The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-07-12

roundings to draw upon The sober truth
is that Lincoln was Unfortunately ambi-
tious. He had already succeeded in OBJ
tanning no inconsiderable political recog-
milton and numbered among his party
friends men of wealth and reputation, but
he himself was poor, besides lacking the
graces and ease of bearing obtained
through mingling in polite society. Iii
fact, to use the expressive language of
Mary Owens, he was deficient in those
little links which make up the chain of
woman S happiness" Conscious therefore
of his humble rank in the social scale, how
natural that he should seek by marriage
in an influential family to establish
strong connections and at the same time
foster his political fortunes This may
seem an audacious thing to insinuate, but
on NO other basis can we reconcile the
strange course of his courtship and the
tempestuous chapters In his married life.
1t is a curious history, and the facts, long
chained down, are gradually coming to
the surface. When all is at last known,
the world, believe, will divide it's censure
between Lincoln and his wife
Mary Todd, who afterward became the
wife of Mr. Lincoln, was born in Lexing-
ton, Ky, Dec r8, 1918 MY mother,'
iSle'uSN -hlS 4JiICOlll W NE III 1OOO, Gltu
when was still young. / was educated
by Nine Mantelli, a lady who lived oppo-
site Mr.. Clay's, and who was an accom-
plished French scholar Our conversation
at school was carried on entirely in French
in fact we were allowed to speak moth
ing else. l finished my education at Mrs
Wards academy, an Institution to which
many people from the north sent theil
daughters In 1887 visited Springfield
Ills, remaining three months l returned
to Kentucky, remaining till 1889, when /
again set out for Illinois, which state
finally became my home.
To young lady In whose veins coursed
the blood that had come down from long
and distinguished ancestral line, who
could even go back in the genealogical
chart to the sixth century, Lincoln, the
child of Nancy Hanks, whose descent was
dimmed by the shadow of tradition, was
finally united In marriage,
o. Sketch of Miss Todd.
When Mary T>ld came to her sisters
house in Springfield in 1889, she was in
her twenty first year. She was young
woman of strong, passionate nature and
quick temper and had left her home In
Kentucky to avoid living under the same
roof with stepmother." She came to
live with her oldest sister, Elizabeth, who
was the wife of Lincoln's colleague in the
legislature, Ninian w. Edwards. She had
two other sisters, Frances married to DR.
William Wallace, and Anne, who after |
ward became the wife of c. NJ. Smith. a
prominent and wealthy merchant They
all resided in Springfield She was of the !
average height, weighing when first saw
her about 1870 pounds. She was rather
compactly built, had we'll rounded face.
rich dark brown hair and blush gray
eyes. In her bearing she was proud, but
handsome and vivacious. Her education
had been in no wise defective She was a
good conversationist, using with equal
huency the French and English languages
When she used pen, its point was sure to
be sharp, and she wrote with wit and
ability. She not only had quick intellect,
but an intuitive judgment of men and
their motives. Ordinarily she was affable
and even charming in her manners, but
when offended or antagonized her agreea.
bic qualities instantly disappeared beneath
a wave of singing satire or sarcastic bit.
terness, and her entire better nature was
IN her figure and physical
in education, bearing tenn.
history-in everything she was
the exact reverse of Lincoln.
On her return to Springfield she imme.
iiately entered society and soon became
one of the bellies, leading the young men
Of the town merry dance She was a
very shrewd observer, and discreetly and
without apparent effort kept back all the
lnattractive elements in her unfortunate
organization. Her trenchant wit. alta.
Dility and candor pleased the young men
lot less than her culture and varied &C.
impressed the older ones
With whom she came in contact The first
ime ! met her was at a dance at the
esidence of Colonel Robert Allen l
ngaged her for waltz, and as we Gid
Q through 1t fancied l never before had G
anced with young lady who moved with I
nch grace and ease A few moments lat {
;. as we were promenading through the {
all, thought to compliment her grace /
II dancing by telling her that while 1 e
as conscious of my own awkward move /
lents she seemed to glide through the \
nltz with the ease of serpent. The o
range comparison was as unfortunate as &
Was hideous. / saw 1t in an instant, "
It too late 10 recall it. She halted for a p