Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-07-29
miscellaneous.
A STATEMENT THAT PRESIDENT LINCOLN
WAS INSANE FOE Var

Miss Todd saw in. Honest Abe Lincoln, !"
as he was then popularity styled. rising
politician. and she and her friends were
not long in concluding that would be an
auspici0us marriage. For some time she
Was courted by Douglass Is well as Lincoln,
but she is said to have refused the Little
GIANT on account Of his bad morals. b.
ing asked which one of them she intend.
ed 10 have, she answered: 1.-The one that
has the best chance Of being President. :"
A friend OF hers .,ad married an elderly
gentleman. giving as her reason that he
had lots of horses and g. ID" Mary
Todd heard this remark and answered
with some spirit that she ''would rather
marry a good man, q man Of mind. with
hope and bright prospects ahead for posi-
ton. fame and power, than to marry all
the horses. gold and homes 10 the world
From her first meeting with Lincoln. he
frequently sought her society, and would
remain for hours listening to her CONVEX
sation. Yet he was never. Mt least before
his marriage. drawn towards her by senti-
ment of love. All who were intimate
with him at that time occur in the opinion
that it was "policy match" He subse-
quently met several ladies for whom it
was believed he entertained deep affec-
ton, but his love affairs were never des-
tined to run smoothly.
One day he wrote a letter to Miss Todd.
boldly declaring that he did not love her
and requesting 70 be released from the en-
gagement. A friend to whom he entrust-
ed this letter refused to deliver it or give
1t up to its author. Mr.. Lincoln then call
IA 10 x<>h h.. th<,
startling communication. They parted
upon terms of strong friendship and were
soon reconciled. The engagement was
renewed. the day set for the wedding and
all preparations made even to II supper.
Mr.. Lincoln failed to met hie engage-
ment and the cause was assigned to insanity.
During an entire year, it is said, Mr.. Lin
coin was insane, his insanity growing out
of his proposed marriage and a counter
attachment for Miss Edwards. He did
not attend the legislature that year, but
was taken to Kentucky bv his friend
Speed, who chung to him until he rscov-
cred. During that time Speed says he
had to remove from him razOrs, knives
and all arms, for fear that he would COM
nit suicide. Lincoln admitted that there
were times when he contemplated self
destruction. About this time he wrote
some gloomy lines entitled Suicide"
which were lost. He lamented that his
life was useless to the world. and said it
was his great desire tn do something that
would rebound to the interest Of his fell
low men," This he finally did in a man.
ner that has stamped his name in imper-
ishable letters among the benefactors of
mankind.
MIR. Lincoln was married to Miss TODD
November 4, 1912. Their married life
could not have been happy. He felt this,
and knew that in taking the marriage VOW
he was doing Miss Todd and himself an
irreparable wrong. Yet he felt that by
bestowing his attentions upon her three
years and by plighting his troll. with her
he had bound himself in obligations which
he must fulfil. They were married with
their eyes open, each knowing the other
well. and they suffered the inevitable con.
sequences of an unfortunate union. He
was frequently gloomy while at home
though full of fun, and telling anecdotes
when among his friends. There is nc
doubt but the circumstance of his gloomy
feelings had much to do with the upsettine
of his mind. and was the cause of many
of her ecce ltricities while mistress of the
White House. Many of her friends at
tribute Lincoln success in politics large
" to ner influence. His friend Herndon
in a letter to one Of his biographers in
speaking of the unfortunate marriage
says: "All that l know ennobles both. y
Prom the Cleveland Leader