Evening star., 1937-11-21
By Louis Sadinq.
RECENT gift to the American
r1enY1le frnn Mrs Charles

RECENT gilt 10 the American
n people from Mrs. Charles
~ 1sham Of Washington, daugh.
a ter of Robert Lincoln, bring,
to mind the article in The Washing.
ton Evening Star of March 8, 1861
In which appeared this social note
Mrs. Lincoln wore a rich, bright
crimson watered silk, with point lace
cape, white and red camellias In he,
hair, pearl band and necklace and
other ornaments of pearl" The even,
Of the evening before had been Presi-
dent Lncoln's first levee.
Those pearls were to turn up again
for they were Mrs. Lincoln's favorite
jewels, and they appeared on every
suitable occasion. The Star Of Febru-
ary Z, 1865, giving an account Of q
White House reception the previous
) night, reported: Mrs. Lincoln was, az
usual. dressed in excellent taste. She
wore beautiful lilac-colored silk, the
skirt of which was festooned with
white satin and black velvet ribbon
formed in the shape of diamonds, the
body being trimmed with fringe; a
mead dress Of point lace, with French
purple feathers; necklace of pearls,
With breaStpin to match; heavy gold
chain and watch; white kid gloves and
tan. 80"
This same costume was again de-
scrlbed on the occasion of Mrs. Lin
coins reception" on February IL,
1865, and the social note expanded
10 add: Prominent among the guests
were Gen. Grant and lady and Vice
Admiral Farragut and lady. The Pres
ident was present and assisted Mrs.
Lincoln in doing the honors of the
occasion"
And one more reference to these
famous pearls. The evening of March
Z, 1865. The Star reported the inaug-
ural ball. Mrs. Lincoln it stated,
was attired in admirable taste. She
wore white silk skirt and bodice,
an elaborately worked white lace dress
over the silk skirt bertha of point
lace and puffs of silk, and white fan
trimmed with ermine and silvered
spangles, white kid gloves and lace
and earrings of pearls. Her hair was
brushed closely back from her fore
head. and head DIRE; composed of
Z wreath of white jessamines and
purple violets with long trailing vines
completed most recherche costume. :"
RRADY, in his famous prints, has
preserved the lovely picture for
us. but even nearer to us than the
photographed evidence, the famous
pearls themselves now come into our
national possession, through the gra-
clous and generous gift of the grand
daughter of Abraham and Mary Todd
Llncoln-Mrs. Charles Isham of Wash
in,gton, daughter of Robert Lincoln,
who was the sole surviving child of
the Lincolns.
This week in the Library of Con-
gress there was placed on display an
exhibit that is as beautiful and exciting
as any real peep into the past is
bound to be. Mrs. 1sham has pre-
sented to the Library of Congress,
as a gift to the Nation under their
charge, as fascinating a collection of
Lincolniana as has ever been released
from private household as an his
torlcal contribution. For this gift in
cludes items as intimately connected
with the lives of the Lincolns as Mary
Todd Lincoln's favorite jewels and the
massive silver inkwell that stood on
the Presidents desk. Personal and
charming, these latest addition to the
library's collection bring the Great
Emancipator and his vivacious, high
spirited wife as near as ones family
hearthside.
All the past, when a burdened wife
and mother sought to Salleviate the
tragic solemnity of war times with
bursts Of gayety, speaks again in these
jewels, while the problems and tribula-
tions OF torn nation pass again in |
procession as they must have passed |
before this silver inkwell, into which
the national leader dipped before in
scrtbing his signature to an endless |
procession of documents and papers
that sought to unravel those prob
lens and wipe out those tribuIations.
In addition to the jewels of Mrs. |
Lincoln, Mrs. Isham's gift includes
the silver inkwell of President Lincoln,
two charming original daguerreotypes
one of the President and one of Mrs.
Lincoln in her youth-numerous books
from Abraham Lincons personal Ii
brary, quaint old album filled with
senatorial autographs, and an original
poem by the President, written in his
own hand on the four pages of fold
ed sheet of note paper.
A IL OF these items, mounted and
presented with sympathetic in
telligence and that charm which char
acterizes Library of Congress exhibits,
6fe displayed in the Lincoln case in
the main exposition hall of the Library
Building, with other treasures con-
nected with the life of immortal Lin
coin. They have been made q direct
gift to the Library of Congress and 50
become the permanent possessions of
the American people.
OF initial interest to the American
people, perhaps, because of their as
sociations will be the pearls of Mrs.
Lincoln. They will be shown on folds
OF gray velvet, and the exhibit in
cludes the elaborate necklace and two
bracelets.
Just how Mrs. Lincoln first came
into possession Of these jewels is no.
where recorded. They were probably
q gift OF Abraham to his wife. Ger
tainly she was fonder of them than
any other jewels in her possession and
this is easy to understand when one
sees IN the Brady prints how becom-
ingly she wore them and how the
pearls set off her slim wrists and plump
throat.
The necklace is made up of varying
sizes OF gold circlets, sets with circles
q pearls. The larger gold circlets con.
tain three rows Of pearls, the smaller,
two. They vary in size from seed
pearls to larger, perfectly formed lit
tie Jewels The circ1etS ora etr,,ro