DOCSLIB.ORG

Booth and Spirit of Lincoln

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

BOOTH AND SPIRIT OF LINCOLN A STORY OF A LIVING DEAD MAN BY BERNIE BABCOCK AUTHOR OF THE SOUL OF ANN RUTLEDGE, THE SOUL OP ABE LINCOLN, ETC. GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK COPYRIGHT, 1925. BY BBRNIB BABCOCK. TO THE MEMORY OP MARY ANN HOLMES WIFE OF JUNIUB BRUTUS BOOTH, MOTHER OF SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF WHOM WERE THE FAMOUS ACTORS JUNTOS BRUTUS, JR., EDWIN AND JOHN WILKES Though the youngest of these sons, because he forsook the teachings of a Christian mother and walked in the council of the ungodly, made infamous a name that might other* wise have been immortal in the splendor of his art, yet until the heart he broke ceased to beat, its every throb was one of deepest affection for her last born child and her every prayer one for the soul of a man who never in life or death got beyond his mother's love IN APPRECIATION This story, BOOTH AND THE SPIRIT OF LINCOLN, is founded on documentary evidence, a great portion of which was gathered by Finis L. Bates (deceased), early-day friend of John St. Helen, evidence now in possession of his wife, Mrs. Finis L. Bates, 1234 Harbert Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. This evidential matter I have examined with great care, using a strong magnifying glass over some of the signatures to detect the fraud charged by certain writers, who claim to believe Booth was shot in the Garrett barn. For the opportunity of this rigid examination I wish to thank Mrs. Bates and to advise readers of this story who may wish copies of Mr. Bates' book The Escape and Sui- cide of John Wilkes Booth, same containing original matter above referred to, that Mrs. Bates has a few copies. Mr. Bates spent $50,000 accumulating the evidence pre- sented in this book and in later affidavits. The book, now out of print, is invaluable to those desiring first-hand evidence on this disputed case. I also wish to thank Miss Beatrice Prawl, former libra- rian, city of Little Bock, Arkansas, for information fur- nished in research work on this subject, and to others who directed the author to subject matter or supplied clippings for a work that has taken some years to complete* CHARACTERS AND INFLUENCES MAJOR A LIVING DEAD MAN John Wilkea Booth A GHOST The Spirit of Abraham Lincoln A MYSTERIOUS VOICE A FRAGRANT MEMORY A MOTHER'S LOVE MINOR MRS. TEMPLE Friend of John Wilkes Booth MRS. MARY SURRATT Boarding House Keeper JOHN SURRATT Son of Mrs. SurraU ANNA SURRATT Daughter of Mrs. SurraU Louis WEICHMANN Inmate of Surratt Home DR. MUDD Physician of Bryantown, Md. "JOHNNIE" A Hired Man COL. COXE Maryland Planter SOJER TOM WiLLSiNj Mountaineer Preacher BIG EAGLE Cherokee Chief I. TREADKEL Caravan Overseer "CURRY" CHICKEN Seasoned Seaman RAM SUROSH A Yohgi A WOMAN Daughter of the Game FATHER SORIA A Priest DONNA LUISA A Spanish Belle DON JUAN VALENTO Matadore FINIS L. BATES Lawyer GEN. ALBERT PIKE Soldier, Poet, Lawyer, Mason MRS. HARPER Minister's Wife CHARLIE BROWN Hotel Clerk HEROLD, ATZERODT, PAYNE, ACCOMPLICES OF BOOTH; OTHERS. DISPOSITION OF THE BODY OF JOHN WILKES BOOTH He (John Wilkes Booth) was buried near the old jail and a battery of artillery drawn over his grave to obliterate all trace of it. GEN. DAVID D. DANA. John Wilkes Booth was buried under a brick pavement in a room of the old penitentiary building of Washington. GEN. LEW WALLACE. The remains of Booth were carried on a gunboat about ten miles down the Potomac when the body was sunk in the river. CAPT. E. W. HILLAED. The body of Booth was placed on a boat by Capt. Baker and his nephew, a Lieutenant in the New York Seventy- first Volunteers, carried to an island twenty-seven miles from Washington and secretly buried there. COL. WM. P. WOOD. It is claimed, and history discloses, that none of the pursuing party under Lieut. Baker, nor even he himself, knew either Booth or Herold, but they were furnished photographs of them for their identification, while at the inquest the body was not identified by the picture of Booth, so far as we are informed, though it was then and there in the possession of Lieut. Baker. There was no further proof of the identity of the body as that of Booth except the pictures of Booth's relatives, the letters, etc., offered by Conger (found on body) and this was solely relied on. If the body had been that of Booth, positive identification 11 12 DISPOSITION OF THE BODY could have been had by comparison with his pictures, while hundreds, yea thousands of people living in Washington could have been called on to positively identify the dead body of Booth under oath. There were so many who knew him personally and others who had seen him on the stage that it would have been almost as easy to have identified the body of John Wilkes Booth as that of President Lincoln whom he had assassinated, Escape and Suicide of Booth by Finis lu B&tes, p. 157. