Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
Some of Them Lice Here in W1asl1ington, 4
R0brt T0ddLmcoM in I926-Ou
Spotlight in W2Hich Their Famous
Tb1ho Pilots Hu. Oaon4upld7e =

he is going to drop the Todd and be just Robert
Lincoln BsckWith hereafter.
Robert Todd Lincoln, while he did not force
education on his daughters, probably would
have encouraged college career for his son.
Abraham Lincoln, End, had the boy lived. This
boy, who was always called Jack, was In school
in Paris at the time Of his death The family
was in London where Mr.. Lincoln was United
States Minister. ..--s
touch of irony lies in the fact that the
Lincoln grandchildren and Observation-Disclosures
have not pursued learning with the zeal Of their
distinguished ancestor. Abraham Lincoln pored
over books by candle and freight, that he
might obtain at his own hands the education
denied him by circumstances. We have all seen
the pictures CT this tall young man, doing sums
with chalk on shovel. We know that while
he was still Just poor lawyer out in Illinois, he
sent Robert away to the East to school, even
though he himself was so hard up that he
could not scrape up railroad fare to New York,
so that he might visit his SON..
Friends of Robert Lincoln declare that there
never was in his mind any antagoniSm to edu-
cation They say he believed in it whole
heartedly but felt that it should not be forced
upon child who was unwilling. 1t probably
never occurred to him to send his daughters
away to school. He knew they would never have
to earn their own Lvings The fact that neither
Of his grandsons has had a college career seems
to be due to causes other than lack OF encour-
agement from their grandfather. He was I'M
menSely pleased when his nameSake, Boooy
Beckwith decided to go to Phillips-Exeter. The
other grandson. Lincoln Isham, undoubtedly
would have been q college man had his health
permitted. Friends declare that he has splen-
did mind and assert that his mental agility,
combined with most. attractive and charming
personality, would have sent him far along the
line Of attainment, could he have managed 1t
physically. He prepared for Harvard, and be-
gan college career there, but his frail body
was unequal to the strain.
Nevertheless whatever the causes may be, we
see Lincolns grandchildren today living quiet
lives, keeping as far from the spotlight as pos
sble and moving always within narrow cir
Gle of friends and intimates.
The direct Lincoln line died with -Lncolns
son, Robert Todd Lincoln, in 1926. The only
boy in the Robert Lincoln family, who was
named Abraham for his famous grandfather,
but was always known as Jack in the family
circle died at the age Of It,
Robert Lincoln's other children were girls,
named Jessie and Mary. Both are living. Jessie,
mother Of Mary and Bob Beckwith, is now
Mrs Randolph of Washington. Mary Lincoln
is Mrs Charles Isham of New York City.
Many Of the stories about Old Abe cluster
about his hesitancy to get married.
Abes granddaughter, Jessie, however, has
been married three times. First to Mr.. Beck
with, a writer; secondly, to Frank Edward
johnson, an explorer, and lastly, to Robert J.
Randolph of the Virginia Randolphs. who is an
engineer by profession. The Randolph family
tree goes back to John Rolfe and Pocahontas
Of early romantic Virginia history. Mrs. RAM
dolph's two children Mary and Bob, are by her
FIRST marriage. She divorced Mr.. Beckwith,- also
Mr. johnson, who now lives in Cuba.
Mrs Randolph is known for having one Of
the kindest and gentlest hearts in the world.
She has helped innumerable young artists and
other deserving people who needed her charity