Year: 1875

representative Of the Chicago Times, in quest of
scientific facts by means of personal observation,
visited the institution OF Dr. Patterson at Batavia and
while there introduced to Mrs Lincoln by mutual
friend, who happened to be there at the tme
as a newspaper man, but gentleman who knew her
history and who took friendly interest in all that per-
tanned to her welfare.


The lady appeared In very good spirits and her mind
was clear and sprighty. After preliminary con-
versaon she invited the gentleman her room to
tain view of pastoral landscape from that source
and pursue the interesting conversation al.
ready begun. This opportunity, which Ind thus
been presented by circumstances was improved
by the gentleman of the press, TO discover tho
exact condition OF her mind, so far as
he able to do by drawing her into conversation
on all possible topics in which he deemed her have
been interested, either pleasantly painfully during
her life. II there were any weak points in her mind he
was determined to find out what they If she
were broodng over any circumstance Of her sad life he
bent finding out what 1t Her visit to Lon
don alluded TO and thoroughly discussed Little
Tad was with her there, and she alluded to the child
dead, but whose memory very dear to her with
all the warmth and affection fond mother might be
expected W exhibit There was, however, sign Of
weakness any abnormal manifestations of mind vis-
Bile She conversed nuently and nationally about her
wanderngs in England She narrated her experiences
in Germany dwelling on the subject of her travels with
much detail and interest to the end During all this
time she not only exhibited sound and rational judg-
mcnt but gave evidences of the possession OF uncon-
mon powers Of observation and memory.


Her attention was called 10 the time when the visitor
had met her in Washington in 1862 The occasion she
remembered Knowing that the death Of little Tad
and the assassination of Mr. Lincoln were two incidents
in her lie that were known 10 have made the most
powerful impressions her mind Of any events which
had occurred TO her, these circumstances were
adroty introduced into the conversation During all
this her admirable mind maintained is polsc with per-
fccon Concerning Mr. Lincoln she related anecdotes
illustrating his extreme good nature. she convcrsed
about the assassination. No mental weakness, under
any possible test, could be discovered She spoke of
public men with whom she had become acquainted
durino hpr residence 10
dweIt the friendship which existed between MIR.
Seward and Mr. Lincoln and herself II the habit Of
the Secretary To dine with Mr. Lincoln and herself in
formally two or three times week She alluded TO the
Motcys whom she met IN England and spoke with great
scnsbity of their kindness, and told how badly she felt
when the Minister removed She very keeny de-
scrbcd the characters she had met abroad showing that
she possesses great powers Of analysis She gave her
OF foreigners and foreign matters concerning
which she exhlDted great apprehension and acuteness
Of mind She also spoke Of the books she engaged
In reading and the life sho led Her health pres
cnt, she observed, was superb She had never been
better When she 10 Chicago from Florida she
had been suffering somewhat from fever and her nerv
GUS system somewhat shattered She was pros
tratcd and any ccccntrcities she might havo mani
tested then f any, she attributed to this fact There
some light iron bars the door, which she
called the attention OF the gentleman She
said they seemed to menace her. and they annoyed
her with the idea that she was in prison Shc was
somewhat apprehcnsve that tho prison bars and tho
presence OF insane people in tho house. whose wild md
piercing cries she sometimes heard might affect her
mind TO unscat her in time She commented
upon JouTnais JOuTllaStS With great Intelligence.
Tho conversation took the widest possible range and
from this the representative OF the Times became con.
WINGED that her mind was in perfectly sound and
healthy condition She made complaint of her treat
mcnL She thought sho would like a little more liberty
TO drive out and little liberty TO receive her


friends She exhibited marvellous charity through the
entire course OF the interview for those by whose nstr
mentality she had been placed there The gentleman
departed thoroughly convinced that whatever condi.
tion OF mind Mrs Lincoln may have been in previously
she is unquestionaby compos rcnts now and ought not
to be deprived Of her liberty,