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TAD LINCOLN..Most of those who real the dispatch hn-nnouncing the death of Thomas Todd Lin coin will never think of the well-grown young1 gentleman who died on Saturday at Chicago. The name of “ Tad —a pet name given by himself with his first stammering utterances, and adopted l»y his fond parents and the world—recalls the tricky ilttle sprite who gave to that sad and solemn White House of the war the only comic relief It knew. The years that have followed, spent in study ami travel,'produced an utterly different person. The Tad Lincoln of our history ceased to exist long ago. The modest and cordial young fellow who passed through New York a few days ago with Ins mother will never be known outside the circle of his mourning friends. But “ little Tad ” will he remembered as long as any live who tiore u personal share in the great movements a hose center for four years was at Washington.He was ao full of life and vigor -so bubbling over with health and high spirits, that he kept the house alive with Ids pranks and Ins fantastic enterprises. He was alw ay s a “chattered libertine, and after tin* death of his brother Willie, a prematurely serious and studious eliild, and the departure of Robert for college, he installed himself as the absolute tyrant of the Executive Mansion. He was idolized by both lus father and mother, petted an I Indulg 'd by hi- teachers, and fawned upon and caressed bv that noisome horde of otflee-seekers which infested tiie unte-rooms of the White House. He had a very bad opinion of books, and 110 opinion of discipline, and thought very little of any tutor who would not assist him in yoking Ins kids to a chair or in driving lus dogs tandem over tin* South Lawn. He was as shrewd as lie was lawless, and always knew whether he could make a tutor serviceable or not. If he found one w 1th obstinate ideas of the superiority of grammar to kite-flying as an intellectual employment, he soon found means of getting rid of him. He had so much to do that he felt lie could not waste time in learning to spell. Early in the morning you could hear his shrill pipe resounding through the dreary corriders of the Executive resi-deiiee. The day passed in a rapid succession of plots and commotions, and when the President laid dow n his weary pea toward midnight, he generally found his infant goblin asleep under his tame, or roasting his curly head by the fire-place: and the tall chief would pick up the child and trudge off to tied with the drowsy little burden on tils shoulder, stooping under the doors and dodging the chandeliers. IMie President took infinite comfort in the child's rude health, fresh fun, and uncontrollable boisterousness. He was pleased to see him growing up in ignorance of books, but with singularly accurate ideas of practical matters He was a fearless rider, while yet so small that Ills legs stuck out horizontally from the saddle, lb* hud i hat power of turning and attaching animals to himself, which seems the especial gift of kindly and unlettered natures. “ I.et him run.” the easy-going President would say; “he lias time enough left to learn his letters and get pokev. Ilob w as Ju-t such a little rascal, and now lie is a very decent boy .It was evident that with all his insubordination and reckless mischief, Hie spoiled child was at heart of a truthful and generous nature. He treated flatterers and office-seekers with a curious coolness and contempt, but he often espoused the cause of sonic poor w idow or tattered soldier, whom he found waiting 111 the ante-roorns, and it was most amusing to see the hearty little fellow dragging his shabby proteges Into the Executive presence, ordering the ushers out of the w ay. and demanding immediate action from headquarters. The President rarely refused a grace of tins kind, and the demands were not so frequent as to lose the charm of novelty.One of the tricks into which lus Idleness and his enterprise together drove him, was the occasion of much , laughter to the judicious and much horror to the respectable in Washington. He invested, one morning, all his pocket money in buying the stock in trade of an old w oman w ho sold gingerbread near the Treasury. He made the Government carpenters give him a board and some trestles, which he set up in the imposing porte-cochere of the White House, and on this rude counter displayed his wares. Every office-seeker w ho entered the house that morning bought a toothsome luncheon of the keen little merchant, and when an hour after the opening of the booth a member of the young pastry man the admired center of a group of grinning servants and toadies, he had filled hi-pockets and til* hat with currency, tin* spoil of the American public Till* juvenile operator made lively work of his ill-gotten gains, however, and before night was penniless again.Although still a mere child at the death of (its fa-tlicr, this terrible shock greatly sotvrod and steadied him. His brother Robert at once took charge ol his education, and he made rapid progress up to the time of his sailing for Europe with his mother. He has ever since remained with her, displaying u thoughtlu! devotion and tenderness beyond Ins years, and strangely at variance with the mischievous thoughtlessness of his childhood, lie cauie back a short j w lnle ago, greatly improved by ins residence abroad, but always the same cordial, frank, warm-hearted boy. In his loss tie* already fearfully bereaved faml-! ly will suffer a new and deep affliction, and thovvorld,! w hich never did and never will know him, w ill not i withhold a tribute of regret for the child whoa** gayety and affection cheered more than anything else the worn and wi ary heart of tin* gr at President through the toilsome years of the war.
Newspaper Details
Middletown Evening Press
Middletown, New York, US
Thu, Jul 20, 1871
Page 1
Full Page
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Anonymous
DC, USA 29 Dec 2024
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