Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-03-14
MEsGEEEA.WEeUs. 3.
Mistress Lincoln.
THE WIFE OF THE WAR PRESI-
DENT A HIGH-SPIRITED
WOMAN.

In recalling the wife of Abraham
Lincoln, it is difficult to determine
whether she shaped to any great eX-
tent the life of the war President or
not. a biographer of the latter
days says, "there is no doubt that
much of Lincoln's success was, in a
measure, attributable to Mrs. Lin
coins acuteness and the stimulus of
her influence;" and, again, he re-
marks that eff his wife had been
otherwise, he might never have
been President" But the latter as
sertiOn isn't as charitable as it
sounds, for it argued that domestic
intelicity threw Lincoln into the tur-
mOil of political life.
asked Frank b. Carpenter, the
artist, what he remembered of Mrs.
Lincoln. Mr.. Carpenter lived at the
White House for several months,
and was intimately acquainted with
the Presidents domestic life.
HER BIRTH AND BREEDING.
mrs. Lincoln" he said, "was a
much cleverer woman than the pub
lie gave her credit for. There is no
denying a quality and quantity of
high-spiritedness in her tempera-
ment that made itself felt.
Mrs. Lincoln was Miss Todd,
you know, of Kentucky. Her
great-grand father, General Andrew
Porter, was major-general of the
Pennsylvania militia. General Levi
Todd, another ancestor, was one Of
the first settlers in Kentucky, and
successor to Daniel Boone. Her
father was a bank president, and
served with distinction in both
branches of the Kentucky Legisla-
ture.
WHY SHE WAS BELLE.
She was a very BRILLIANT woman,
and an excellent linguist, using
French as easily as her native
tongue. In Springfield, H., where
she moved when girl, Miss Todd
was undoubtedly the belle Of the
town. Her very pretty face,
lighted up so attractively, her tongue
was so ready, and she carried her
self with such buoyant independ-
ence. that her presence at any social
function assured the beaux a charm
ing time. As dancer she was dis
tinguished among the girls of her
set, and, in fact, possessed such a
mum her of social graces, and was so
superior to Lincoln in culture, that
her love for him created great sur
prise at the time. Never mind,
she used to say in the first days of
her married life, when they boarded
at 81 a week, 'he may be awkward,
but he will be President of the
United States some day."
Mr.. Herndon says she had rare in
sight into the motives which actuate
men and fine powers of analysis. Ii
NAV have been these gifts that ena-
bled her to look behind the physical
clumsiness of her finance, and thus
appreciate his mental and moral
greatness.
"a cruel injustice done Mrs. Lin
coln.n continued Mr.. Carpenter,
g was on account of her Southern
birth. 1t being frequently urged that
she aided and abetted the Confederate
troops, and was at heart a strong Sc
cessionist. This complaint was
without a shadow of foundation
Mrs. Lincoln was too attached to heI
husband to espouse any cause moi
his.
You remember the story OF their
marriage? ?" :,
mot very clearly" / said.
Why, you know, Lincoln the
groom, was missing on the day firs'
arranged for the ceremony, he
was found some days afterwards in
serious mental condition, and Mr.
Speed took him to Kentucky for
wear and a half. His non-appear
ance was a deep modification to the
belle of Springfield, and she fanciec
the world was pointing the finger o.
scorn at her,"
MISS ToDD's SHARP WIT.
Miss Todd's first meeting VIII
her future husband has been humor
onslv described by her. He me
me- at a party she said, 'and a
iast came awkwardly forward ant
said. miss Todd, want to dance