Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-19
EVENING STAR.
TAD LINCOLN.
His Life I'm Washin2ton-The Snrtte
of the White HouSa


Most Of those who read the dispatch announc-
ing The death OF Thomas Todd Lincoln will
never think OF the well-erown young gentleman
Who died on Saturday at Chicago. The name
Of g 1 al "a pet name given by himself with .
inst stammering u:teTaEces and adopted nv h;s
fond parents and the world-recalls the tricksv
little sprite who gave to that sad and sOlemi,
White House Of the great war the only comic
relief Il knew. The years that have followed
spent IN study and travel, produced an utterly
oinerent person. The Tad Lincoln of our his
tory ceased to exist long ago. The modest and
cordial young fellow who passed through New
York afew weeks ago with his mother viii never
be Known outside OF the circle OF his mourning
friends. But ''little Tad" will be remembered
a long any live who bore a personal share in
the great movements whose center for four years
was at Washington.
He was fun Of life and vigor-so bubbling over
with health and high spirits, that he kept the
house alive with his pTanks and his fantastic en-
terpTises- lie was always chartered liber-
tine and after the death OF his brother Willie
a PTematuTely SeriOus and studiOus child and
the departure CT Robert for college. ne Installed
himself as the absolute tyrant of the Executive
Mansion He was idOlized by both his father
and mother, petted and INDUCED by his teach
ers, and fawned upon and Carossed by the noise
some horde OF ofhce-seekers which infested the
ante-rOOms of the White House He had a verv
bad opinion of books and no opinion of liSei-
pine, and thought very little Of any tutor who
would not assist him in vokinC his Kids tn a chai-
or IN qrlV1ng his dog tandem team over the
South Lawn.
Early in the morning you could hear his shriIl
ffNr- rf
the Executive residence. The dar passed in a
rapid succession of plots and CONNEXIONS and
when the President laid down his weary pen To-
ward midnight, he generally found his in FAINT
goblin asleep under his table or roas+ing hi
curly mead by the open Fireplace: and the taIl
chlef woulfpick up the child and trudre of IN
bed with the dTOwsy little burden on his shoul-
ueTs, STOPPING under the doors and f!Odgfnr tha
Chandeliers. The President took infinite com
Tort IN the childs rude health, fresh fun and
uncomfortable bOiSterOuSnoSs. H was pleased
70 see him growing mp In ignorance OF books.
but with singulaTly accurate ideas of practical
matters. He WAS fearless rider. while vet 20
small that his legs stuck out hOriZOntalIv from
The saddle He had that power of tanning and
attaching animals to himself which seems the
especial gift Of kindly and unlettered DatureS
. Let MN run, the easy going President would
saw " ne has time enough left to learn his LET
tiers and get POkey. Bob was just such a little
rascal, and now be is very decent bOy."
although still a mere child at the death of his
father, this terrible shock greatly sObered and
steadled him. His brother Robert at once took
charge of his education, and he made rapid pro-
g-ess UP 10 the time Of his sailing for Europa
with her, displaying a thoughtful devotion and
Tenderness beyond his yelTs and STRANGELY al
variance with the misChievOus thOughtltsSnass
OF MS childhood He came back short while
ago, greatly improved by his residence abroad.
but always the same cordial. frank, warm
hearted boy. In his loss the ALREADY fearfulIy
beTeaved family viii suffer a new and deem AZ |
fiction, and the world, which never did and
never viii know him, win not withhold n tribn+e
Ct regret for the child whose gayetv and affec-
ton cheCrGd more than ANYTHING the worn aud |
weary heart Of the great President through the |
tOilsOme years Of the war; Col John IK1g an m
Neg York Tribune.