Archive for the ‘The Life of Lincoln’ Category

14
Aug

When Mr. Lincoln put his foot in his mouth!

   Posted by: B. Nash

Lincoln: "Whew! our cat has a long tail tonight."

Lincoln: "Whew! our cat has a long tail tonight."

Lincoln is known for his wisdom and way with words. But he was also a husband to Mary Todd. Like all husbands, his words got him into trouble at times with the “little woman.” One such occasion occurred as the Lincolns were dressing in preparation for a gala evening in the White House hosted by the Lincolns.  It was 1862. The event was by invitation only and was considered the event of the season. Unfortunately for Abraham and Mary, their son Willie had taken ill. They were extremely concerned, but Dr. Stone had been called in to examine the boy and proclaimed that he was in no immediate threat of dying.
The party was on! Mr. Lincoln had finished dressing and was waiting on Mary so that they could make their “grand entrance” to the guests. Mary had an elaborate and expensive white satin dress made just for the evening. The train of the dress was very long. She must have been very proud of the dress and hoped that not only her husband but the guest would marvel at her taste and decor. Mr. Lincoln had been studying Mary in that dress. Here’s where things began to go wrong for him. He remarked:
“Whew! our cat has a long tail tonight.”  (a comment on the long train of the dress).
 
No reply to that comment from Mrs. Lincoln.
Still more words from Abraham:
“Mother, it is my opinion, if some of that tail was nearer the head, it would be in better style.”
 
Mary Lincoln didn’t say a word but offered her displeased look. You husbands know that look. She then grabbed her husband’s arm and down the stairs they went to the reception.
It’s not known if Mary ever revisited that comment made by her husband-probably not-since Willie died a short time afterward.
Mr. Lincoln you got lucky that night because you sure put your foot in your mouth that time!
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13
Aug

Abraham & Mary Lincoln: “The Long & Short of It.”

   Posted by: B. Nash

Abraham & Mary Lincoln: "The long & short of it."

Abraham & Mary Lincoln: "The long & short of it."

On one occasion when a crowd of well-wishers came to the back of the White House to express their support, the President asked his wife to appear with him on the second-story balcony. The petite and plump First Lady made quite a contrast to the lean and lanky President. Lincoln’s words were, “Here am I and there’s Mrs. Lincoln and that’s the long and short of it.”
 
From: The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln by James C. Humes
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8
Aug

More on Lincoln & Ann Rutledge: Mary Todd Lincoln’s Thoughts

   Posted by: B. Nash

Young Lincoln with Ann Rutledge (from an old postcard)

Young Lincoln with Ann Rutledge (from an old postcard)

I pulled a Lincoln book of my shelf today and found folded inside it’s pages a newspaper article. It must have been there when I bought the book from the used bookstore. Someone had written the date in pencil at the top of the article: “May 19, 1952.” The article was from The Daily Tribune, Royal Oak, Michigan. I was surprised to discover that it concerned the Abraham Lincoln/Ann Rutledge story-seeing that I had just posted on this blog about that subject yesterday. I will now post the content of the article:
              LETTER BY LINCOLN’S WIFE CLAIMS ANN RUTLEDGE WAS MERELY A MYTH 
Chicago (U.P.) —–Abraham Lincoln’s wife, in an angry letter to a friend, said it was a “myth” that Lincoln carried a life-long torch for his boyhood sweetheart Ann Rutledge, a Chicago attorney said today.
Willard L. King said he found the letter while searching for research material for a biography on one-time Supreme Court Justice David Davis.
The letter was written by Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln to Davis on March 4, 1867, after Mrs. Lincoln was a widow, King said. In it, Mrs. Lincoln denounced a statement made by William H. Herndon, Lincoln’s pre-Presidency law partner, that Lincoln “for the last 23 years…had known no joy.”
JUST A MYTH—–
 
“I shall always remain firm in my conviction that Ann Rutledge is a myth—for in all his confidential communications, such a romantic name was never breathed,” Mrs. Lincoln wrote. “Nor did his life or joyous laugh lead me to suppose his heart was in any unfortunate woman’s grave but in the proper place with his loved wife and children,” the letter continued.
Herndon and other Lincoln historians have told how Lincoln fell in love during his youth with a young and beautiful girl named Ann Rutledge. Ann died before they could be married. The incident has been regarded as the first major tragedy of the martyred President’s life.
ALWAYS TRUTHFUL—–
 
