Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1913-02-07

He was melancholic, constitutionally so; in
cIined, in such matter, we know, to the most
morbid view. The upshot was, at all events
that on New Years day, 1841, the very day, as
account has it, which had been set for the
wedding he broke the engagement. According
to Herndon, of his biographers, who was also
his law partner, he broke it as publicly as pos
sibly by failing to make his appearance on the
appointed wedding day. The engagement was
broken, doubt of that; but Herndons account
of it's breaking is not well authenticated.
Lincoln took this trouble deeply to heart He
abandoned his business and went away to forget
it the following summer, making visit, with that
purpose to his old friend Speed in Louisville Ky.
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
reconciled for a year and half. In the summer
of 1912 they were 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 circumstance of seriO-
comic features in which they both had part.
This circumstance is a story in itself 1t in
wolves, besides the two principles James Shields
the same afore referred to as Of Miss
Todds admirers. He Irishman of ability
and courage he afterward proved on the bat
tlef1eld in the Mexican war, when to cleanse
wound through the lungs, a silk handkerchief
drawn through his body.
At the time of the Lincoln affair Shields was
leading Democrat of Illinois and held the Office
of auditor Of state He was a quick, impuIsive
man, whose disposition put him often on the
defensive with the Wing leaders, for the Repub-
lican party then unborn OF these Wing
leaders in that state Lincoln then was one Now,
it was the custom at that time to carry on much
political controversy through the press by means
of personal communications such as we know
Letters from the People" Great space
and attention given these in the newspapers
in that day.
Just about that date Lincoln furnished such a
letter to Springfield paper; it was signed AUNT
Rebecca,' and in it Shields whose vanity and gal
lantry often made him mark, most unmer.
cifuy ridiculed. 1t made hit, this letter and
Miss Todd and friend its real authors by the
way, followed it up with another and with some
doggefel rhyme, which reached the paper in the
same manner the first.
Springfield laughed loudly at these communi.
cations-not so much at the matter of them as
at the anger displayed by Shields He acted
promptly, sent friend at once to the editor of
the paper to demand the name of the writer of
the articles Dueling then was still common
incident of public life, and the editor called upon
Lincoln, who, unwilling to bring the ladies into
the affair, gave his own as the author
While he was at fremont, on the law circuit
fifteen days later two friends Of his overlook him
ana ADVISED MIN InaC SnleldS was on the way
following him up to challenge. Shields and a
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 missive said
further, Consequences which no one will regret
than myself"
Lincoln refused to apologize. Seconds were inn
mediatey Observation-Disclosures, editor of the paper
in which the matter had appeared for Shields:
3. H. Merryman for Lincoln. The seconds talked
OF peace but Whitesides refused to discuss such
settlement with his principal. why he said
he'd challenge me next and as soon cut my
throat as not!"
That night they all went back to Springfield.
with Lincolns preliminaries to follow since he
was the challenged party, namely these:
Weapons cavalry broadswords
Time, Thursday evening at o'clock
Place, within three miles of Alton, on the on
posite side of the river Mississippi
On the End OF September 1872 they were all
upon the ground. The arrangements for the af.
fair were about completed when the party was
joined by friends Among them was Colonel
John "A. Hardin who knew Lincoln well He
had been warned Of the fight by Eliza Lott who
had heard OF It when the duelists STONED r.
breakfast going out Colonel Hardin and the reat
managed to satisfy Shields that Lincoln. was not
the author OF the articles, but was shielding an
other and to aid the seconds in settling the trou
Bile with honor" as the phrase is. "to all con.
cerned"
Less than two months later marriage 1icarsa
for Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd was issued
Miss Tarbell describes the event as almost I'm.
promptu The ceremony interrupted a meetinv
OF the Episcopal Sewing society at the housa -
Miss Todd's sister, the Mrs Edwards alreadv
mentioned.