Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-18
And His Early
Experiences as
Law m aker

you may Tightly understand their I'M.
port 7-T.
In the winter Of 1910 and 1871 he was
unhappy about his engagement to his
wire. not being entirely satisfied that his
heart was going with his hand. How
much he suffered then on that account
none knows so well as myself-he disclos-
ed his whole heart to me-
In the summer of 1871 I became engaged
to my wife. He was here on visit when
courted her, and, strange to say, some
thing Of the same feeling which regard
ed as so foolish In him took possession OF
me and kept me very unhappy from the
time OF my engagement until was mar
ried. @
This will explain the deep interest he
manifested In his letters on my account
IT you use the letters (and some OF
them are perfect gems) do it carefully.
so as not to wound the feelings Of Mrs
Lincoln. .aT
One thing is plainly discernible-if I had
not been married and happy-far more
happy than I ever expected to be-he
would not have married.
have erased name which do not
wish published. If have failed to do 1t
anywhere, strike it out when you come
to it. That is the word -.
I thank you for your last lecture. 1t
Is all new to me, but so true to my ap-
probation Of Lincoln's character that in
dependent Of my knowledge Of you. I
would almost swear to it.
Lincoln wrote a letter Ca long one.
which he read to me) to DR.. Drake of
Cincinnati descriptive Of his case Its
date would be in December, 1910, or early
In January, 1884, I think he must have
Informed DR.. D. of his early love for
Miss Rutledge, as there was part of
the letter which he would not read.
1t would be worth much to you If YOU
could procure the original. -E
Charles D. Drake of st. Louis NAV have
his fathers papers. The date which ]
give you will aid in the search.
remember DR.. brakes reply which
was that he would not undertake to pre-
scribe for him without a personal inter-
view. I would advise you to make some
effort to get the letter. Your friend, etc..
]. F. SPEED.
The first Of the papers from Mr.. Lin
coins pen is letter of advice and con-
ISOLATION to his friend, for whom he ap-
prehends the terrible things through
which. by the help Of that friend. be
has himself just passed:
My Dear Speed-Feeling, as you know
I do, the deepest solicitude for the sue
cess of the enterprise you are engaged in,
1 adopt this as the last method I can in
vent to aid you in case (Which God for
bid) you shall need my aid. I do not
place what I am going to say on paper
because I can say it better in that way
than could by word of mouth, but were
i to say it orally before we part most
likely you would forget it at the very
time when it might do you some good.
AS I think 1t reasonable that you will
feel very badly some time between this
and the final contamination of your pur-
pose, it is intended that you shall read
this just at such a.time.s Why I say it is
reasonable that you will feel very badly
yet is because Of three special causes
added to the general one which I shall
mention. ..-
E. The general cause is that you are nat
urally Of a nervous temperament, and
this I say from what I have seen of you
personally and what you have told me
concerning your mother at various times
and concerning your brother William at
he time his wife died The first special
cause is your exposure to bad weather
on your journey. which my experience
clearly proves to be very severe on de-
fective nerves. The second is the alb
sence of all business and conversation Of
friends. which might divert your mind,
give it occasional rest from the intensity
of thought which will sometimes wear the
sweetest idea threadbare and turn it to
the bitterness of death. -.E
The third is the rapid and near ap-
proach of that crisis on which all your
thoughts and feelings concentrate. a..ys
If from all these causes you shall es-