Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN • 53The courtship came to nothing. Senator Beveridge says:Although it was afterwards given out that Douglas hadproposed to Mary and was refused because of his bad"morals," that statement was obviously protective propagandausual in such cases; for the shrewd, alert and, eventhen, worldly-wise Douglas never asked Miss Todd tomarry him.Immeasurably disappointed, she tried to arouse Douglas'sjealousy by giving her ardent attention to one of his bitter politicalopponents, Abraham Lincoln. But that didn't bring backDouglas, and she laid her plans to capture Lincoln.Mrs. Edwards, Mary Todd's sister, afterward described thecourtship in this fashion:I have often happened in the room where they were sitting,and Mary invariably led the conversation. Mr. Lincolnwould sit at her side and listen. He scarcely said aword, but gazed on her as if irresistibly drawn toward herby some superior and unseen power. He was charmed withher wit, and fascinated by her quick sagacity. But he couldnot maintain himself in a continued conversation with alady reared as Mary was.In July of that year the great gathering of Whigs which hadbeen talked of for months swarmed down upon Springfield andoverwhelmed the town. They came from hundreds of milesaround, with banners waving and bands playing. The Chicagodelegation dragged half-way across the State a governmentyawl rigged as a two-masted ship. Music was playing on thedancing, cannon belching into the air.ship, girlsThe Democrats had spoken of the Whig candidate, WilliamHenry Harrison, as an old woman who lived in a log cabin anddrank hard cider. So the Whigs mounted a log cabin on wheelsand drew it through the streets of Springfield, behind thirtyyoke of oxen. A hickory tree swayed beside the cabin; coonswere playing in the tree;a barrel of hard cider was on tap bythe door.At night, under the light of flaming torches, Lincoln madea political speech.At one meeting his party, the Whigs, had been accused ofbeing aristocratic and wearing fine clothes while pleading forthe votes of the plain people, Lincoln replied: