Evening star., 1941-04-13

posed Of irrespective of color, but
it so appeared that previous to her
contributions being received its
managers had decided otherwise.
On learning their determination,
she wrote the following letter to
Mr.. Alex Williamson of this city,
a copy of which was, upon its re-
ceipt, transmitted to the Commit
tee of Management, and by them
at once given effect. and arrange
ments made for the sale OF her
donations in a manner quite satis-
factory to her:
"'Chicago, 5th July, 1866.-My
dear Sir: I am surprised and dis
appointed to learn that an in
clination is displayed in the man.
agement of the funds Of the
Orphans Fair at Washington, to
exclude the families of the colored
soldiers from any participation in
the result of their benevolent efforts.
The latter equally shared the dam
gers of the battlefield and fought
to redeem our common country
from the hands of the oppressor.
Surely all objections will be removed
in regard to their rights and priv.
ilegeS and the orphans Of this
oppressed race be fully remembered
in the distribution of comforts.
feel assured in thus expressing my
views to you on this sacred subject,
that I am only reiterating the senti-
ments that pervaded the life OF
my deeply lamented husband and
the advice he would have given
we're he still living. In the cause
of humanity his precious life was
sacrificed and We can but pray
that his noble example will be
remembered and initiated by all who
prefer to follow in his footsteps. I
should be better satisfied if my few
gifts. when disposed of, should be
shared alike, without distinction
of color. In the event that such
is not the case, pray say to any
party who entertainS the same views
as myself, in making arrangements
in the future for the benefit of the
colored people, any mementoes of
my beloved husband in my possess
sion, as far as my feelings will
permit, shall be at their service. II
they can be disposed of profitably.
In so doing I am sure my husband
would approve. Yesterday was an.
other of the anniversaries that
bring such sorrow to my deeply be-
reaved heart. I am pleased when
all such days are gone. I have
simply written you note expressive
of my feelings. You are friend
and will understand them. I re-
main, very truly,
MARY LINCOLN.
Mrs. Lincoln early acquired lik-
ing for politics. Like her distin.
guished husband, she was originally
Whig and was especially fond Of
Henry Clay. She hoped some day
to see her father President. and
when she married Lincoln she did
all she could to inspire him in
reaching the goal that it should be
every Americans ambition to reach,
or to be of some higher service
at least.
How dismal would be our lives II
we did not have desire to better
our conditions. TO make something
more Of ourselves, to elevate our
minds and our morals, to better
equip ourselves for our own and the
public's good. Indeed, ambition has
for centuries been the guiding star
of the Anglo-Saxon race; it made
Great Britain what it is, and it
made our own country the greatest
democracy on earth today, and as
long as there are enough ambitious
people in this country, the Republic
will be sustained.
And yet ambition is one of the
crimes" charged against the wom-
an who shared Lincolns trials in
the White House; who in her early
married life did all of her own
housework; made all Of her own
clothes and the better part Of Mr..
Lincoln's, and besides made her chill
dren's wearing apparel; and this,
for an educated woman, reared in
luxury and refinement. surely
stamps her as having been of the
highest American ideals. Had it
not been for Mary Todd the chances
are that Abraham Lincoln would
never have been President and the
world would have accordingly been
the loser.
Indeed, when she and Lincoln
were married, on Friday the 4th of
November, 1912, they did not have
money enough with which to go to
housekeeping but boarded for a
while at the Globe Tavern, in
Springfield, for the modest sum Of
81 a week before going to their
own little cottage at the corner Of
Eighth and Jackson streets to
which they subsequently added an