River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-06-20


trusted for few spools of thread with
which to do my sewing. In the old
days l employed upwards of 20 sewing
girls. My credit was good for hun
dreds of dollars worth of goods. My
services were sought everywhere, and
l was always busy. still have plenty
of work to do, but l am too feeble to
do it. l am only able to do enough
work to keep me in bread and butter.
Just think of it! Lincoln, Douglas,
Harland, Seward, Fred Douglass, Bish-
OPP Wayman; all gone-all gone. May
be / have lived too long. Not one of
my powerful friends is living. If they
were, you would not see me living in a
rented room, struggling from day to
day for food and clothing. If they
were living, Wendell Phillips, Fred
Douglass, Lloyd Garrison, John b.
Cough and others would lecture for
my benefit, or send me their cheques.
But they are all gone, and here am |,
a Renaissance of the glorious days
and glorious men of whom | speak to
you. But when l am in most distress,
when days are dark, think of what L
often heard Mr.. Lincoln say to his
wife: Don't worry, mother; because
all things will come out right. God
rules our destinies.'
81 made lots of money when | was
young and strong" continued the aged
woman. "While / was slave, per-
formed all of my duties and earned
$1,000 additional, with which bought
the freedom of myself and my boy;
the boy l lost in the civil war; the boy
who would to-day be my comfort and
support"
She also made money for couple of
sharpers, in New York, in 1865. She
told her story to two newspaper men.
They employed stenographers. They
published all that she said and great
deal that she did not say, in a book en-
titled "Behind the Scenes" To-day
she said: Il never received a dollar
from the publication of that book.
They took it all. However, / need not
regret that, because theyprinted many
things which ought not to have been
printed; many things which caused
heartaches, because they were I'M
true. The book was printed, and my
name was on the title page as the au-
thor of everything contained between
it's lids.
They told the story of how Mrs.
Lincoln tried vainly to sell her ex-
pensive and costly wardrobe in New
York; but they did not tell it right.
| was with Mrs. Lincoln at that time
and did my best to help her dispose of
her valuable things; but it would do
no good now to say anything about
the details of that venture. / merely
mention it because they made it part
of the book which made money for
them, but the publication of which
brought me no money, while it made
some enemies for me who should have
always been my friends.
Il made dresses for Mrs. Lincoln,
the ladies of President Andrew John
sons family, and also for the ladies of
the Grant administration. l was ia
nous. in my line, for many years. L
was proud; yes, very proud. But fame
and pride do not last, as have found
to my sorrow. They don't bring food
to an old woman when she is forgot
ten or when her friends have passed
away"
Concerning the public receptions in
the white house during the civil war
she says: 81 dressed Mrs Lincoln for
every levee. l made every stitch of
clothing that she wore. l dressed her
hair. l put on her skirts and dresses.
/ fixed her bouquets, saw that her
gloves were all right, and remained
with her each evening until Mr.. Lin
coin came for her. My hands were the
last to touch her before She took the
arm of Mr.. Lincoln and went forth to
meet the ladies and gentlemen on
those great occasions"
Here, III the national capital, in a
rented room in a small house, in an
obscure neighborhood, friendless and
growing gradually weaker and nearer
the end of earth, lives this born slave,
who bought her own freedom, who be-
came famous among famous women
and more famous men, in a wonder
full period of the history of the Te2ub-
lie Here she lives alone, and here she
soon will die, for not many moons will
clapse before the inevitable summons
must come to Elizabeth Kecllly
SMITH D. FRY.