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE DARLING OF THE GODS 15 II. PLOTTERS 25 III. "LINCOLN! HOSTAGE OP WAR!" 32 IV. LOVE AND CRUSHED LILACS SO V. RIDERS OP THE NIGHT 50 VI. "Now HE BELONGS TO THE AGES" 59 VII. THE HAUNTED THICKET 63 VIII. FUGITIVES 72 IX. BEYOND THE DANGER LINE 81 X. "SPOOKS is SCRIPTURAL" 86 XL THE APPARITION AGAIN 96 XII, THE CAPTURE OP BOOTH 101 XIIL "I AM Now DEAD" 110 XIV. JOE VICK 115 XV. "TELEGRAPH OFFICE" 122 XVI. ON FOUR SCAFFOLDS 128 XVII. THE EMPTY NOOSE 137 XVIIL JESSE SMITH DISAPPEARS 143 XIX. UNDER THE STARS OF MOJAVA 152 XX. "MOTHER'S BOY" 155 XXI. "STAY DEAD!" 164 XXII. ABOUT GHOSTS 172 XXIIL THE SHIP IN THE MIRROR 179 XXIV. OM! MANI PADME, OM! 184 XXV. A DAUGHTER OF THE GAME 194 XXVI. "A MIRACLE!" 207 XXVII. "EVEN AS THE BULL" 212 XXVIII. JOHN ST. HELEN 220 XXIX, ST. HELEN LEAVES GLEN ROSE. , 228 14 CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE XXX. A STRANGE TALE 235 XXXL LIVING EVIDBNCB 243 XXXII. MBS. TEMPLE'S STOHT 259 XXXIII. "Mr GOD! JOHN WILKEB BOOTH!" 267 XXXIV. AFTER TWENTY YEABS 269 XXXV. REPENTANT TEABS 279 XXXVI. A LIVING DEAD MAN 287 XXXVII. WHEN THE HUBLY BUBLY*S DONE 298 XXXVIII. SENSATIONAL. 306 XXXIX. "CHABITY FOB ALL" 312 BOOTH AND THE SPIRIT OF LINCOLN CHAPTER I THE DARLING OF THE GODS "AND the Greek god who looks on the dance with flam- ing eyes but remains like a statue who is he?" "You do not know him?" "It seems I do and yet if I have seen him, where ' ' has it been ? "On the stage most likely/' ' ' The stage ? You do not mean why of course ! It is John Wilkes." ' ' Yes. John Wilkes Booth, the handsomest and most fas- cinating man that ever walked the streets of Washington/' "And such an actor! More than once I have been thrilled by the drawing of his sword. But never have I seen such fire in his eyes." ' ' His stage fire is that of art, consummate, but art. This is the fire of passion whipped high/' "There must be a woman." 4 ' 9 ' Follow his eyes. They do not leave her. The scene was in the ball room of the National Hotel in Washington during the last days of the Civil War. There was the sound of revelry by night that comes of music and laughter, of gay talk and the rhythmic tapping of slippered feet upon smooth floors. For here were gathered the wealthy, the beautiful, the talented and the brave of the land who, even though near-by battle fields were being reddened with fresh blood, danced on apparently as care- 18 16 BOOTH AND THE SPIRIT OP LINCOLN free as the famous fiddler of Rome who made music for devouring flames. Living at the National during this period were Senator and Mrs. Hale with their daughter Bessie and Mr. and Mrs. Temple with Mrs. Temple's greatly admired young friend John Wilkes, youngest brother of the famous Booth family of actors. It was Mrs. Temple who, on the night of the dance where the actor was an angry on-looker, pointed him out to a guest from New Orleans. ' "She must be a beauty/ the guest observed watching the actor. "You are right one of the loveliest women God ever put breath in. She is on the far side of the ball room. When she comes back I will point her out if her enraged lover's eyes do not direct you to her. Did you ever see anyone angrier? He has gone white. His gleaming teeth press " hard against his lips. Jealousy ! He is consumed with it ! "He is a picture worth studying. You call him the 'darling of the gods/ I agree that if perfection of body and beauty of intelligence make a man such, you have not " misnamed him. He looks the part without a blemish. Mrs. Temple laughed well pleased as she said, "He is without a blemish except a few scars that have come of his profession three to be exact. Do you notice how he holds jhis cane with his thumb tucked under? That thumb was twisted out of place as the actor made an effort to shift some scenery. It will never be straight again. If you were closer you would notice that his right eye brow is higher than the other arched up in the middle. This ' came of a sword cut.
Recommended publications
  • [, F/ V C Edna Hammer Cooley 1986 APPROVAL SHEET

