The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-06

ure 10 promptly provide for his widow,
Mrs. Lincoln was not in the reduced
circumstances that might be inferred
from what has been written and
printed.
Il was Mrs. Lincoln's halt-sister.
and am about the same age az her
son. Robert.
We visited the White House. but
little until tho close Of the war, when
we visited there for a short time and
were entertained there. Later my sis
ter and l corresponded at aome length,
and / have preserved q number OF
her letters. but do not recall that sh e
ever discussed with me the injustice
that she felt had been done her
1T is not generally known that Mrs.
Lincoln died In tho same home in
which she was married at Springfield,
Ill In the early days when trans
portatnon was both difficult and slow,
IL was customary for rela,,vos to
make longer visits than nowadays
Mary Todd went TO Springfield to
visit her sister, Mrs. Ninian Edwards.
whose husband was q Kentuckian and
who had been educated at Transyl-
wanna University II was while visit
ing at Springfield that she met Lin
coin and the wedding was at the Ed
wards home, on account of the long
Journey which would have been neces.
sary had she been married in our Lex
ington home.
Mrs Lfncoln's sorrowfuI Ycnrs.
Nearly forty years afterwards she
passed away in the same house where
she had boon married. In her later
years l saw little OF her she was
highly sensitive. she had gone through
tho loss OF her son, Willie. who died in
the White House; she had carried her
part OF the burden and responsibility
dent Lincoln; she saw him slain by
her side, and while her grief was etill
acute. she was made the subject Of
unfavorabie publicity, and her affairs
discussed By an unfr!endly Congress
II was more than any one could bear
up under. and her last years were very
sad.
III the question were to be decided
to-day, | do not believe my sister
would be so misunderstood. nor would
she DO left az she was without the
nations sympathy in her bereavement
But she has been dead many years.
and wish the question had not been
reopened.
The Todd family once held great
deal Of Fayette County land made
up my mind that when opportunity
offered should seek a home In Fayette
County, with 4 good house. good land,
and good neighbors. I believe 1 have
=
as quietly and comfortably as we
may"
Tho letters 10 which Mrs. Helms at
tention was directed were offered for
sale at the Anderson galleries in New
York few weeks ago, and others
were offered during the past week.
They brought between s12 and $50
each. the bidders being purchasers who
desired them for their historical In
terest and value. The contents as pub
lished in the catalogue, in abbreviated
form. are published here.
Mrs. Lincoln to Congressman 0rne.
y characteristic expression OF Mrs.
I.incoln's attitude IS expressed in
letter to CONGRESSMAN Orne and ex-
plains Some OF the misunderstanding
which arose. She writes
If 1 could possibly live otherwise
than to be a modification to myself.
would not mako the least request at
the hands OF those who could so anne
liorate my sad condition. I wrote you
a hurried but sincere statement of
facts week since. Then, l told
you. what my eldest son and myself
have always kept TO ourselves. that
so soon as our senses could be regain
ed l had every Washington and every
other Indebtedness sent to me. and
out OF every dollar ] could command
paid to the utmost farthine. In some
cases known to the administration
but In very few--it was all done by
ourselves, my son and self. out Of my
money, SO that ii should be said that
President Lincoln was not in debt
This is one of the causes why 1 am so
strained now, for living as we were
compelled to. my husband not being
rich man; and we had to pay enor-
nous prices for everything those war
times
When l now hear from cruel. wick
nH
am--often wanting for q meal, my
broken heart cries aloud and l sigh
moro than ever to be at rest by my
darling husbands side. All l wished
then was 10 die. II it had been our
Heavenly Fathers will: and tho great
sorrow and OF nations cruelty !
have endured since does not soften
the aspect OF life or deprive 1t of Its
bitterness. I am so unpleasantly
situated--so unable to place myself
In quarters that one bearing my name
shouid occupy no mental to as
sist me If l was dying. Will not this
condition OF affairs DO rectified by n
people who are the mobiles of the earth?
Could my devoted and indulgent hus-
band ever have anticipated such re-
turn for the work of freedom and
saving his country?
THE LETTERS.
To Mrs. J. II. Orne, Written In 1865.
III my darling husband had lived
out his four years he promised me we
should pass our remaining years in a
nome we both should have enjoyed"
Bowed down and broken
hearted in my terrible bereavement.
my thoughts this last sad summer
have often turned to you I have re-
imembered with most grateful emo
tons your tender sympathy in the first
days OF my overwhelming anguish
Time does not reconcile rne RI tho
loss of the most devoted and loving
husband sadly afflicted woman ever
possessed How dearly I long, my
kind friend. to lay aching head and
sorrowing heart by the side Of this
dearly beloved one. When the sum-
mons comes for my departure I will
gladly welcome It, for there the weary
are at rest AS you may we'll suppose.
/ have led life of most rigid seclu-
sion since I left Washinnton friend