Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-12
ABRAHAM LINCoLN,s BEARD.
HOW Little NeW York Girl Persuaded
Him to Let it Gro,U.

HOW Little NeW York Girl Persuaded
Him to Let it Gro,U.
MIR. John Carol Power, the custodian of
the Lincoln monument at Springfield, ILL.,,
and author of life Of Lincoln, has con-
tributed to Chicago paper some interest
ing correspondence, including letter from
Mrs. Grace Bedell Billings, formerly of New
York, but now resident of Kansas, describ
ing how, as child of Is years, she wrote to
Mr.. Lincoln during the political campaign
of 1860, and advised him to permit his beard
to grow. She says:
owe were at that time residing at West
| field, N. Y. My father, who was stanch
Republican, brought one day to me-who
followed IN his footsteps and was jealous
champion of Mr.. Lincoln-a picture of sLin-
coin and Hamlin,' one of those coarse, e1-
aggerated licensees which it seems to be
the fate of our long-suffering people to have
| thrust before them in such contests. You
are familiar with Mr.. Lincolns physiog-
nomy, and remember the high forehead over
| those sadly pathetic eyes, the angular lower
| face, with the deep-cut lines about the
mouth. AS I regarded the picture l said to
| my mother: He would look better if he
wore whiskers, and | mean to write and tell
him So She laughingly assented, and
proceeded to give him my name, age, place
of residence, my views of his fitness for the
| Presidency, opinion of his personal appear
ance, and that thought it would be much
improved if he would cultivate whiskers,
| adding, as an inducement, that if he would,
would try my best to coax my two Demo-
cratic brothers to cast their votes for him.
In my heart of hearts l feared that this
rather free criticism might give offense, and
SO tried to soften the blow by assuring him
that thought the trail fence around his
picture looked real pretty and ended by
asking him if he had no time to answer nv
letter to allow his little girl to reply for him.
remember well one particular, the address:
1T burns within roy memory YETI sThe
Hon. Abraham Lincoln, ESQ., When 1 con-
hded to sister that had written to Mr..
Lincoln, she expressed a doubt as to whether
| had addressed it correctly. To prove that
had, l rewrote the address and handed it
to her for inspection. I was laughed at until
l was speedily reduced to a more humble
| frame of mind than Dickens Uriah Heep
ever dseamed Of. His anxiety OF that time
! must have been intense. But, amid all the
| care and turmoil of his life he found time to
answer the letter of child. am obliged
to depend upon my memory for Mr.. Lin
| coins reply, for although the original letter
IS still in my possession, it is at my home in
Delphos, Kan. I think, however, can give
1t to you intact, as have read it many times:
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Oct. 49, 1860
Miss Oracle Bedell
My DEAR LITTLE Miss: Your very agreeable
letter ID received; many thanks for it. / regret
| the necessity of saying have no little girls. /
nave three sons one IL, one 8, and one years of
age; they, with their mother, constitute nv
| whole family. AS to the whiskers, having
call it piece of silly affectation if l should
begin wearing them now? Your very sincere
friend, A. LINCOLN.
Nevertheless, my suggestion was not
| desplsed, as you are aware, nor was the Cir
| cumstance forgotten, as, after his election,
| he inquired of Hon. G. w. Patterson, who
accompanied him on his trip from Spring
| field to Washington, and whose residence
| was also at Westfeld, if he knew a family
bearing the name of Bedell. Mr.. Patterson
replying in the affirmative, Mr.. Lincoln men
toned that he had received letter from a
little girl, "advising me to wear whiskers as
she thought it would improve my looks, and
you see have followed her suggestion He
said, further, that the character of the letter
was so unlike the many which he was daily
receiving, some asking official influence,
others for Office, and many threatening as
sassination should he be elected, that it was
relief and pleasure to receive it. When
the train reached Westfeld, Mr.. Lincoln
made short speech from the platform of
the car, and concluded by saying that he had
a little correspondent at Westfeld called
Grace Bedell, and if she were present he
should like to see her. I was present, but
the crowd was SO great that I had neither
seen nor heard the speaker, but friend
helped me forward, and Mr.. Lincoln stepped
down to the platform where I stood, shook
hands and kissed me, saying, as he touched
his beard, You see let these whiskers grow
for you, Grace; shook my hands again
cordially, and re entered the cars, and that
was the last ever saw of this hero ana mar
tyr. That he did not forget me received
occasional assurances, though small woule.
have been the wonder had been forgotten
in those dreadful days which followed
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