    [, F/ V C Edna Hammer Cooley 1986 APPROVAL SHEET

    WOMEN IN AMERICAN THEATRE, 1850-1870: A STUDY IN PROFESSIONAL EQUITY by Edna Hammer Cooley I i i Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland in parti.al fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy ~ /, ,, ·' I . 1986 I/ '/ ' ·, Cop~ I , JI ,)() I co uI (~; 1 ,[, f/ v c Edna Hammer Cooley 1986 APPROVAL SHEET Title of Dissertation: Women in American Theatre, 1850-1870: A Study in Professional Equity Name of Candidate: Edna Hammer Cooley Doctor of Philosophy, 1986 Dissertation and Approved: Dr. Roger Meersman Professor Dept. of Communication Arts & Theatre Date Approved: .;;Jo .i? p ,vt_,,/ /9Y ,6 u ABSTRACT Title of Dissertation: Women in American Theatre, 1850- 1870~ A Study_ in Professional Equi!:Y Edna Hammer Cooley, Doctor of Philosophy, 1986 Dissertation directed by: Dr. Roger Meersman Professor of Communication Arts and Theatre Department of Communication Arts and Theatre This study supports the contention that women in the American theatre from 1850 to 1870 experienced a unique degree of professional equity with men in the­ atre. The time-frame has been selected for two reasons: (1) actresses active after 1870 have been the subject of several dissertations and scholarly studies, while relatively little research has been completed on women active on the American stage prior to 1870, and (2) prior to 1850 there was limited theatre activity in this country and very few professional actresses. A general description of mid-nineteenth-century theatre and its social context is provided, including a summary of major developments in theatre in New York and other cities from 1850 to 1870, discussions of the star system, the combination company, and the mid-century audience.
  • The Hamlet of Edwin Booth Ebook Free Download

