Abraham Lincoln & the Hooker

[mallorys_camera]

One of the nicest things about the little tablet B gave me is he put his Netflix account on it. Last night I watched a History Channel program on Abraham Lincoln as seen through the eyes of his law partner, William Herndon.

They were partners for 16 years until Lincoln was catapulted to the Presidency. They had a peculiar kind of intimacy – Herndon made no secret of his loathing for Mrs. Lincoln, the vain, ambitious and hysterical née Mary Todd, so Herndon was never invited to the Lincoln home.

After Lincoln's assassination, Herndon began collecting stories about Lincoln from the people who'd known him in Springfield and before. These stories did not synchronize well with the various hagiographies that sprang up immediately after Lincoln's death, so for more than a century Herndon was discredited as an authoritative source of Lincoln information. In particular, Lincoln's only surviving son Robert Todd Lincoln hated Herndon – presumably because Herndon described the marriage of Robert's parents as one based on "policy" rather than on romantic love.

In the last 20 years or so, the academic assessment of Herndon has changed.

Herndon recounts a story told him by Lincoln's close friend Joshua Speed.

Lincoln, desirous to "have a little", asked his bunkmate, "do you know where I can get some."

Speed recommended Honest Abe to a fancy woman of his acquaintance. After Abe and the lady stripped down, Abe asked, How much? And the lady told Abe, Five bucks.

This upset Abe, who only had three bucks on him.

Lincoln thought a moment or so and said – 'I do not wish to go on Credit. I'm poor & I don't know where my next dollar will come from and I cannot afford to Cheat you.'

Lincoln offered the girl three bucks. The narrative makes it seem as though she was so charmed by his honesty, she was willing to waive the fee altogether. But this, Lincoln was not prepared to do. So he climbed out of bed, buttoned up his pants and went on his way.

I can't help thinking if they taught this kind of stuff in high school social studies classes, kids would do so much better on standardized tests.

Comments

[chezsci.livejournal.com]

Well that's the kind of educatin' that sticks with ya. Wonder what kind of vixen Mary was? I always did have a small crush on Sally Field.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Apparently, Mary was pretty nutty. Her only surviving son had her institutionalized a decade or so after the assassination. She was also very greedy, and spent much of the time her husband was in office extorting diamond broaches in exchange for favors.

On the day of his wedding, one of the children in the boarding house where Lincoln lived asked Lincoln where he was going.

"To the devil, I guess," Lincoln replied -- Honest Abe to the last!

[ccjohn.livejournal.com]

What I've read, she was severely mentally ill. Hysterical and depressive, irritable, like bipolar disorder.

[nokomisjeff.livejournal.com]

I used to ask a lot of questions when I was a kid/student. Teachers didn't like that behavior, calling it a distraction/disruption or whatever.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Teachers need to teach to the common denominator. That's usually considerably lower than the capabilities of the brighter kids in the classroom and ends up in those bright kids becoming quite bored. But it's not really the teachers' fault. Public classrooms need to contain fewer students, but the funds aren't there to support that. Hence, the increasing privatization of education.

[kavi-karamy.livejournal.com]

hilarious! this makes me admire abe even more. :)

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

It is a great story, isn't it?

[ccjohn.livejournal.com]

I like this story. I don't believe it but I like it. Naked lady right in front of you, the easier it is to close the deal and the more you want it, you can't take it. You can't take from anyone. Even charity ... charity's for the people who need it.

I had time this morning I didn't expect. Was just looking up my old roommate on the Internet, turns out more of our stuff was taped or video'd than I thought and it's online. She did not like wearing clothes. Me neither, but never expected to tell anyone, I told her. New York found me people with convictions not easily described. Proactive not reactive. Naked with women is the character challenge it is never the same. You can't prepare for it. Pass/fail.

Honesty, integrity, somewhere in these is knowing there are no clothes for you. Clothes are games. Character? --naked out loud.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

I don't believe it but I like it

Why wouldn't you believe it?

[ccjohn.livejournal.com]

Too perfect. Herndon's credibility would be up against the profit motive.

[(Anonymous)]

The problem with American history as taught in US schools is, it AIN'T taught.

What we get instead is American mythology, an entirely different thing altogether.

[mallorys-camera.livejournal.com]

Well, it's the old saying: The victors get to control history. And history is so much prettier without the warts.