Her letter went on to say that she “would not believe an assertion of Herndon’s if he would take a thousand oaths upon the Bible.” “As you justly remark, each and every one has a little romance in their early days,” Mrs. Lincoln’s letter said. “But as my husband was truth in itself and as he always assured me he cared for no one but myself,” Mrs. Lincoln said it was impossible for her to believe Lincoln ever was pining for Ann Rutledge. The letter was written to Davis, one of Lincoln’s close friends, Kind said, urging him to caution Herndon about his statements in the future.
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7
Aug

Lincoln & Ann Rutledge: Who knows?

   Posted by: B. Nash

Lincoln & Ann Rutledge?

Lincoln & Ann Rutledge?

The posted picture above was once claimed to be a photograph at of young Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge. It was easy to proclaim it a fake due largely to the fact that camera photography had not been invented yet. LOL…
I don’t know what the relationship was between Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge. They certainly knew each other. They lived in the same frontier village. Were they anything more than aquaintances or friends? Were they lovers? Were they engaged to be married? Who knows?
 
Over the decades “experts” have made their cases about the relationship. Some of those even changed their opinions! It was Lincoln’s law partner William Herndon who basically started the story. After Lincoln’s death he made painstaking efforts at discovering the “real” Lincoln. He said he interviewed former New Salem residents who spoke of Lincoln and Rutledge and their love for each other. Herndon’s work overall has left us a great wealth of information. However, when it comes to the “love affair” story of Lincoln and Rutledge-much is left to be desired as far as “proving” the case for love.
 
Mary Todd Lincoln flatly denied the Rutledge love story. She claimed that she was Lincoln’s “true love.” Herndon and Mrs. Lincoln were pretty much enemies even before his claim about Abe and Ann. Mart Todd said Lincoln never mentioned her at all. Herndon also said he gathered information about Lincoln that he wouldn’t release to the public at large to protect Lincoln’s legacy. My question is why did Herndon tell about the Lincoln/Rutledge “love affair” knowing that it would hurt Lincoln’s wife? After all, Lincoln did love his wife. Did Herndon desire to hurt Mrs. Lincoln? Maybe he did. Another theory has Herndon using the story to help explain Lincoln’s sexual issues-possibly homosexual in nature. I don’t personally accept that one. Forgive me for the lack of elaboration.
 
My heart wants to believe that Lincoln was in love with Ann Rutledge and that he suffered terribly when she died having lost her. My head is not convinced of it. The testimony of the New Salem witnesses has many problems. At best, the case for the love affair is very weak from what I know. It’s a great story in that it has love and loss-the elements of every good love story. So when you read again somewhere about the Lincoln/Rutledge love story-take it with a grain of salt. I don’t think we’ll ever know the truth, but who knows?
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31
Jul

Abraham Lincoln: party to a wife beating…

   Posted by: B. Nash

Lincoln at the Crossroads of Decision Statue, New Salem, Illinois

Lincoln at the Crossroads of Decision Statue, New Salem, Illinois

 
A “wife beating?,” you say? Well, it was not exactly what you might have been thinking. It wasn’t the wife being “beat”- it was the wife beating her husband. Her husband, you see, was tied to the town square whipping post. It happened in early Springfield. She was using a limb and, apparently, gave her man a thrashing. He was a shoemaker by trade. He was also said to be an alcoholic who physically abused his wife on more than one occasion. He had been warned that if he ever beat her again-he would be whipped himself. So when the news came that he did it again, he was dragged to the courthouse, stripped of his shirt, and tied to the post out in back of the building. That could not have been pretty. There were several men involved in the  ”capture” of the abuser. Then his wife was sent for. She was up to the task. As she began her whipping of her husband, the men in the party of the vengeful episode sat down and watched. Finally, when the “leader of the pack” felt that the husband had received enough punishment- he was released. The men helped him put his shirt back on and he walked away from the scene cursing and promising vengence himself. The “leader of the pack” of the “rowdies” that aided the battered wife? You know him. His name was ABRAHAM LINCOLN. As far as is known, the husband stopped his physical abuse of his wife. He also didn’t perform the vengence on the men he swore he’d do.
 
