The New York herald., 1868-04-22

different. He was wholly unselfsh In every respect
very enderly lie asked nothing but affection from
her, but did not always receive 1t. When in one OF
her wayward, impusive moods she was apt TO say
and do things that wounded him deeply. III he had not
loved her, she would have been pOwerless TO Cloud
his thoughtful lace gld with ray OF sunshine az
love- and certainly the President was not Indifferent
TO his wife. She often wounded him in unguarded
moments, but calm reflection never failed to bring
regret.
HOW THE DEBTS WERE Contracted.
Mrs. Lincoln extremely ANXIOUS that her hns.
band should he reelected President OF the United
States. In endeavorng 10 make display becoming
her exalted position she had TO incur many expenses
Mr.. Lincoln's salary was inadequate TO meet them
and she forced to run in debt hoping that good
fortune would favor her and enable her to extricate
herself from an embarrassing situation She bought
the most expensive goods credit and in the sum-
face.
"what do you think about the election 'Ltzabetha'
she said 10 me one morning.
- ii think that Mr.. Lincoln will remain in the White
my work.
oarMdS What T. makes you think so' somehow have
learned TO fear that he viii be defeated
because he has been tried aud has proved faithful
70 the best interests Of the country. The people OF
the North recognize IN him an honest man, and they
are willing to confde in him. at least until the war
has been brought to a close. The Southern people
made his election pretext for rebellion and now to
replace him by some one else after years OF san
guInary war, would look too much like q surrender
OF the war. So Mr.. Lincoln Is certain to be re-
elected He represents q principle, and to maintain
this principle the loyal people OF the loyal will
vote for him, even II he had no merits to commend
him."
"Your view is a plausible one, Elizabeth. and
your confidence gives me new hope II he
Of us all. TO me, to him. there Is more at stake in
this election than he dreams Of"
'Wlat can you mean Mrs. LincolnH do not
"Simply ths:-I have contracted large debts, OF
which he knows nothing and which he VIII be un-
"what are your debts, Mrs. Lincopw
'rhey consist chiefly OF store bills: lowe alto
ger about IN s%SoU he prncpa. pGTioh &c
that Mr. Lincoln has but little idea OF the expense Of
a woman's wardrobe. lie glances ut my rich
dred dollars that obtain from him will supply all
my wants. | must dress in costly materials. The
people scrntinize every Article that | wear with
critical curiosity. The very fact Of having grown up
In the West subjects me to more searching observa
more than Mr.. Lincoln can spare for me. He is too
honest to make penny outside of his salary; conse-
quenty | had and still have, no alternative but to
"And Mr.. Lincoln does not even suspect how much
you oweW
hers and would not have him suspect If lie
knew that his wife was involved to the extent that
she Is the knowledge would drive him mad. lie Is
sincere ana straightforward himself that he Is
shocked by the dupcity OF others. He does not
know thing about any debts, and value his hap
pness not 10 speak OF my own too much TO allow
him to know anything. This Is what troubles me 30
much If he is reelected | can keep him in igno-
rance OF my AFFAIRS. but If he Is defeated then the
bills will be in and he will know ali - and
thing like hystcrcal sob escaped her.
MIS- Lincoln sometimes feared that the politicians
would get hold Of the particulars OF her debts ana
use them in the Presidential campaign against her
husband and when this thought occurred to her she
was ALMOST crazy with anxiety and fear.
When In one OF these excited moods she would
1ercely eXclam-
Hundreds of them getting Immensely rich on the
patronage OF my husband and 1t Is but fair that they
should help me out OF my embarrassment. | Will
make demand OF them and when tell them the
facts they cannot refuse to advance whatever money
require"
THE FURNITURE OF THE WHITE HOUSE
For five weeks Mrs Lincoln was contnei to her
room. Packing afforded quite relief as II 50 closely
occupied Us that we had not much time ior amenta-
ton.
Letters OF coincidence were received from all parts
OF the country and from foreign pOtentatcs but
Mr. Andrew Johnson, the successor OF Mr. Lincoln,
never called on the widow even much as wrote
line expressing sympathy FOR her grief and the loss
on her husband. Robert called ON him day to
tell him that his mother would turn the White House
over to him IN few DAYS and he never even SO mucn
as inquired after their welfare. Mrs. Lincoln firmly
believes that Mr.. Johnson was concerned III the as
sassnation plot.
tiinately connected with the President she said
that she could not bear TO be reminded OF the past
The articles were given to those who were regarded
Us the warest OF Mr.. Lincon's admirers. All OF the
| presents passed through my hands. The dress Mrs.
LScoln wore on the night OF The assassination was
given 10 Mrs sade, the vile of an old and faithful
messenger. The CLOAK, stained with the Presidents
on the SAME s'sm night tic re
cefvod the comb and brush that Mr. Incolu used dur
| ing his residence AT the White HOuse. WIN
| this same comb and brush i had often combet
| his head. When almost ready 10 60 down to %
reception he would turn to me with quizzicaI
look, ''Weli, Madam Elizabeth, Will you brush my
brtstles down to-nghtY'
| There much surprise when Mrs. Lincoln left
the White House what nifty sixty boxes not TO
count her score OF trunks could contain. Had the
| government not been SO liberal IN furnishing the
boxes 1t is possible that there would have been less
demand for 80 much transportat on. Ihe boxes
loosely packed, and many OF them with articles not
worth Carrying away Mrs. Lincoln had pa sion
| for boarding old things believing, with Toodles,
| that they were "handy TO have about the house,
field, In addition TO every one purchased during her
residence In Washington, were packed In the boxes
aud transported to Chicago. she remarked that she
might find use for the material some day, and IL was
prudent to look TO the future. am sorry to say that
Mrs. Lncoln's foresight IN regard 10 the future
time Of the Presidents death different store bills
| amounting to $4,000. Mr. Lincoln knew nothing OF
these bills and the only happy feature OF his sna
ti0n that he died In ignorance OF theln Had he
known to what extent his wife was involved tue fact
1 would have embltterei the only peasant moments
Lincoln's debts, In order To explain why she should
subsequently have laboIed under pccuuiary cnbar-
| rassment.
II charged that great deal Of furniture lost
from the White House during Mr.. Lincoln's oCcupa
ton OF II. Very true and II eau be accounted for IN
this way:--ln some respects, TO put the very
| plainly, Mrs. Lincoln was penny wise ana pound
iOolish.n when she moved into the White House she
| discharged the steward whose business IL to
| look after the afiars OF the household. when the
| steward was dismissed there was no one 10 supeFn
| tend afiairs, and the servants carried away many
| pieces Of furnu ure. In this manner The furniture
| rapidly disappeared