    The Hamlet of Edwin Booth Ebook Free Download

    THE HAMLET OF EDWIN BOOTH PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Charles H Shattuck | 321 pages | 01 Dec 1969 | University of Illinois Press | 9780252000195 | English | Baltimore, United States The Hamlet of Edwin Booth PDF Book Seward, Lincoln's Secretary of State. I mean—. Melania married Donald Trump in to become his third wife. Kennedy and was later inspired by Ronald Reagan. Born as Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, she grew up in a middle-class family and had a conventional upbringing. So exactly as you said, he ran away with her to America, leaving his wife, Adelaide Booth, and his son, Richard, in a mansion in London. Americans are as divided as ever. Because many people held up John Wilkes Booth as a great actor. He would never learn his lines, so in order to generate excitement on stage, he would improvise a lot of physical violence. Booth personally, but I have always had most grateful recollection of his prompt action on my behalf. Her sense of fashion has become a great source of inspiration for many youngsters across the world. Grant, also wrote to Booth to congratulate him on his heroism. He had a volatile emotional life. It was a decision he soon came to regret. Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of America and aspired to establish a government which was both, competent and compassionate. Goff Robert Lincoln. You're right that he was volcanic and that he was like a lightning bolt. Edwin and John Wilkes Booth would have quarrels over more than just politics, as well. Bon Jovi has also released two solo albums.
  • Lincoln Studies at the Bicentennial: a Round Table

    Lincoln Studies at the Bicentennial: a Round Table

    Lincoln Studies at the Bicentennial: A Round Table Lincoln Theme 2.0 Matthew Pinsker Early during the 1989 spring semester at Harvard University, members of Professor Da- vid Herbert Donald’s graduate seminar on Abraham Lincoln received diskettes that of- fered a glimpse of their future as historians. The 3.5 inch floppy disks with neatly typed labels held about a dozen word-processing files representing the whole of Don E. Feh- renbacher’s Abraham Lincoln: A Documentary Portrait through His Speeches and Writings (1964). Donald had asked his secretary, Laura Nakatsuka, to enter this well-known col- lection of Lincoln writings into a computer and make copies for his students. He also showed off a database containing thousands of digital note cards that he and his research assistants had developed in preparation for his forthcoming biography of Lincoln.1 There were certainly bigger revolutions that year. The Berlin Wall fell. A motley coalition of Afghan tribes, international jihadists, and Central Intelligence Agency (cia) operatives drove the Soviets out of Afghanistan. Virginia voters chose the nation’s first elected black governor, and within a few more months, the Harvard Law Review selected a popular student named Barack Obama as its first African American president. Yet Donald’s ven- ture into digital history marked a notable shift. The nearly seventy-year-old Mississippi native was about to become the first major Lincoln biographer to add full-text searching and database management to his research arsenal. More than fifty years earlier, the revisionist historian James G. Randall had posed a question that helps explain why one of his favorite graduate students would later show such a surprising interest in digital technology as an aging Harvard professor.
  • Proquest Dissertations

    Proquest Dissertations

    INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, som e thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of com puter printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI EDWTN BOOTH .\ND THE THEATRE OF REDEMPTION: AN EXPLORATION OF THE EFFECTS OF JOHN WTLKES BOOTH'S ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHANI LINCOLN ON EDWIN BOOTH'S ACTING STYLE DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Michael L.
  • William Shakespeare's

