Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-29
MRS. LINCo1N's AMBITION.
Her Early Determination to Be-
come the Wife Of the Presi-
dent Of the United
States.

MIS-. hTNnHN III IhUNUclplhd llHts'l
Although Mrs. Lincoln's illness was
not known here, her name was mem
toned in pleasant parlor converse
ton between ladies one evening last
week, and some interesting remin-
SCIENCES Of her were given by Mrs.
William Preston, of Lexington, Ky,
who, when a young girl, Miss Wick
life, was well acquainted with Mary
Todd, for both were then living in
Lexington. Mrs. Preston said that
Miss Todd had always insisted when
quite young girl that her husband
would be President of the United
States, and rs she did not then ap-
pear to be one who would attract the
attention of young men, not being as
handsome as most of her compan-
ions, many Of the latter would laugh
at her prediction. While she was
still. young she got into a girlish pet
with her family, and announced that
she was going away 10 make her
home with her sister, Mrs. Edwards,
in Springfield, H., and declared
that she would yet be the wife of the
President of the United States and
triumph over those who had opposed
her.
She went and was courted by both
Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham
Lincoln, and accepted the latter Az
ter becoming engaged to him. she
wrote to her friend Miss Wicklifir, q
playful description Of the man Of her
choice, mentioning his unprepossess-
ing appearance aud awkwardncss,
and with merry appreciation Of the
humor Of the prediction, again said
But | mean to make him President
Of the United States, all the same
You will see that, as always told
sou, | will yet be the Presidents
wife"
Years afterwards, in fact not more
than ten or twelve years ago, in look
ing over the papers of his iather-im
law, Governor Wicklillc, who hat
just died, General Preston cam,
across letter indorscd in Governor
Wicklillc's hand writing, "the mos
remarkable letter ever written by ont
girl to another" This proved 10 b,
the iudentiCal letter written by Mary
Todd in regard TO her boirotheG-
Abraham Lincoln. When Genera
Preston showed il to his wife sh,
said she supposed that after reading
it She had thrown il carelessly dowl
+; on her fathers desk, attaching II,
. Importance TO it, but he picked il u
e was so impressed by it that he in
: dorscd il as quoted above and laid i
away among his papers, to be foun,
b. after the girlish prophecy had bee
fulfilled.
Mrs. Liucoln's talent for match
making did not end with herself, fo
. il was she who picked out Mary Han
Ian, the daughter Of the Senator frol
Iowa, for her SON Robert, and secin
her one evening at the opera, remark
4 ed: II should like Robert to MARI
. just such girl as that" Her hu
band, who heard her say ii, then oil
served to Mr.. Sumne: "My wife
y a great matchmaker. She wi
make II match between Harlan
daughter and Bob see if she don't
Subsequently Mrs. Lincoln sent Mi
:, Harlan bouquet and began guilty
ting her acquaintance and thrown
~her son and the young lady togethe
Meantime the young people had IN
Q. at u hop at the National Hotel,
Washington, and soon became inte
estcd in each other. That was in Il
Spring of 1865. Their marriage, hoy
t. ever did not occur till SeptembC
1867 or 1868. | think the latter yea
and the only time Mrs. Abraha
Lincoln has visited Washington sim
her removal from the White Hou
after her husbands assassinati,
- was when she attended her sol
y wedding there. She has alwa
been fond OF. his wife, even since :
has been offended with him, and NJ
! Robert Lincoln visited her last wi
ter and has done SO every year VIII
her mothcr-in-law has been in Il
80 country. President Lincoln was ;
SO attracted By Miss Harlan, and
was told by one who knows, and W
n spoke of it tome in Washington
the spring, that he had before
"A death decided TO take Mr. Harlan
to his Cabinet, and it was playful
said that it was the possibility o
match between their children viii
first suggested the idea to him.
I ..a..AAsr.-ss-a-.-.s..r..-..
. The Human Figure.