens until Lincoln leaves. Then spirits pinch Sec. Stanton's ears and tweak Sec. Welles' beard."

Source: "Observance of the Lincoln Centennial" by Elizabeth Lindsey in the Lincoln Herald, LIX, p. 14.

[BettyO]

Interesting!

Thanks, Roger! WHO would DARE to tweak Stanton at all, but a spirit!! HA!

[eperon]

(04-29-2013 11:02 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Donna McCreary needs to weigh in on this one. Mrs. Lincoln's "fascination" with the other world and her fear of those around her dying are certainly well-grounded and well-documented. This purchase of what seems an excessive amount of mourning materials was written about long before Anthony Pitch stressed it again. Earlier historians have hinted that it was evidence of Mary's involvement in her husband's death. I got the feeling when I read Papa that Tony was hinting at the same thing....

I do not believe that Mrs. Lincoln maintained solid mourning from the time of Willie's death beyond the appropriate length. However, she likely realized that one never knew when the unexpected would happen. I also don't think that these materials were necessarily just for her personal adornment. The White House would have to be draped if someone within the administration or someone close to the family were to die.

Also, please remember that the yardage needed to make one mourning dress was/is considerable. I have tucked away in my closet, four period-appropriate day dresses and one skirt and zouave jacket. Each outfit uses about eight yards of material or more. Then one must add trim and also layers of black petticoats, pantalets, chemises, corsets, etc. The undergarments might not be visible to the public, but they were de riguer for ladies in full mourning. Don't forget the heavy veils, the black bonnets, handkerchiefs, and so forth.

I had one other thought as to why she would buy these a month before the assassination: The final strike at Richmond and Petersburg was at hand. The massive loss of lives was inevitable - and one of the Lincolns was at the front lines with Gen. Grant. Would Robert become the third son to die? Was his mother preparing for that eventuality?

I concur completely... Please understand -- my amazement expressed in my initial post was not the dollar amount of her purchase, but its incredible -- and inexorable -- timing. I am far too fond of Mrs. Lincoln to ever deign to pass judgment on any action of hers, especially 150 years out. My heart will ever ache for the fears and anxieties she surely harbored in her heart.

[L Verge]

I am so glad to see that we have another one in our ranks who is willing to cut Mrs. Lincoln some slack. I'm not sure that I would have been bosom buddies with the First Lady, but I do get irritated at some people's constant criticism of her by repeating the same old things. I was totally disgusted over a year ago when I actually saw one self-proclaimed "historian" refer to Mrs. Lincoln as a SK-NK -- and the missing letter is not a "U."

[eperon]

All I can say to those who would disparage Mary Lincoln 150 years out -- let them be born into a family where "insanity" runs rife; lose a mother at 6, three sons, and a murdered husband; then later be committed to an asylum by an only surviving child .... and let's see how they bear up.
It's been said that "if all were known, all would be forgiven".... in my own all-too-flawed humanity, I'll come down on that side.

[LincolnMan]

(04-30-2013 12:20 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Lincoln Day By Day has Abraham attending only one of the séances (April 23, 1863). Here's what it says:

"President allegedly attends spiritualist séance in the White House. Nothing happens until Lincoln leaves. Then spirits pinch Sec. Stanton's ears and tweak Sec. Welles' beard."

Source: "Observance of the Lincoln Centennial" by Elizabeth Lindsey in the Lincoln Herald, LIX, p. 14.

Even the spirits should have known better to mess with the "god of war" Stanton and Neptune Wells!

[Jim Garrett]

(05-04-2013 08:21 PM)L Verge Wrote:  I am so glad to see that we have another one in our ranks who is willing to cut Mrs. Lincoln some slack. I'm not sure that I would have been bosom buddies with the First Lady, but I do get irritated at some people's constant criticism of her by repeating the same old things. I was totally disgusted over a year ago when I actually saw one self-proclaimed "historian" refer to Mrs. Lincoln as a SK-NK -- and the missing letter is not a "U."

Laurie. I think that the new "enigma" book is great. I skimmed over it. MTL is more to be pitied than scorned. She was so far ahead of her time and so misunderstood. The Lincolns were the first power couple. She suffered from so many maladies and then to throw the losses she suffered throughout her life, she on numerous occasions said she waited for the day to be re-united with her loved ones. I believe that.