The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White HouseCarpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
History
The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White House
Carpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Anecdotes; Presidents -- United States -- Anecdotes
The day after the review of Burnside’s division, some photographers
from Brady’s Gallery came up to the White House to make some
stereoscopic studies for me of the President’s office. They requested
a dark closet, in which to develop the pictures; and without a
thought that I was infringing upon anybody’s rights, I took them to
an unoccupied room of which little “Tad” had taken possession a few
days before, and with the aid of a couple of the servants, had fitted
up as a miniature theatre, with stage, curtains, orchestra, stalls,
parquette, and all. Knowing that the use required would interfere with
none of his arrangements, I led the way to this apartment.
Everything went on well, and one or two pictures had been taken, when
suddenly there was an uproar. The operator came back to the office,
and said that “Tad” had taken great offence at the occupation of
his room without his consent, and had locked the door, refusing all
admission. The chemicals had been taken inside, and there was no way
of getting at them, he having carried off the key. In the midst of
this conversation, “Tad” burst in, in a fearful passion. He laid all
the blame upon me,--said that I had no right to use his room, and that
the men should not go in even to get their things. He had locked the
door, and they should not go there again--“they had no business in his
room!” Mr. Lincoln had been sitting for a photograph, and was still
in the chair. He said, very mildly, “Tad, go and unlock the door.”
Tad went off muttering into his mother’s room, refusing to obey. I
followed him into the passage, but no coaxing would pacify him. Upon
my return to the President, I found him still sitting patiently in the
chair, from which he had not risen. He said: “Has not the boy opened
that door?” I replied that we could do nothing with him,--he had gone
off in a great pet. Mr. Lincoln’s lips came together firmly, and then,
suddenly rising, he strode across the passage with the air of one bent
on punishment, and disappeared in the domestic apartments. Directly
he returned with the key to the theatre, which he unlocked himself.
“There,” said he, “go ahead, it is all right now.” He then went back
to his office, followed by myself, and resumed his seat. “Tad,” said
he, half apologetically, “is a peculiar child. He was violently excited
when I went to him. I said, ‘Tad, do you know you are making your
father a great deal of trouble?’ He burst into tears, instantly giving
me up the key.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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