Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-12-06
MRS. LINCOLN.

New York Dramatic News.]
The widow of Abrham Lincoln is lead
ing a lonely and almost neglected life In
this city. In the wo.pair back room of
a combined Turko- Russo Electro bath es-
tabllshment and hotel on West Twenty
sixth street, she passes dull and suffer-
ing existence on sofa, supported with
pillows. Her room is plainly furnished.
Her wants are mlnistered to by hired SER
wants, and these even she cannot choose,
or have always with her, because OF the
expense. In fact, the loved and honored
| wife of the man who, more than all 9TH
ers, since Washington, the country has
pretended to delight in hOnoring, is SEEM
lngly sunk in oblivion, and is permitted
to be poor.
Mrs. Lincoln was recently visited by a
reporter of the Dramatic Neaos. He was
presented to lady, who, but for the
traces of suffering on her face, would
seem not above fifty years of age. She
was attired in the deep mourning that
she donned-after the 18th of April, 1865.
She possesses an excellent memory, and
her ideas were clearly and Enthusiastically
expressed Various accounts of Mrs.
Lincoln's mental condition, some going
to the extreme of alleging insanity, have
been current in different newspapers
throughout the land, and the continuous
reprint has gained credence through con-
slant reiteration. Whatever may
have been, there was nothing in the
Mrs. Lincoln that the Dramatic NeaoS re-
porter met to cause suspicion of aught
but mind well balanced, together with
occasional flashes of native spirit that
adversely and physical affliction have not
succeeded in breaking, and keen con-
sciousness of being left studiously alone
Mrs Lincoln remembers the quondam
friends to her once puissant husband and
herself, and she does not forget that they
have shamefully forgotten both her and
the martyrs memory.
Mrs. Lincoln related many interesting
"reminiscences of their once happy home
life.
"After that terrible calamity in Wash
ington," she said, "my health was seri-
ously affected. Then afterward came
the affliction of my sons health. This
was bad enough, but, by some strange
fatality, was maligned, and made an
object for bitter sayings. 1t was to escape
this unmerited and incomprehensible
abuse that l went abroad. Misfortune
had not ceased to follow me, for one day
had fall, striking my spine upon a
sofa, sustaining a terrible, and | am
convinced almost beyond hope, lasting
injury. I have never felt well for a
day. Since my return l have made a
visit to Springfield, ILL.,, and l never ex-
pect to make another. The rest of the
time have spent in New Y ork. My son,
Robert, who is in the cabinet, and his
wife, Mary, visit me as often as possible,
once every two or three weeks. 1t is
true they have asked me time and again,
to go to Washington, but, much as
would like to be with them and their
three dear little children, do not think
l can ever wish to go to Washington
again. Besides, the tenure of official
position IS uncertain. They do not
know themselves whether they will re-
main there or not, and know they have
not more than they need for themselves,
living on the scale they are obliged to-
He has. besides his salary, only the result
of his practice, and he is a young man
YETI
'sHe has his fathers name,' said the
reporter softly, feeling that the thought
|
81 am here under the care of DR.. Lewis
A. Sayre, and of hts kindness l cannot
say enough. He is truly one of my oldest
friends. We were children together at
school in Lexington, Ky. My life has
little to tighten it, were it not for few
of the ladies in the house who sometimes
kindly come in to see me, and DR.. Miller,
who has this establishment, and does all he
can to make me comfortable. 1 feel as
if my life depended upon these electric
baths. On Sunday l cannot take the
treatment, and get very weak and low
spirited because of it, am entirely de-
pendent upon others to move about. L
cannot walk without the support of a
strong arm to my back. l am daily
borne down the staircase to the baths,
and up to my room again by colored
boy who works here He does his task
cheerfully, and is my main reliance. 1
cannot get fresh air, which in this sea-
board climate would do me good"
81 should think that you would make
the most of this bracing weather in
riding?" suggested the reporter.
81 cannot, because I feel it is beyond
my means. Everything is so expensive
here, and yet cannot live elsewhere and
have the advantages of these baths. 1
do not feel that I can have a waiting
maid entirely for my own service This
room and the baths together cost me 5000
per month. Then my meals, which must
be brought to me, since l cannot 60 to
them, are proportionately expensive
First class medical treatment in New
York costs large sum, so that you can
easily believe my income, although it
may seem large to those who are not
acquainted with the expenses of living
in large cities, and especially of what It
costs helpless Invalid, gives me cause
for anxiety. If my husband had lived
would have never been obliged to think
of money. have said to him in the days
when he was in office, and when he would
spend money with others with unlimited
generosity, Husband, have care, or you
will go out of this Office in debt He
would answer that when his term ex
| pired he would resume his law
practice, and could in few years provide
for our old age. And he would, too: nv
husband could never live without work.
ing" Mrs. Lincoln's existing income, all
told, cannot exceed $500 or 81, 900. ANY
one having knowledge of the cost Of
living as she is living now even with the
economy of inhabitinga s'two-pair backs
room, together with the constant attend
ance of a first-class and fashionable M.
D., Will know that the invalid widow 0l
the martyred president has need to worry
for the future
In Mankato the other day while thresh.
ing wheat, two young men by the name oi
Thorstad and Samuel Cookson, were cut
| ting apart with axes outside tiers oil
frozen bundles, when the ak of Cookson
accidentally glanced and struck Thorstad
in the side of the head, making an ugl,
cash. The blow rendering him uncon-
scious, briefly, and was thought to be