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

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
1t. Whatsoever he did in politics, at
the bar, In private life, had more or
less reference to this great object of
his life. It 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. If. -.
Born in the humblest circumstances,
uneducated, poor, acquainted with fiat
boats and groceries, 9but% Ia stranger to
the drawing ROOM lit was NATURAL that
he should seek in azmatrimonial alli-
ance those social advantages which he
felt were necessary his political ad-
vancement. This was, I'm fact, his own
view Of the matter, but it was strength
ened and enforced by the counsels Of
those whom he regarded as friends.
411n 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 chad
stepmother, with whom she failed to
''eagree. : and for that reason. 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
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
Sty and with will that bent every one
else to her purpose, she took Mr.. Lin
gcoln captive the very moment she con-
fsidered it expedient to, do SO.
~ Mr.. Lincoln was rising politician.
fresh from the people and possessed of
great power among them. Miss Todd
twas Of aristocratic and distinguished
afamily, able to lead through the awful
sportals Of good society" whomsoever
Hthey chose to countenance. 1t, was
thought that union between them
could not fail of numerous benefits to
aboth parties. Mr.. Edwards thought SO.
Mrs. Edwards thought so. and 1t was
mot long before Mary Todd herself
thought SO. She was very ambitious
aand even before she left Kentucky an
knounced her belief that she was "des-
tined to be: the wife Of some future
president" For little while she was
courted by Douglas as well 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 ful6llment of
] the prophecy which the bestowal of
her hand implied. A friend of Miss
I Todd was the wife of an elderly but
I wealthy gentleman. and. being asked
I by one of the Edwards coterie why she
/ had married "such an old. dried up
husband, such withered up old buck, ;"
she answered that che had lots Of
horses and gold But Mary Todd
spoke. up, In great surprise, and said
rs that true? ! would rather marry q
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" ~ 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 ifsdrawn BY
some superior power irresistibly 80.
He listened, but never scarcely said a
word. 4 Lincoln could not hold a
lengthy conversation with lady, was
not sufficiently educated and intelligent
IN the female line to do So
Y u