Lincoln coming to the aid of a rather helpless female fits in with his character-even if you disagree with his method in this particular case. Do you disagree?
When the statue pictured above was dedicated, it was stated in the dedicatory speech that Lincoln was “Majestic in character and intellect, lofty in purpose, sublime in faith and forgiveness..” I think the description is not inaccurate. Does the story above change any of your thoughts about Lincoln? Or does it further enhance what you already thought of him? What are your thoughts?
 
 
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24
Jul

Abraham Lincoln: “It’s a slip and not a fall.”

   Posted by: B. Nash

Berry & Lincoln store sign at New Salem

Berry & Lincoln store sign at New Salem

Many people may not know that Abraham Lincoln failed in a business venture when he was a young man living in New Salem. He became part-owner in a store. I think he became sole owner afterward. At any rate, the whole enterprise came crashing down when it “winked out.” The unfortunate affair left the young Lincoln with a debt that would take him years to repay.  Commenting about something else, Lincoln said: “It’s a slip and not a fall.” He may have been thinking about his store ownership days. Although it was, indeed, a slip-he kept going on with his life eventually reaching the highest office of the land. He had many others “slips.” Yet, Lincoln always got himself up (figuratively) and kept moving. May we all remember his perspective. I suspect that he knew that most things in life are slips. Some people quit after a slip. That’s truly sad. Slips are not fun but they can be used as learning experiences. Hopefully, we become older and wiser from the things learned by the “slips.” Lincoln, by the way, eventually paid back that debt on the store in it’s entirety. By doing so, he proved to himself that it was only a slip and not a fall.
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23
Jul

Lincoln knew the pain of loss early-on.

   Posted by: B. Nash

Grave of Ann Rutledge

Grave of Ann Rutledge

 

Ann Rutledge grave marker

Ann Rutledge grave marker

  Having attended a funeral this week of my maternal grandmother I was reminded of the pain of loss through death. Abraham Lincoln knew that pain well. He also experienced it very early in life. He lost his mother when he was only nine years old. He also lost a baby brother. Then he lost his sister Sarah. Much has been made of his loss of Ann Rutledge (dear friend and/or lover?). Apparently, the death hit him hard. The marker on her grave is worth reading (see picture). Ms. Rutledge was only in her twenties. It is said that he was so upset about her death that he became suicidal. Some say he laid on her grave and wept. At any rate, he knew the sting of death. Life was hard and often short in those pioneer days. My grandmother lived into her nineties. While it still hurts to experience the loss of someone, it’s at least comforting to know that someone like my grandmother lived a long life. Longevity could not be ascribed to many that Lincoln lost.

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5
Jul

Lincoln’s Humor

   Posted by: B. Nash

B. Nash: "Mr. Lincoln tell me a joke."

B. Nash: "Mr. Lincoln tell me a joke."

My father liked to tell jokes. He remembered all he ever heard, I guess. I don’t ever remember jokes. I don’t think I’m very good at telling the ones I do recall. Mr. Lincoln was a joke teller too. He remembered them and told them well-although sometimes he was the only one laughing. Lincoln was a “natural” I believe. Telling humorous stories and jokes seemed second nature to him. He was quick too. Almost any situation could bring a funny response out of Lincoln’s mouth as illustrated by the following story:
A Chicago hotel where Lincoln was staying featured ice cream. Lincoln pretended not to know of the dessert special. When the ice cream was served after dinner, he took a spoonful and recoiled, saying, “Say, waiter, I don’t want to slander this hotel, but this here pudding’s half-froze!”
From “The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln” by James C. Humes
That was an example of the playful Lincoln. He didn’t have an agenda with his little joke but to have fun. Much of his humor was utilized to drive home a point that often infuriated others. Instead of simply saying “no,” for instance, he would tell a story that would essentially mean “no.” At times, others would roll their eyes at Lincoln thinking: “Oh no, not another story.” They learned in time to respect his story-telling, I think. No one else could tell a joke or a story like him. He took his natural gift and used it to lighten his own daily stress and to navigate through
the choppy river called “life.”
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5
Jul

Abraham Lincoln: “I Can’t Dance.”

