Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-08-25
1t is the vagaries of diseased mind

1t is the vagaries of diseased mind
in one eminently related to the tragic
period in American history, upon which
the gossips have laid hold and woven
the thousand and-one stories of Mrs.
LincOln's probable death from day to
day. OF course, these stories have con-
stantly come back to her Springfield
friends with good deal of surprise;
and they were the source of no little
annoyance. until one day in the latter
part Of January her sister, with the
view OF securing her indignant denials
of these fabricated funeral bulletins,
carried her handful of such clippings
"a chapter of lamentations from the
press of the country. Mrs. Lincoln
read them slowly through, and her face
lighted up. So far from appearing in
dignant, she was delighted to find her.
self once more filling so large a spot in
public observation. She laughed and
capered about in great glee. And in
the hope that the public grief might
prove private tonic, the reports of
impending dissolution were allowed to
multiply and have free flow in press
currents and all dispatches and
comments of sympathy were gath
cred with the diligence OF a
stamp-collector or autOgraph-hunter
and carried to the clOister of the
strange patient; even the heaps of sex
changes in the local newspaper offices
were made to minister to a mind dis
eased." Only it is now doubtful ii all
this humOring of the morbid thirst for
glory has not helped to detain Mrs.
Lincoln thus long in retirement. Many
will remember that in those critical
"sixties" it used to be one of the bug
bears OF the press that this lady had a
warm side for the Roman Catholic faith;.
and now it appears that, during much
of the period OF her late seclusion, the
Sisters of Mercy. at her request. have
spent much time with her, generally
one or more Of them passing the night
in her room. Her reputed illness has
also brought her many letters of condo
lence from old friends of herself and
husband. and some of congratulation on
the appointment of her son to a posi-
ton in the Presidents Cabinet. But
although she has seemed to take pleas
IRE in those commiserating herself. she
has very rarely attempted to reply;
once in while she indicates quite
and considerable answer to be
penned by some member of her sisters
family. And as she has, from time to
time. been reported sinking, the auto
graph fiend has felt inspired to clutch
the signature of Death and paste it in
his little book. His application has
been frequent, and his disappointment
has kept it an even tally.
But she has not smiled over congrat-
nlation on Roberts honorable account.
She signs and broods upon his official
holding as a new family risk. She often
'its and repeats, Secretary of War?
Secretary of War? Then he'll be shot,
sure! That's always the way in war"
And when told of the shooting of the |
President she manifested no surprise. |
out calmly remarked. it is said. Il told |
1ou so, good men have to be sho. some
lines; don't YOU know how the Jews
killed Christ?' She has plenty OF i
money. but it is in the hands of bank
II here andis zealously guarded BY FAM
ly friends that she may not have it to !
Ose or squander. Of course the wicked,
,Ossiping busybodies say that this
friendly zeal amounts to the personal
of residuary legatees. But
hat this lone woman of National in
crest has had more loose rein than
lnder restraint in the use of her funds,
'er store house of great trunks packed
ull would seem to attest to the salts
action of the average man. There fol-
owed her hither from Europe train
# sixty trunks. whose immensely and
ron bindings sorely aggravated the
men of baggage. Some of these, how
yer. are filed with domestic debris end
eiies of White House life. and it is 4
art of the peculiar diagnosis of her
ase that she has iugged these things
hout the world with ha,. ~ tho ,roaI-