Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XII.
Abraham LincoIn's Last Love Affairs
Are Complicated.

HDIdlldH LIlCOiIl Last Love AHalTs
Are Complicated.
VT must by this time be clear to the
reader that Mr. Lincoln was nev-
er agitated by any passion more
intense than his wonderful thirst
for distinction. There is good evidence
that it furnished the feverish dreams
Of his bOyhOod and no man that knew
him well can doubt that it governed
all his conduct from the hour when he
astonished himself by his oratorical
success against Posey and Ewing in
the back settlements Of Macon county
to the day when the assassin marked
him as the first hero Of the restored
Union, reelected to his great office
surrounded by every circumstance that
could minister to his pride or exalt his
sensibilities- ruler whose power was
only less wide than his renown. He
never rested in the race he had deter
mined to run. He was ever ready to
be honored. He struggled necessarily
for place. There is no instance where
an important office seemed to be with
In his reach and he did not try to get
It, Whatsoever he did in politics, at
the bar, In private life. had more or
less reference to this great object of
his life. 1t Is not meant to be said
that he was capable Of any shameful
act, any personal dishonor, any surren-
der or concealment of political convic-
TONS In these respects he was far
better than most men. It was not in
his nature to run away from the fight
or to desert to the enemy. but he was
quite willing to accept his full share of
the fruits of victory.
Born in the humblest circumstances,
uneducated, poor, acquainted with fat
boats and groceries, but a stranger to
the drawing room, it was natural that
he should seek in a matrimonial alli-
ance those social advantages which he
felt were necessary to his political ad-
vancement. This was. in fact, his own
view Of the matter, but it was strength
ened and enforced by the counsels Of
those whom he regarded as friends.
In 1889 Miss Mary, daughter of Hon.
Robert S. Todd Of Lexington. KY.
came to live with her sister, Mrs.
Ninian w. Edwards, at Springfield
Like Miss Owens. Miss Todd had
stepmother, with whom she failed to
agree. and for that reasa,l the Ed.
wardses offered her a home with Them
She was young-just twenty one-her
family was of the best and her con-
nections in Illinois among. the most re-
fined and distinguished people. Her
mother having died when she was a
little girl she had been educated un-
der the care of French lady. "oppo-
site Mr. Clay's.' She was gifted with
rare talents. had keen sense Of the
ridiculous. a ready insight into the
weaknesses of individual character and
most fiery and ungovernable temper.
Her tongue and her pen were equally
sharp. High bred, proud, brilliant, wit
3ty and with a will that bent every one
else to her purpose, she took Mr.. Lin
coin captive the very moment she con-
sidered it expedient to do SO.
Y Mr.. Lincoln was rising politician.
fresh from the people and possessed of
great power among them. Miss Todd
was of aristocratic and distinguished
family, able to lead through the awful
portals Of good society" whomsoever
they chose to countenance. 1t was
thought that union between them
could not fail of numerous benefits to
both parties. Mr.. Edwards thought so.
z Mrs. Edwards thought so. and it was
not long before Mary Todd herself
thought so. She was very ambitious
and even before she left Kentucky an
nounced her belief that she was "des-
tined to be the wife of some future
president For little while she was
courted by Douglas as we'll as by Lin
coin. but she is said to have refused
the Little Giant" ION account of his
bad morals" Being asked which of
them she intended to have she answer
ed, THE one that has the best chance
Of being PRESIDENT She decided in
favor of Lincoln and. in the opinion of
some Of her husbands friends, aided
to no small extent in the fulfillment of
the prophecy which the bestowal of
her hand implied. A friend of Miss
Todd was the wife of an elderly but
wealthy gentleman. and. being asked
by one of the Edwards coterie why she
had married "such an old. dried up
husband, such a withered up old buck"
she answered that che had lots of
horses and gold" But Mary Todd
spoke up. in great surprise. and said:
us that true? l would rather marry
good man. man of mind. with hope
and bright prospects ahead for posi-
ton, fame and power, than to marry
all the horses. gold and bones in the
world"
Mrs. Edwards, Miss Todd's sister.
tells US that Mr.. Lincoln twas charmed
with Mary's wit and fascinated with
her quick sagacity. her will, her ma
ture and culture" 81 have happened
In the room," she says, where they
were sitting often and often, and Mary
led tho conversation. Lincoln would
listen and gaze on her as If drawn by