   Posted by: B. Nash

Lincoln the "rail splitter" not so skilled at dancing?

Lincoln the "rail splitter" not so skilled at dancing?

 

Abraham Lincoln had many skills and talents, among them were those that involved physical adeptness. His wrestling prowess was well-known. His rail splitting skills were legendary. Even on his death bed the physicians attending him were amazed by his well-toned muscles. Apparently, he was not so good at one thing- as the story below illuminates: 

“If Lincoln’s hand could pen elegant prose, his long legs lacked a similar grace. At a Springfield soiree, the courting Lincoln edged over to the silk-gowned Mary Todd and offered, “Miss Mary, I’d like to dance with you in the worst way.”  After a spin on the floor, Mary said, Abraham, you wanted to dance in the worst way and you certainly did!”

From: “The Wit & Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln” by James C. Humes

 

I don’t know that Lincoln ever learned to dance in a more skillful manner. As President he attended balls where dancing was an expected and enjoyed activity. Perhaps he just finally exclaimed to Mary: “I can’t dance!”

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6
May

Vacation Ideas – The Lincoln Home Historic Site, Springfield, Illinois, USA

   Posted by: Various Authors

Connie Limon asked:




The Lincoln Home Historic Site is located at 426 South Seventh Street in Springfield, Illinois. It is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily except January 1st, Thanksgiving, and December 25th. For a guided tour, you must see the ranger at the Visitor Center desk for a free ticket. Tours are only ranger guided.

All visitors are encouraged to support the park through donations that can be made in the Visitor Center and in the backyard of the Lincoln Home after your tour.

Parking is in the visitor parking lot on a daily basis. The fee is $2 per hour payable at a self-operated fee machine.

In the Visitor Center you will also find orientation film, temporary exhibits, a Museum Shop, Springfield area information and restrooms.

Exhibits located within the historic Lincoln neighborhood include:

o “What a Pleasant Home Abe Lincoln Has” Exhibit in the Dean House that focuses on the Lincoln Family’s life in Springfield

o “If These Walls Could Talk” Exhibit in the Arnold House that focuses on historic preservation.

The historic Lincoln neighborhood consists of four blocks in which you can stroll through to see the houses.

Abraham Lincoln’s hometown of Springfield, Illinois sits between two tributaries of the Sangamon River, with Spring Creek to the north and west and Sugar Creek to the south and east. Abraham Lincoln and his family lived in the house at Eighth and Jackson Streets for 17 years.

The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is a 12.28-acre unit of the National Park System. The Lincoln Home was constructed in 1839 and restored to its 1860 appearance as part of the Site’s Historic Zone that includes 17 other historic structures. The entire historic zone, especially the area immediately adjacent to the Lincoln home, is being restored to the appearance of the neighborhood as the Lincolns would have known it.

By 1860, there were five in the Lincoln family living in the house, Abraham, Mary, Willie and Tad, Robert was away at preparatory school for much of that year.

Abraham Lincoln was born and raised in a one-room log cabin and not very well educated. His wife, Mary Todd Lincoln was born and raised in a fourteen-room house and was educated throughout her life. They were of opposite backgrounds, but despite there opposite backgrounds, they met one night at a dance in Springfield, Illinois and began courting.

Mary’s eldest sister, Elizabeth and her husband, Ninian disapproved of Abraham. The young couple broke up and avoided each other for over a year until mutual friends brought them back together. They dated in secret and were married on November 4, 1842.

After their marriage the couple went to a single room on the second floor of a rooming house where they spent their first year of marriage and where Mary gave birth to their first child, Robert Todd Lincoln. They rented a small house and then purchased their first and only house. Abraham, Mary and Robert moved into a one-and-a-half-story cottage, which they expanded into two stories and continued to raise their family for seventeen years.

Source: The Lincoln Historic Site Online

Important Disclaimer: The URL address in the resource box of this article is not associated with any of the attractions mentioned in this article. This article and the web site are offered as a resource for formulating vacation ideas.

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box.

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