    William Shakespeare's

    classic repertory company STUDY GUIDE William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR Education Outreach Supporters Funded in part by generous individual contributors, the National Endowment for the Arts, Massachusetts Cultural Council, Foundation for MetroWest, Fuller Foundation, The Marshall Home Fund, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, and Watertown Community Foundation. This program is also supported in part by grants from the Billerica Arts Council, Brookline Commission for the Arts, Canton Cultural Council, Brockton Cultural Council, Lawrence Cultural Council, Lexington Council for the Arts, Marlborough Cultural Council, Newton Cultural Council, Watertown Cultural Council, and Wilmington Cultural Council, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Classic Repertory Company is produced in cooperation with Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre NEW REP ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 200 DEXTER AVENUE WATERTOWN, MA 02472 the professional theatre company in residence at the artistic director jim petosa managing director harriet sheets arsenal center for the arts A Timeline of Shakespeare’s Life 1564 Born in Stratford-upon-Avon 1582 Marries Anne Hathaway 1585 Moves to London to pursue theatre career 1592 London closes theatres due to plague 1593 Starts to write sonnets 1594 Publishes first works of poetry 1594 Starts managing, as well as writing for, the Lord Chamberlain’s Men 1599 Writes Julius Caesar 1600 Writes Hamlet, one of his most well-known plays 1603 The Lord Chamberlain’s Men is renamed the King’s Men in honor of the new King James’ patronage 1604 Retires from acting 1613 The Globe Theatre burns down 1614 The Globe Theatre is rebuilt 1616 Dies and is buried at Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon adapted from http://absoluteshakespeare.com/trivia/timeline.htm C.1600 JOHN TAYLOR THE CHANDOS PORTRAIT, LONDON PORTRAIT GALLERY, NATIONAL Why do we read Shakespeare? Shakespeare’s works are over 400 years old.
  • Amberglow of Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

    Amberglow of Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

    LHNC Q LN KQ Q M LIBRA RY M EMQ RHA L t/oe Glow of 190] fou n ded by H A RLA N H O YT H O RNER a n d H ENRIETTA C A LH O UN H O RNER CO PY RI H TED 1 G , 939 BY A R O LD F A I A TE N R NC S G S . T SPEC KA L PREN KNG O F 300, PRINTED IN TH E UNITED STATES , DEA TH Q F A NN RUTLEDGE H ERE A RE the chiding leaves ? ? i s that the winter snow a- falling Is it her that ’ s calling me I n the brooding cold ? l hear in every sou nd In wind ' i In heavy rain that a falling I say again I hear her calling me ' h n Why , oh W y should every natural sou d A bound with pleading cries? Why must every gnarled tree Easily W hisper sighs ? l know , a That life is living A nd death is easily met e But listen i hear her callin g yet ' And though i live for ages My soul shall ever see n A frie dl y , constant shadow That pleads and waits for m e. H E MEMORY Abraham Li ncoln is like a spirit within t h e s e United States that reveals a deep significance only after ‘ r long and an alytical thought . A nation lived prio to h i s comi n g but kept on doing so only under - n w e his after life force .
  • OF HISTORY Volume XLI September, 1945 No

    OF HISTORY Volume XLI September, 1945 No

    INDIANA MAGAZINE OF HISTORY Volume XLI September, 1945 No. 3 Herndon’s Contribution to Lincoln Mythology LOUISA. WARREN The primary and perhaps the most important task of a painstaking biographer is to test the reliability of his source material. The average historian is often tempted to throw the responsibility for the accuracy of his deductions on other authors who have preceded him in the same field of effort. This is accomplished by the use of a generous distribution of footnotes and references, supplemented with an exhaustive bibliography. Supported by this array of evidences he at- tempts to give his argument the tone of authority. This method of approach by many Lincoln historians is responsible for the continual repetition of folklore and fable, until numer- ous, untenable stories, so widely circulated, have become ac- cepted generally as factual, and constitute what we may term, “Lincoln Mythology.” There is no collection of writings, consisting of manu- scripts, correspondence, recorded traditions, fragments of folklore, and personal reminiscences, which has contributed more definitely to the current opinion of Abraham Lincoln’s private life, than the compilation known as the Herndon collection of Lincoln papers.’ One would lack the ability of discrimination if he did not acknowledge the historical value of much of the information contained in these docu- ments, but he would also show the absence of nice perception The originals of the Herndon-Weik Collection are in the Library of Congress. They are divided into five main groups. I. Association Pieces A. A sheet from the home-made arithmetic book of Abraham Lincoln R.
  • The Soul of Ann Rutledge : Abraham Lincoln's Romance

