Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-23
MRS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN's IN.
SANITY.
St. Louis Republican

| St. Louis Republican.
No one who has carefully and CHAIR.
tably judged the behavior Of the widow
Of President Lincoln viii be surprised
to learn that this lady has been pro-
nOunced insane by the court of Cook
county, IllinOis-on the application of
| her son RObert-and will probably
spend the rest Of her days In the seclu-
sion Of an asylum. Although the con-
duct which is made the ground for the
decree is comparatively recent, yet it is
highly probable, and, indeed, almost
certain, that Mrs. Lincoln has been
suffering from the melancholy effects
of a hopelessly disordered mind for
many years.
Long before she exchanged the OBJ
security Of Springfield for the promi-
nence of Washington, she was known
to have almost an ungOvernable temper
! from which those nearest and dearest
to her suffered most. No one doubted
that she loved Ter husband and child
ren, yet more thin once were father and
| son compelled &c leave their home and
| take a scanty meal in the law Office Of
Lincoln & HerndOn. This disagreeable
popularity was so frequently and so
strongly exhibited that 1t became the
subject of town gossip, aud Mr.. Lin
coin had much sympathy bestowed Upon
HIM which ought, in ltricU justice, to
have been shan ed with his wife. Eleva-
ton to the most exalted station IN the
land only tended to sggrayate
the unfortunate predispOsition,
and many are the anecdotes
told Of the burdens imposed upon the
patient PIesidsnt, whose public cares
and SORROWS were heavy enough with
out the added weight of domestic an
nOyances and embarrassments. It is
not too much to say that no small
amount Of the dignity and grace which
might otherwise have adorned and
strengthened a memorable administra-
ton, was lost through the strange reck-
lessness, Indifference and extravaganza
Of the mistress Of the executive man
sion. The circumstances attending
her final departure from Washing
ton were JUdiciOusly concealed as far
as practicable, but the subsequent sale
Of her extensive WARDROBE IN New
York obtained an unavoidable publici-
ty, and reused sharp comment at home
and abroad. Since her retirement Mrs.
Lincoln has been even more eccentric
than before, giving her family and
friends much Uneasiness and trouble,
and making palmer and palmer
the inevitable contamination now at
tanned. In thinking of the awful fate
whioh has oyertaken a lady who once
stood so nigh, and might have stood
higher, let those who have heretofore
ridculed or condemned her remember
that, IN all human probability, she was
not morally accountable for the most
Of her sins IF omission or Of commits.
sion. The disease now 50 painfully
apparent, that her own and only child
asks for the right TO place his mother
under proper restraint, has been Turk
ing IN her veins, II may be. from girl
hood. 1t has grown slowly, developed
surely year after year, bringing un-
happiness to herself and 70 all about
her, and now, when she is not yet far
down on the sunset side of life, the
crOwning blow Is struck and the cur
tain falls on the fearful drama Of a
w0man's history. How many things
there are in this world worse than the
leaving of 1t.