Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12


by this dreamy pensiveneSS which appealed to
the strain of romance and poetry in her
nature. She had irresistible impulse to
impart cheer and gayety; to make smiles take
the place OF gloom in this man she tenderly
loved That she might I'LL his life with the
comforts and reffnements he had always lacked
would be her greatest joyi she felt she could
be to him a real helpmate. He was careless
about being warmly clad, and Indifferent to
his meals; she intended to see that he should
be more careful about his health, that when
they went to housekeeping he should have, nu-
ttEitiouS appeizing food well served at q we'll
ordered, dainty table; there should be flowers
~ and snowy damask. She looked forward with
eagerness to the little home they would have
together. Dreaming of this, she contentedly
lived at the tavern, received her callers without
complaint, and made no apology for her
lovely surroundings. Cd. -
Gay and happy, she went with Mr. Lincoln
to concerts and to see any strolling players
passing through Springfield They went to
the elder Jefferson the father of his more
famous son Joe, who played in Springfield that
Winter. circus, too, was great fun and not
to be missed. Then the parties and the family
dinners with her sisters and her Uncle john
and, best of all, the quiet evenings together
when they talked and made plans for the
future"
A ND So with the help of this good wife
Lincoln proSpered, came to Washington
ana served IN the 1nIrLleCn congress from 1871
to l849 Upon his arrival here, December 2,
IS4T he registered at what is now the Metro
pOlitan Hotel, then known as Browns Indian
Queen Hotel but almost Immediately afterward
moved to Mrs. Spriggs' boarding house. then
of the buildings in Carroll row. where now
stands the east approaches TO the Library of
Congress. According to Dr. Busey: During
that session Mrs. Lincoln, with the eldest son,
was at the house for time, but was so retiring
that she was rarely seen except at the meals"
That Mr.. Lincoln filled out his term in the
House is evident, though it is not conclusive
that he candidate for reelection the Con-
greSSional Biographical Directory says he did
not seek it. However. the climate Of WASH
ingtOn evidently TO his liking-as it seems
to even the lame ducks of today-for he was
unsuccessful applicant for the office of
Commissioner Of the General Land once, but
he did not care to be the Governor of Oregon
Territory position offered him shortly after
ward. His refusal, are told was due to Mrs.
Lincoln'S advice, who felt 1t might hurt his
future political career.
But Mrs. Lincoln was in favor of her husband
running for the United States Senate against
Stephen A. Douglas and she urged that he
debate the burning issues of the day with that
astute politician. Her confidence and pride in
her husband could not have been greater. Upon
one occasion she said: Mr.. Douglas is a very
little giant by the side Of my tall Kentuckian,
and Intellectually my husband towers above
Douglas just as he does physically" At an
other time, in comparing her husband with
Douglas, she remarked: "Mr Lincoln may
not be handsome figure, but people are
perhaps not aware that his heart is as large
as his arms are long,
Lincolns defeat by Douglas for the Senate
turned out somewhat like Paul Jones famous
victory over the British, in which he said when
he was called upon to surrender that he had
just begun 10 fight, for two years later as the
Republican nominee for the presidency, he
successfully fought it out with Mr. Douglas
John c. Breckenridge and John Bell receiving
1o0 electoral votes; Douglas received IL;
Breckenridge. 70. and Bell. 30.
ON Saturday, February a. 1851 Mr.. Lincoln
arrived quite early in Washington and
was driven to the quarters secured for him at
the Willard Hotel. Mrs. Lincoln came by an
other train and did not join her husband until
evening. She had with her the three sons and
Of her arrival The Star said: 1.-The peep
afforded at Mrs. Lincoln In passing from the
carriage to the hotel presented a comely,
matronly, ladylike face bearing an unmis-
taxable air OF goodness strikingly the opposite
OF the ill-natured portraits of her by the pens
Of some OF the sensational writer's"
Four days after the Inauguration the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Lincoln held their first levee,
or. as we call 1t now public reception. Speaking
of this social event the next morning the
National Republican said:
Mrs Lincoln seconded her husband to very
good purpose in giving q cordial, smiling well
come to all corners, and they both certainly
made friends. Mrs Lincoln wore q
rich, bright crimson watered silk with point
lace cape; white and red canedias in her hair,
pearl band and necklace and other ornaments
nj II