Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1897 — LINCOLN’S LOVE-MAKING. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LINCOLN’S LOVE-MAKING.

Encountered His Political Rival While Addressing Miss Todd. In 1839 Miss Mary Todd, of Kentucky, arrived in Springfield to visit a married sister, Mrs. Edwards. At the instance of his friend Speed, who was also a Kentuckian, Lincoln became a visitor at the Edwards’, and before long it was apparent to the observant among those In Springfield that the lively young lady held him captive. Engagements at that time, and in that neighborhood, were not announced as soon as they were made, and it is not at all impossible that Miss Todd and Mr. Lincoln were betrothed many months before any other than Mrs. Edwards and Mr. Speed knew of it, writes John Gilmer Speed in the Ladies’ Home Journal. At this time, as was the case till Lincoln was elected to the presidency, his one special rival in Illinois was Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Douglas had more of the social graces than Mr. Lincoln, and it appeared to him that nothing would be more interesting than to cut out his political rival in tho affections of the entertaining and lively Miss Todd, and so he paid her court. A spirited young lady from Kentucky at that time In Illinois would have been almost less than human if she had refused to accept the attentions of the two leading men of the locality. Therefore, Miss Todd being quite human, encouraged Douglas, and again there was what nowadays would have been called a flirtation. This course of action did not spur Lincoln on in his devotion, but made him less ardent, and he concluded, after much self-worriment, to break off the engagement, which he did, but at the same

interview there was a reconciliation and a renewal of the engagement.

MRS. LINCOLN.