    The Soul of Ann Rutledge : Abraham Lincoln's Romance

    LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE FOUNDATION ^^ j,^^^ /yl^ . //Wv^2^^/^ /^.^^2^^ i^^C.e^'^. Digitized by tine Internet Arcliive in 2010 witli funding from Tlie Institute of Museum and Library Services through an Indiana State Library LSTA Grant http://www.archive.org/details/soulofannrutledgOOinbabc THE SOUL OF ANN RUTLEDGE ABBAHAM LINCOLN'S ROMANCE SECOND IMPRESSION " ABRAH.\M, THIS PLACE SEEMS HOLY AND YOU ARE ITS PROPHET Page 276 THE SOUL OF ANN RUTLEDGE ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S ROMANCE BY BERNIE BABCOCK WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR BY GAYLE EOSKINS PHILADELPHL^ & LONDON J. B. LIPPINCOTT COjMPANY 1919 OOPTHIOHT, I9I9, BT J. B. LIPPDJCOTT COMPANT PRINTED BT J. B. LIPPIWCOTT COMPANT AT THS WASHINGTON SQUABE PEBSS PHILADELPHIA, V. S. A. ToJ AUTHOR'S NOTE In the tremendous output of Lincolniana that has been given to literature, it seems strange that no adequate story has been given of one of the greatest loves in history. Many writers have referred to it and to its moulding power on the lover's after life. Some have thrown sidelights on the character of the woman. Some have mentioned her rare gift of song and her unusual endowment of mind, and one writer has given a careful description of her personal appearance. But so far as careful and exhaustive research shows, all this matter has never been woven into one story. It is also strange that there has been so much controversy regarding the religious views of Abraham Lincoln, and by those whose faith is based on the evidence required by the Great Teacher when He said, '* Ye shall know them by their fruits." Nor should it ever have been taken as an evidence of lack of faith because he did not accept the creedal beliefs of his day, for had not the Christ Himself strenuously denied 7 AUTHOR'S NOTE much that was insisted on in His day, Christian- ity could never have been possible.
  • Ann Rutledge in American Memory: Social Change and the Erosion of a Romantic Drama

    Ann Rutledge in American Memory: Social Change and the Erosion of a Romantic Drama

    Ann Rutledge in American Memory: Social Change and the Erosion of a Romantic Drama BARRY SCHWARTZ A legend of a shining, deathless, holy and pure passion arose, spread, grew by some inherent vital sheen of its own or of the need of those who wanted it, of Ann Rutledge. Carl Sandburg, The Prairie Years Among the many love stories that poetry, biography, film, and drama told during the first half of the twentieth century, that of Abraham Lincoln and Ann Rutledge occupies a special place. Although scholars have argued for decades about the role Ann Rutledge played in Abra- ham Lincoln’s life,1 this essay says nothing about that question; rather, it speaks about the diminished relevance of the question itself. Moving back and forth between images of tragic romance and the changing ethos of American culture, the essay reviews the emergence and diffu- sion of the Ann Rutledge story. It explains why the story evoked strong public interest during the Progressive and New Deal eras, remained popular until the 1950s, then faded as a postindustrial society intensified demands for diversity, inclusion, racial justice, and gender equality. Diminishing popular interest in Ann Rutledge accompanied by rising academic interest raises important questions for scholars of collective memory. A second-cousin of “public opinion,” “collective memory” refers to the distribution throughout society of beliefs, knowledge, feelings, and moral judgements about the past. Only in- dividuals possess the capacity to contemplate the past, but beliefs do not originate in the individual alone, nor can they be explained on the basis of personal experience.
  • Abraham Lincoln Assassination

