The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06
THOSE "BITTER LETTERS"
Mrs. Ben Hardin Helm Sister of Mrs Abraham
Lincoln, Tells of Trials of Widow of
MartYred President

BITS. benjamin Hardin Helm. SIS
ter OF Mrs. Abraham Lincoln. with her
daughters. Mrs. Walter II. Lewis and
Miss Catherine Helm. have taken pos
session OF the McMeekin farm and
home on the Bowmans Mill Pike. some
six miles from Lexington.
The above simple statement carries
with II innumerable suggestions Of
the greatest interest. Mrs. Helm is the
only surviving daughter of the Todd
family which oxerted wide innu-
ence In the affairs OF Lexington
Fayette County. and Kentucky.
The determination 10 return TO the
county OF her birth, and TO re-cstab-
lish a home where Ave generations Of
her family sleep. was prompted by a
sentiment which is being further
shown in the restoration of the splen-
did old homestead built by General
Bowman on tho highest Hill that over
looked the broad ncres he claimed for
his services to the government eighty
Another interesting phase OF the re-
turn of Mrs. Helm is In the fact that
the publication Of the so-called bitter
letters" OF Mrs. Lincoln has re-
awakened public interest In the sor-
rowful story OF tho Lexington girl
who became the wife OF the martyred
President. and upon whom a needless
Congress showed the most shameful
ingratitude
Although historians have for years
the letters. they have never been used
nor referred to In the various historic:
OF the trying times that followed the
Civil War and the assassination Of
the President.
In a conversation with Mrs Helm
at her home, she stated that she had
never seen them, and did not know
their contents. The letters were chief
~ written 20 Mrs J. II. Orne. wife
Of an Illinois Congressman. and with
In frat Il. hat iE fy,.d h
the privacy OF personal corresponds
ence. Mrs Lincoln wrote her opinions
OF the political influence that pre-
vented the passage OF any bill that
would provide tor the maintenance Of
herself and her son. Tad
Visit To Mrs. Helm.
The farm recently secured by Mrs
Helm. as a home for herself and
daughters is generally known as tho
j. D McMeekin farm. and consists
OF about l25 acres Its purchase was
arranged last fan by Benjamin Har
din Helm. Jr.. prominent railroad
man OF Texas, and possession was given
TO the family a few weeks ago. The
house Is one OF the most perfect type
OF early Southern country homes. and
is wonderfully we'll built of a fintlike
brick.
Under the matted blue grass are
the traces OF splendid garden. walks
and drives. and the removal OF trees
has reopened here and there the vis-
tas OF the distant hills. the white
pixies and the pond and stream: below.
The ladies have approached tho
task OF renewing the youth OF the old
estate with rare enthusiasm and good
taste. and the improvements that are
being made Will in no way the
splendid lines and proportions OF the
mansion nor the rare environment Of
It's commanding location.
1t WAS in an interval OF supervision
lei Inn ~
the conditions that led TO the serious
MISUNDERSTANDING and the neglect of
Mrs. Lincoln by the government for
which her great husband had given
his life.
Il sorry tho matter has been
brought UP again" said Mrs Helm.
'Mr. Robert Lincoln was always very
sensitive upon the subject, and l am
sure we would all have preferred that
the maintenance of Mrs Lincoln by
tho United States had never been
brought to the attention of Congress-
Al IT was. the annuity allowed came
too late TO remove the feeling of in
justice that Mrs Lincoln felt, and too
late to be Of any material benefit, as
she died very soon after the appropri-
alton was made.
Nowadays. OF course. feeling is
changed. and the antagonisms that
were very real and very bitter seem
of little consequence now. The fact
was that Mrs. Lincoln was impulsive
in her mlnner and speech. and the
times Were such that not even the
most guarded person could have
pleased the country. had she been
placed in Mrs. Lincolns place.
Mrs. Lincolns Southern Ties.
1T Is tue" continued Mrs. Helm,
that Mrs. Lincolns family tics were
with the South. Three half brothers,
Samuel b. Todd, David Humphrey
Todd and Alexander Humphrey Todd,
al in
lost their lives in battle. Her full
brother, Surgeon George Rogers Clark
Todd. served In the Southern army
throughout the war. but was not
harmed. u
These facts would have made it
impossible for my woman In Mrs.
Lircoln's positi to have avoided be-
ing misunderst> 3D. For various rea-
sons. considered politically expedient
at the time. tb claims of Mrs. Lin
coin were opr Jsed by Democrats, and
urged but haif-heartedly by Repub-
leans. and the story gained credence
That Mrs. Lincoln was sympathizer
with the Confederate cause and that
n. the White House. her influence was
exerted against the best interests Of
the Union.
The world now knows that Mrs.
Lincoln was the soul or loyalty to her
husband. and to the cause which he
represented. but in those trying days
her impctuosity. and sometimes m
advised actions and words made it
very difficult for her friends to per-
suade tho government that so.ne am
pie proviSion should be made for
those who have heen bereaved by the
death of President Lincoln.
Congress did make an appropria-
ito OF $4,000 for Mrs. Lincoln, and
voted an annuity Of $1,000 year for
the maintenance Of tho Presidents
family. This recognition came but n
short time before Mrs. Lincolu's final
illness and death
las is known, Mrs. Lincoln went to
Europe twice atter the death OF the
esident. Although the services or
Mr. Lincoln to his country wero such
that evory one now agrees that n
grave mistake was made in the fail