LINCOLN, Mary Todd (1818-1882). Autograph letter signed ("Mary Lincoln") to James Orne, Marienbad, Bohemia, 28 May 1870.
6pp., 8vo (8 x 5 in.; 203 x 127 mm). on black-bordered mourning stationery, creases along folds, minor marginal splits not affecting text.
"MY BROKEN HEART CRIES ALOUD AND I SIGH MORE THAN EVER TO BE AT REST BY MY DARLING HUSBAND'S SIDE."
In part: "I wrote to you, dear Mr. Orne, a hurried but sincere statement of facts, a week since from Eger, en route here. Then I told you, what my eldest son and myself have always kept to ourselves, that so soon as my senses could be regained I had every Wash and every other indebtedness sent to me and out of every dollar I could command I paid to the uttermost farthing. In some cases, known by the Administrator, but in a very few, it was all done by ourselves my son and myself out of my money so that it should be said that President Lincoln was not in debt. This is one of the causes, why I am so straightened now, for living as we were compelled to, my husband not being a rich man and we had to pay enormous prices for everything - those war times. When I now hear, from cruel, wicked reckless assertions, how rich I am, often wanting for a meal..."
By 1870, after two years of extensive traveling throughout Europe, Mary Lincoln's financial concerns had reached a breaking point. For nearly five years, she had lobbied Congress for a widow's pension, believing that as the wife of a fallen president, she was just as deserving as any other war widow of such consideration. By this time, rumors about Mary Lincoln's lifestyle in Europe had reached a fever pitch, with sources claiming she was being courted by a Prussian nobleman, which led to further resistance from Congress to considering her request. Eventually, however, the matter was put to a vote, and on 14 July 1870, Congress granted her an annual pension of $3,000 (approximately $75,000 today).
REFERENCES:
Turner, p.561
This lot is located in Chicago.
