The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-05-23
BEHIND THE SCENES.

| an American citizen OF African descent, fol
thirty years a slave, subsequently modste
for Mrs. jefferson Davis, aud for four years
rs an inmate Of the White House, and Mrs.
Lincoln's "next friend"
Mrs Keekley has told her story plainly
and clearly, and with sufficient piquancy.-
Mrs. Lincoln speaks her mind freely in the
book, and occasionally criticises very sharply
some persons in whom she has evidently lost
confidence. Upon reading the book with
considerable care, we are sure that the STRIFE
lures upon the sale Of Mrs. Lincoln ward.
robe were amply deserved. and that the halt
has not been told in regard to this woman.
| She discloses her character in this bool,
most freely.
Mrs. keekley relates that Mrs. Lincoln
| from her earliest childhood was convinced
that she would be the wife of a President
! When young lady, she was, says the book,
courted by Mr.. lincoln and Mr.. Doug JAS
| The latter offered himself to her and was
Mary, You do not know what you are
refusing You have always had an ambition
to become the wife of President of the
United States. Pardon the egotisn,, but |
fear that in refusing my hand tonight you
have thrown away your best chance to ever
rule in the White House,
| d" do not understand you Mr.. Douglas
| Z" Then will speak more plainly. You
know, Mary, that am ambitious like your
self, and something seems to whisper in my
ear, You will be President some day. =
Depend upon it, shall have II stubborn
fight to win the proud position"
| " You have my best wishes, Mr. Douglas
| still ! cannot consent to he your wife. |
shall become Mrs. President, or ] am the
victim of false prophets. But it will not be
as Mrs. Douglas.
] have this little chapter in Il romantic
history from the lips of Mrs. Lincoln herself.
| At one Of the receptions at the White
! House, shortly after the first inauguration,
| Mrs. Lincoln joined in the promenade with
| Senator Douglas. He was holding IL hou-
guet that had been presented to her, aud ~,
they moved along he said;
| Mary, it reminds me OF old time to have
| you lean upon my ann
| " gu refer to the days of our youth.
must do you the credit, Mr.. Douglas, to say
| that You were gallant beau.
81 Not only a beau, but lover. Do you
| remember the night when our Irritation was
brought to an eud?'
| right. | am Mrs President, but not Mrs
| Douglas
True, you have reached the goal before
me, but | do not despair. Mrs. Douglass
noole' ~o,',an uoeo "P' l''e-'i am spared
deut.
Passing over vast amount Of other mat
| ter, we come to the campaign Of 1861, and
| Mrs. Lincoln peculiar method of conduct
| ing it.
In 1864, much doubt existed in regard to
the reelection Of Mr.. Lincoln, and the
White House was bescged by all grades of
Politic':'''S' Ars' l'ilcoih was olteh Dlamea
| LOT navlns certain Grass OF men around her
| nave an ooJect IN view, EilzaDeth,
S'e si'u " me III reference 10 this matter
| IN II poli''cal canvass IL IS pohtcy TO cult
Vate every element OF strength hese men
nave lhi m anu we require 'hlinence to
| te'elect Mr' iahcolh. ! VIII De clever to-
mem un:li .' . W me eieGtlon, ana then, II
we remain az the " hlte house, VIII drop
every one o' 'ne1l' ana let lhfm snow very
malh'y lil''I oi'y mace 'ools OF mem
nieJ ' XII, I urne,Iu sci, an" 4n 40"
''aG "a ll't'e ooaple ,ut"'''s WIN theh'
no .,, mr. i4'I'o'n Mo" "'l"' your Pur
pose - a'Hc".
o"a no ne wo"'u never Sahciioii sacn
FL oeI u % N.Y. mn III 'ne oarN' anu
VIII 1ei n,,, VI ~ "ne e.4. ~ - o'tr
MIS- -'hIoi,i was tH'rG'i'e'y anxious INA,
her nusoal1u should ne eieeteu fresldeht OF
the nltea states. IN ehueaVotlng 10 make
dlsp'ay peco'hihg her eAhalted position,
she han TO incur many expenses. -dr. Ian
coin salary was inadequate to meet them
anu She was '"fceo 70 run III aeol, hoping
tnat Sood fortune "o"id lacor her, ana ena
Die ner 10 eN.F'ca'e herseli from All embar-
RAISING s''"a1lon. one oought the most "x'
pensive gooaS OH crea''' ma IN me summer
n' iro4 enor'''ouS ulp''o o'''S stared her III
tne lace, f.,
MIS-. Ltneo'!i HAS io'is conversation WIN
MIS-. heehley III reSaru I'd hef acntS ana her
plans LOT meetlis theIr payment. Nequote:
owe altose'her ABOUT 9ZGooo; the
prlnc'pal portioh al stewart IN New 1 OK.
on understands; ElzeDeth, that Mr.. Llhcoln
has put niue iaea OF the expense OF Wo-
man wardrobe. he gahceS at my rich
dresses, ana IS happy m lhe bellei That the
lew hundred detIarS OBTAIN rom nm sup
ply al! my wants. must aress IN costly
materials. ne people scrnllnlze every art
Gle that wear WIN critical curiosity. he
very TACT OF having grown up IN the west
subjects me to more searching observation.
Keep up aPPeat" :''i' ) must nave money
uh,"'c .hai ml '.'oo'i oa' Sparo ioi ne.
nc Is '"p no"'9' W man PInhS ou's, n!E
~ ms ""'"iS ia' ',u sun
navy "J Ws ;"ani,, aooc ~" -, a mD
niu n.. ,'ln N.Y., 'oe' 'o' o''' s""ie''
s. CnJI no ,,'--tL;s wa. =, l,vo,.;,a .vnros.
elm, or h,rs--.. and / would not have hin,
snsno,, Ic h, Lnow tbot b;s Wits wo. n.
I'LL to III, nxteni that .he l. rho Lmoui