Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-05-05
BEHIND THE SCENES,
A Budget of Gossip by Mrs. Lincoln's
Colored Milliner.

mllIneri eullueu OGthu tae Scenes:
STEPHEN a. DOUGLAS ONE OF MRS. LIN
COINS EARLY LOVERS.
Mrs. Keckley relates that Mrs Lincoln,
from her earliest childhood, was convinced
that she would be the wife of President
When a young lady, she was, says the book,
courted by Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Douglas
The latter offered himself aud was discarded.
depressed his suit more boldly:
Mary, you do not know what you are re-
fusing You have always had an ambition to
become the wife of President of the United
States Pardon the egotism, but fear that
in,refusing my hand to, hight you have thrown
away your best chance to ever rule, the White
House"
al do not understand you. Mr.. Douglas"
Then 1 will speak more plainly. You
know, Mary, that l am ambitious Ike. your
self, and something seems to whisper in my
ear, You will be President some day De-
pend upon it shall make stubborn fight to
win the proud position
q You have my best wishes, Mr.. Douglas,
still l cannot consent to be your wife. l shall
become Mrs. President, or l am the victim
of false prophets, but it will not be as Mrs.
Douglas"
have this little chapter in romantic his
tory from the lips of Mrs Lincoln herself.
At one of the receptions 1T. the White
House, shortly after the first Inauguration,
Mrs Lincoln Joined in the promenade with
Senator Douglas. He was holding boquet
that had been presented to her, and as. they
moved along he said:
Mary, it reminds me-. of old times to have
you lean upon my arm"
g You refer to the days of our youth.
must do you the credit, Mr.. Douglas, to say
that you were gallant beau"
Not only a beau but lover. Do you
remember the night our Irritation was brought
to an end ~
Distinctly. You now see that was right.
am Mrs. President, but not Mrs. Douglas"
True, you have reached the goal before
me, but do not despair. Mrs. Douglas-a
nobler woman does not liver-if. ain spared,
may possibly succeed you as Mrs. President"
Mrs. Keckley then describes the love-
making Of Mr.. Lincoln, his rejection, his
despair, and his final acceptance by Miss
Todd. The Herndon story is spoken of as
az pleasant piece of fiction" The whole
affair, as related in this book, is an illustra-
ton of the delicacy OF tie parties engaged
in the work.
MRS. LINCOLN AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Passing over vast amount of other mat
ter, we come to the campaign of 1864. and
Mrs. Lincoln's method of conducting it..
In 1864 much doubt existed in regard to
the reelection of Mr.. Lincoln, and the White
House was beseiged By I'll grades of politi-
clans. Mrs Lincoln was often blamed for
having a certain class of men around her.
Il have an object in view, 'Lizabeth," she
said to me in reference to this matter. " In
a political canvass it is policy to cultivate
every element of strength. These men have
influence, and We require influence to re-elect
Mr.. Lincoln. | will be clever to them until
after the election, and then, if we remain at
the White House, will drop every. one of
them, and let them know very plainly that |
only made tools of them. They are an I'M
princpled set, and | don't mind : little dou.
ble,dealing with them"
"Does Mr.. Lincoln know what your pur-
pose Is 2" | asked.
God, no; he would never sanction such
a proceeding, so keep him in the dark, and
will tell him Of it when all is over"
Mrs. Lincoln was extremely anxious that
her husband should be re elected President
Of tho United States. In euIea=oFing to
make display becoming her exalted position
she had to incur many expenses. Mr.. Lin
coins salary was inadequate to meet them,
aud 81 o was forced to run in debt, hoping
that good fortune would favor her, and ena-
bic her to extricate herself from an embar-
RAISING situation. She bought the most ex.
pensive goods on credit, and in the summer
of 1861 enormous unpaid bills stared her in
the face.
MRS. LINCOLN's DEBTS.
Mrs. Lincoln has a long conversation with
Mrs keckly in regard to her debts, and her
plans for meeting their payment. We quote:
81 owe altogether about ST goo; the
principal portion at Stewards in New York.
You understand, Lizabeth, that Mr.. Lincoln
has but little idea of the expense of womans
wardrobe. lie glanCes at my rich dresses,
and is happy in the belief that the few hun
bred dollars obtain from him supply all my
wants. l must dress in costly materials.
The people scrutinize every article that L
wear with critical curiosity. The very fact
of having grown up in the West subjects me
to more searching observation. To keep up
appearances | must have money, more than
Mr.. Lincoln can spare me. He is too honest
to make penny outside of his salary con-
sequently had, and still have no alternative
but to run in debt"
And Mr.. Lincoln does not even suspect
how much you owe !"
"God, no this was favorite express
sion of hers-"and I would not have him sus-
pect. If he knew that his wife was involved
to the extent that she is, the knowledge
would drive him mad. He is SO sincere aud
straightforward himself, that he is shocked
by the duplicity of others. He does not
know thing about my debts, and L value
his happiness, not to speak of my own, too
much to allow him to know anything. This
is what troubles me so much. If he is re-
elected, I, can keep him in ignorance of my
affairs; but if he is defeated, then the bills
will be sent in, and he will know all :" and
something like hysterical sob escaped her
Mrs. Lincoln sometimes feared that the
politicians would get hold of the particulars
of her debts, and use them in the Presiden,