Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-08

He was melancholic constitutfonally so. in
cl1ned, in such matter. we know, to the mos
morbid view. The upshot was, at all events
that on New Years day, 1871, the very day, az
one account has it, which had been set for the
wedding, he broke the engagement According
to Herndon, one of his biographers, who was also
his law partner, he broke it as publicly as DOS
sibly by failing to make his appearance on the
appointed wedding day. The engagement was
broken, doubt of that; but Herndons account
OF its breaking is not well authenticated
Lincoln took this trouble deeply to heart. He
abandoned his business and went away to forget
1t the following summer making a visit with that
purpose to his old friend Speed in Louisville XIV
From this trip he returned in better frame OF
mind This, perhaps, because he had been called
upon there to counsel with and resolve some
doubts of Speed regarding his approaching
marriage Lincoln and Miss Todd remained un
recOnciled for year and half. In the summer
of 1912 they brought together unexpectedly
by mutual friends, and met secretly several
times later at the house of Mr.. Simeon Francis
At length the engagement was renewed. This
came about through a circumstance of serio
comic features in which they both had part
This circumstance is story in itself 1t in
wolves, besides the two principles James Shields
the same afore referred to of Miss
Todds admirers. He Irishman of ability
and courage, he afterward proved the bat
tlefied in the Mexican war. when, to cleanse a
wound through the lungs silk handkerchief
drawn through his body.
At the time of the Lincoln affair Shields was a
leading Democrat of Illinois and held the office
of auditor of state He quick. impulsive
defensive with the Wing leaders, for the Repub
lican party then unborn. OF these Whis
leaders in that state Lincoln then Now
1t was the custom at that time to carry on much
political controversy through the press by means
of personal communications such know
Letters from the People" Great space
and attention given these in the newspapers
in that day.
Just about that date Lincoln furnished such
letter to Springfield paper; it signed "Aun,
Rebecca' and in it Shields, whose vanity and gal
m ma m
cifully ridicued. 1t made hit, this letter. an6
Miss Todd and friend, its real authors by the
way, followed it up with another and with some
doggerel rhyme. which reached the paper in the
same manner as the first.
Springfield laughed loudly at these communf
cations-not much the matter of them as
the anger displayed by Shields He acted
promptly, sent friend at once to the editor 81
the paper to demand the name of the writer Of
incident of public life and the editor called upor
Lincoln who, unwilling to bring the ladies' into
the affair gave his name the author.
While he was at fremont on the law circuit
fifteen days later two friends of his overlook him
and advised him that Shields the way
following him up to challenge Shields and
friend arrived shortly, and Lincoln was soon IN
receipt of written demand for the satisfaction
due gentleman" in full, positive and absolute
retraction. This may prevent the nissfve SAID
further, CONSEQUENCES which no one win regre
than myself
Lincoln refused to apologize Seconds i'm
mediately named-Whftesides, editor of the pape
in which the matter had appeared, for Shields
E. H Merryman for Lincoln The seconds talked
of peace but Whitesides refused to discuss sucf
a settlement with his principal. why" he said
he'd challenge me next. and as soon cut my
throat noti"
That night they all went back to Springfield
with Lincoln's prelimnaries to follow, since he
the challenged party, namely these:
Weapons. cavalry broadswords.
Time. Thursday evening at o'clock
Place. within three miles of Alton, on the op
posite side of the river Mississippi
On the End of September, 1912, they were al
upon the ground The arrangements for the af
fair about completed when the party wa
Joined by friends Among them was Co1one
John H. Hardin, who knew Lincoln well. H
had been warned of the fight by Eliza Lott VIII
had heard of it when the duelists stopped T.
breakfast going out Colonel Hardin and the res
managed to satisfy Shields that Lincoln was no
the author of the articles, but shielding an
other and to aid the seconds in settling the troi
BILE with honor" the phrase is. ito all cor
cerned.'
Less than two months later marriage Hcens
for Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd issues
Miss Tarbel1 describes the event almost I'm
promptu-" The ceremony interrupted meetin
of the Episcopal Sewing society at the house Q
Miss Todd's sister, the Mrs. Edwards alread
mentioned.