    Abraham Lincoln Assassination

    4 \J s > 3 o <v n o fj o X H The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln John Wilkes Booth Miscellaneous Excerpts from newspapers and other sources From the files of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection 7/ 2oo<? e>W. OJ3o H says f * ington, Zd. The stex ™ 2d of forehead Uty^.^ > found floating at Govemment ^U'lSD^^SytranBlatecl and is as follows: Washington, April 15, 1865. back m rd J ° he fell ,g°^.° ^- e Mind well that : J. WILKES BOOTH. of expression—those orbs that can meet in On the back of the letter are two endorse- love or flame with passion ; his glances were ments, the first being," Hon. N. S. O. Labam. keen and he read character intuitively. In Richmond, February 12, 1865, In relation to fact, he exercised a kind of magnetism over plans and means of burning the enemy's ship- the person with whom he conversed, and no ping, <fcc. Preparations are in the hands of one could resist his fascination. This was the Prof. McCullough, and are known to only one secret of his influence over Harold, Atzerott party. He asks the President to have an in- and Payne. A mass of curling, jetty hair terview with General Harris, formerly M. C crowned his square forehead and brows ; sueh from Missouri, on the subject." The other is, was his physique. A person who saw him " the Secretary of State, at his convenience, after death, remarked that his features were will please see General Harris, and hear what still beautiful, but it was evident that he had plan he has, for overcoming the difficulties undergone a great struggle, and was now at heretofore experienced.' rest.
  • Lincoln's Ghosts

    Lincoln's Ghosts

    LINCOLN’S GHOSTS: THE POSTHUMOUS CAREER OF AN AMERICAN ICON Kimberly N. Kutz A dissertation submitted to the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History. Chapel Hill 2013 Approved by: John F. Kasson W. Fitzhugh Brundage Bernard Herman David Morgan Heather A. Williams ©2013 Kimberly N. Kutz ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii ABSTRACT KIMBERLY NOELLE KUTZ: Lincoln’s Ghosts: The Posthumous Career of an American Icon (Under the direction of Professor John F. Kasson) American cultural productions repeatedly have depicted Abraham Lincoln as “living on” as a spirit after his assassination in 1865. The unprecedented death toll of the Civil War coupled with the uncertain future of African American citizenship in the years after the war led Americans, both black and white, to imagine and reimagine how a living Lincoln would have responded to contemporary issues in the United States. As they grappled with Lincoln’s legacy for American race relations, artists, writers, and other creators of American culture did not simply remember Lincoln but envisioned him as an ongoing spiritual presence in everyday life. Immediately after the Civil War, when the American Spiritualist movement encouraged the bereaved to believe that departed loved ones watched over and comforted the living, popular prints and spirit photography depicted Lincoln’s ghost remaining to guide the American people. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, actors who played Lincoln on the American stage presented themselves as embodied forms of his spirit, in the process eschewing Lincoln’s political achievement of Emancipation in favor of sentimental portrayals of his boyhood and family life.
  • “It Would Just Kill Me to Marry Mary Todd”: Courtship and Marriage

    “It Would Just Kill Me to Marry Mary Todd”: Courtship and Marriage

    Chapter Six “It Would Just Kill Me to Marry Mary Todd”: Courtship and Marriage (1840-1842) In 1842, Lincoln married Mary Todd, a woman who was to make his domestic life “a burning, scorching hell,” as “terrible as death and as gloomy as the grave,” according to one who knew him well.1 COURTING MARY OWENS Lincoln’s courtship of Mary Todd is poorly documented, but indirect light on it is shed by his earlier, well-documented romance with Mary S. Owens. Born in Kentucky a few months before Lincoln, Mary Owens received a good education at the home of her wealthy father, a planter in Green County.2 She “was very different from Anne Rutledge.” Not only was she older, bigger, better-educated, and raised “in the most refined society,” she also “dressed much finer than any of the ladies who lived about New 1 William H. Herndon, quoted in Michael Burlingame, The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1994), 268. 2 Nathaniel Owens, out “of his deep concern for the education of his children . maintained a private school in his pretentious plantation home, to which came instructors from Transylvania University, Ky., to give instruction to his children and those of his neighbors.” On his 5000-acre plantation he grew cotton and tobacco, which he farmed with the help of two dozen slaves. Notes on Nathaniel Owens, Fern Nance Pond Papers, Menard County Historical Museum, Petersburg, Illinois. According to William B. Allen, Owens “was a farmer of good education for the times, and of a high order of native intellect.