Letter from Mary Todd Lincoln after the White House
Mary Todd Lincoln's years in the White House were a combination of triumph and tragedy. Never fully accepted by the public and vilified by the press for overspending, her tenure as first lady was unstable at best. After the death of her twelve year old son Willie in 1862, the assassination of President Lincoln shattered the first lady's already fragile state. To compound the matter, Mary was held personally liable for the debts she and the President incurred for improvements to the White House. While battling for her widow's pension, she traveled to Germany in 1868 in search of good health and to escape her many creditors. Left almost penniless and both mentally and physically ill, she pours out her troubles and petitions James Orne for money (GLC03651).
In this letter, Mrs. Lincoln complains of an inflammation of the spine, according to her doctor, brought on by great mental suffering. She shamefully admits her destitute state, "I am not able to have a waiting woman & I suffer greatly often... With my small means, I can only lodge in second class boarding houses, the horror & humiliation of the situation to me, surpasses any thing you can imagine." She calls Lincoln "the Cruelly Martyred President" and laments "While all other- have been so richly rewarded - the loved wife, of the man, who died in his country's service has been left to shed the tears of bitterness & live in poverty - broken hearted." She asks Orne to use his influence to settle her affairs so that she may improve her dire situation. Mrs. Lincoln finally received her pension in 1870 and returned to America in 1871. She was briefly committed to an asylum and died in 1882.
Marisa Morigi
Deputy Curator
GLC03651: Autograph letter signed to James Orne
For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana
Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com
or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.
| |
Frankfurt A Main
Feb y 4 th 1870 |
Hon James H. Orne
My dear Sir
When I wrote you on yesterday so hurriedly & nervously, I believe I did not explain to you, that I was sitting up for the first half hour, in ten days, having been prostrated by quite severe illness. I have been suffering very much this winter, by what my physician pronounces to be inflammation of the spine, brought on he says, by great mental suffering.
He has been engaging me all winter, to go south, and he was more than usually importune on yesterday, after I wrote you. I might as well speak candidly to you & tell you the real & painful truth, that of course with my present reduced means, it is utterly impossible for me to do so. On yesterday, when the Dr was so strongly advocating the change of climate to me & even went so far as to say, that if I remained in this damp climate until spring, he would not answer for the consequences, and I might then be unable to walk.
As it is, for the last three weeks, the burning pain in my back, is such that I am unable to move only from chair to chair. I am not able to have a waiting woman & I suffer greatly often, for the least attention. With my small means, I can only lodge in second class boarding houses, the horror & humiliation of the situation to me, surpasses any thing you can imagine. I had to suggest on yesterday to the Dr that traveling was very expensive, and his reply, kept me awake most of the past night. In the most respectful & solemn manner he said, “Madam the whole of Germany, is watching with the greatest solicitude, to see the wife of the great & good man, rendered more comfortable & placed in the position, by her country, which of right belongs to her as his widow.”
I give you, dear Mr Orne, the very words – do you wonder, that I wish to make my escape, from such surveillance, as it involves, the country, so beloved by us all - & subjects it to criticism – if justice is denied me – for the whole world acknowledges the unparalel ed services of my dearly beloved. And yet you, with your great, good heart will acknowledge, that so far as the Cruelly Martyred President is concerned – those services have been unrewarded. His family, was very precious in his sight & could my husband see me placed – as stern – hard necessity forces me to be. even the charm of His Heavenly house, would be dispelled.
While all other – have been so richly rewarded – the service loved wife, of the man, who died in his country’s has been left to shed the tears of bitterness & live in poverty – broken hearted I am going to speak very plainly with you. I want by the that I will be unable to walk the first of March – for fear the words of the physician, may be fearfully realized to get away from here – to a milder climate & place myself in the hands of a Medical Man who can relieve my great bodily pain – All this, I cannot do without the money. We have so many noble hearted men in our loved land – who will I am sure, no longer see me, hearing in addition to my overwhelming sorrow. so much mortification of spirit – I live in a room without a carpet, where in former years, I would not have placed a servant, yet with continual sickness, preying upon me.
My expenses have been great. Through your great influence cannot you have me by the 1st of March to have my affairs here settled, & means given me even if a few thousand to go home. Whilst hundreds of thousands are so lavishingly bestowed upon others which pleases me greatly to see done. will not the remembrance that President Lincoln, was the head of all & cause something more to be done to ameliorate my most unfortunate condition. If I could be benefited by the [illegible] mention Please write me on receipt of this – your candid views [are greatly appreciated.]
You will kindly consider this letter private save for the eyes of a few of your particular friends,
M.
Please address care
Phillip, [illegible], Schmidt
Frankfurt A Main
|
