The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-09-04
Mysteriously Suppressed.

hind the Scenes that part I have never
been ashamed Of. and that. though deal
Ing with the delicate subject Of master
and slave, never estranged my white
people from me. I naturally got to tell
ing different parts Of my life in the
White House, which greatly Interested
my listeners. Just how it al happened.
do not 10 this day see. but the story
grew. I was persuaded that the grand
est stroke ] could make for the great
cause, was ~ allow the amanuensis to
write the white House story, too. After
g tine. / consented.
The chapters Of the book were read
to me. Though there was often a more
frank statement of some little affair
that was altogether necessary. there
was still nothing harmful. I must say
now. after all the Intervening years,
that was justified il a little bitter
The newspapers all over the country
had taken up the disgraceful affairs at
tendant upon Mrs. Lincoln's effort TO
dispose Of her wardrobe in New York,
that part of the story has already been
told.
Mrs. Lincoln's Side
Il was only showing Mrs Lincoln's
side Of the case. and giving the reasons
that she gave me for such a proceeding.
Much that was written and read TO
me, / have asked to have cut out. and
much Of the story was not read 70 me
at all
1T was well known that my own
character as well as that OF Mrs. Lin
coin was at stake, since 1 mad been
most intimately associated with her in
all the evenuul periods of her life. L
if evil was charged to her. it must also
be my lot, since l was known TO be a
party to all her movements. must say
now, as I did then. that nothing that 1
have ever dictated or said has thrown
Mrs. Lincoln in worse light than that
in which she already stood To the
reverse. In speaking Of some Of her ac-
tons. recorded in the book and that
had been most harshly judged, 1 gave
the motive for them which placed her
in a more womanly light
A Faithful Story.
The scenes enacted in the White
House from the day following the first
Inauguration of President Lincoln. were
fresh in my mind. The home life in the
few private rooms. the childish praulIs
of the Lincoln boys. the great levees.
never one of which l missed dressing
Mrs. Lincoln for. from the first one fol-
lowing the Inauguration. until the last,
"a few days before the awful tragedy.
And of that it is yet the most
vivid Of all ard should 1 live a thousand
years. / should stiu remember its
horrors They We're all fresh. every
scene enacted before me in the White
House, and ] now know that l told
them with wonderful vividness.
Should Not Have Been Printed.
Il was excited in their telling but
should not have been printed. l knew
afterward tina, I'm reading the copy
too much was omitted in the reading
that was actually in the copy. and had
] known IL in time, ii should never
have been printed.
Il never intended that Mrs Lincoln's
letters to me should be published l
was a stranger TO my new friends. and
lest my story might be doubted, 1 gave
them the letters as proof-simply for
the amanuensis, and the doctor to read,
and my surprise was unbounded when
] found that they formed an appendix
To Behind the Scenes.
Then followed hours Of the bitterest
anguish and despair. and ] did not know
what TO do. / tried to recall them but
f. was too late. These letters were the
heart cries of "A frantic woman to one
whom she loved and trusted, and moth
ing on earth could have induced me to
so far forget her confidence as to give
them to the world-that world that
seemed always ready to scott al this
faulty, but loving woman.
After that. / wrote an introduction
TO Behind the Scenes Money had
been advanced 10 me for my expenses
during the writing. thus placing me i'm
the hands Of those who seemed to be
trying TO serve me, but alas-as was
proven too late-had only tried to fiji
their own pockets by flChing from me
the pitiful story.
Then came the day when the first
proofs were returned from the publish
ers hands. The writer sent them 70 the