The National tribune., 1900-01-11

was seriously affected. He suffered from
melancholy, which was SO profound ms
friends were alarmed for his life" His
intimate companion, Mr., Speed, endeav-
cred to rescue him from the terrible depres-
sion, urging that he would die unless he
rallied. Lincoln replied: II am not afraid
to die, and would be more than willing.
But have an irrepressib bledesire to live till
| can be assured that etheJworld is little
better for my having been in it"
MIR. Herndon gives as his opinion
Mr.. Lincolns insanity grew out Of a most
extraordinary complication of feelings
aversion to the marriage proposed, a coun-
ter attachment to Miss Edwards, and a
revival Of his tenderness for the memory
of Anne Rutledge. At all events his de-
rangenent was nearly, if not quite, COM
piete. we had to remover razors from his
room," says Mr.. Speed, take away all
knives, and other dangerous things. 1t
was terrible" Mr.. Speed determined TO do
for him what Bowlin Greene had done on a
similar occasion at New Salem. Having
sold out his store on the 1st of .Januray.
lS41, he took Mr.. Lincoln with him to his
home in Kentucky, and kept him there dur
ing most Of the Summer and Fall. or until
he seemed sufficiently restored to be given
his liberty again, when he was brought
back 10 Springfield His health was soon
regained, and on the 4th of November, 1912,
the marriage between him and Miss Todd
was celebrated.
DESCRIPTION OF THE WEDDING BY ONE
WHO WAS PRESENT.
A highly interesting account of the
affair is furnished by Judge j. II. Matheny,
of Springfield, an intimate friend of Mr.
Lincoln. who, at his request, was present.
at the ceremony: Marriages in SPRING
field" says Judge Matheny, up to the time
of Mr.. Lncoln's wedding, had been rather
commonplace affairs. His was about the
first, if not the very first, ever performed
with all the requirements Of the Episcopal
ceremony. A large number of his friends
had gathered, and among them was Thos.
G. Browne, one of the Justices of the Su-
preme Court. Judge Browne was in truth
an old timer. He had been on the bench
from the very beginning-was quaint.
rough, curious character. He was standing
close beside Mr.. Lincoln. Old Parson
DresSar, with canonical robes on, in an
exceedingly solemn and impressive manner
was performing the beautiful Episcopal
ceremony. He handed the ring to Mr.
Lincoln, who placed it upon the brides
finger, repeating the formula, With this
chattel lands and tenements.' This struck
the old Judge as nonsense, and he cried
out loud enough to be heard by everybody:
Good gracious, Lincoln the statute fixes
all that The unexpected interruption,
and its utter absurdity, completely upset
the ridiculous, and it was some minutes
before he could proceed"
After the marriage Mr.. Lincoln secured
pleasant rooms for himself and wife at the
Globe Tavern" at cost of S4 week.
In 1874 he purchased of the Rev. Nathan
Dressar the PLAN dwelling which was his
home for the ensuing II years, and which
he left to enter the White House in 1861.
LINCOLN AS A DUELLIsT-THE AFFAIR
WITH GEN. SHIELDS.
A serio-comic incident occurred in Mr..
Lincoln's career in 1912. Mr.. Arnold
says OF it: "A bout his time there was living
at Springfield, James Shields afterwards
n distinguished General and United States
SenatorJ, gallant, hot-headed bachelor,
from Tyrone County, Ireland. Like most
Of his countrymen, he was an ardent Demo
crat, and he WAS also a great beau in so
cety. He had been SO fortunate as to be
elected Auditor Of the State. Miss Todd.
full of spirit, very gay. and little wild
and mischieyous, published IN the .Sanga.
Rebecca; or, The Lost Townships some
amusing satirical papers, ridiculing the
susceptible and SENSITIVE irlshman. IN
deed, Shields was SO sensitive he could not
bear ridicule, and would much rather die
than be laughed at: On seeing the papers
and furiously demanded the name of the
author, declaring. that Unless the name
of the writer was given he would hold the
editor personally Responsible. Francis was
n large, broad man, and Shields was very
thin and slim, and the editor realized that
with his great bulk it1would be very unsafe
for him to stand in front or Shields's pistol.
He had plenty of stomach, but none for such
a fight. He was a warm personal and
political friend of lincoln, and knowing
the relations between him and Miss Todd,
in this dilemma disclosed the facts to Lin
coin, and asked his advice and counsel.
He was not willing to expose the lady's
name, and yet was extremely reluctant him.
self to meet the fiery Irishman on the field.
Lincoln mt once told Francis to tell Shields
to regard him as the author. The TaZe-
well Circuit Court, at which he had several
cases Of importance to try, being in session,
Lincoln departed for fremont, the County
seat. AS soon as Francis had notified
Shields that Lincoln was the author of the
papers, Shields and his second, Gen. White
sides. started in hot pursuit of Lincoln.
Hearing of this, DIR. Merryman and Lin
coins old friend Butler started also for
fremont to prevent as Merryman said,
amy advantage being taken of Lincoln,
either as to his honor or his life They
passed the belligerent Shields and White
sides in the night, and arrived at fremont
in advance. They told Lincoln what was
coming, and he replied that he was alto
gether opposed to duelling, and would