The watch was beautiful.
but its inscription pledged Abe's
hue to an entirely
different young "Mary"
Lincoln's wedding present for Mary Todd
cost him $300. The case is gold and blue
enamel, set with sprays of rose diamonds.
came ill and dispirited. His close friend,
Joshua Speed, persuaded him to take a trip.
But Joshua, himself a bachelor and also
fearful of matrimony, did little to reassure
his friend.
Lincoln returned to the Springfield home
of William Butler, where he boarded,
on the evening of Jan. 14. Miss Curtis,
who was visiting there, tried to distract
him. She described the balls and parties she
had attended, the people who had been
present. The Butlers discreetly disappeared
and left Mary to entertain their unhappy
boarder.
Lincoln, always polite and gentle with
women, sat quietly as Mary chattered, but
it was obvious even to Miss Curtis, who
later described him as "pale and nervous,"
that he was not really listening. Suddenly
Lincoln rose and putting his hand in his
waistcoat pocket, said, "Mary, I've got
something for you." Handing her the blue
watch, he walked out without another word
and went upstairs to his room.
Historians have speculated as to why
Lincoln gave the watch he had chosen
so carefully to the wrong Mary. Did he give
it away because he wished to rid himself of
a memento that reminded him so poign
antly of what might have been? Or did
the very name Mary confuse him so that
he gave the watch he had carried next to -his
heart for many weeks to the wrong girl?
Mary Curtis returned home to Louisville,
Ky., the next morning. She took the watch
with her. Is it possible that Mary Curtis,
who knew Mary Todd and was courted by
some of the same men, thought herself
engaged to Mr. Lincoln as a result of the
extraordinary gift? She later revealed that
not until she opened the watch to wind it
did she see the inscription to Mary Todd.
Lincoln and Miss Todd remained
estranged for more than a year, but they
were still in love. Friends managed to bring
them togrlher during the summer of 1842.
There had been so much talk over the
broken engagement that Lincoln and Mary
decided it best to keep their plans to them
selves. For the next several months they
met secretly, and on Nov. 4, 1842, they were
married in an impromptu ceremony with
only a few friends present.
Mary Curtis, who never married, kept
the watch hidden in a trunk for 31 years.
Not until after Lincoln's death did she
reveal the incident in which she became
the recipient of a wedding, gift meant for
the other Mary.
Shortly before her death, Miss Curtis
presented the watch to a girlhood friend,
Miss Elizabeth DeWitt, then living in
Washington. In a letter which has been pre
served with the watch, Mary Curtis wrote:
July 7, 1872
My Dear Elizabeth ...
Your birthday is on the 29th. You see, I
remember it always, and I want you to
make me very happy this year and accept
a present that will give me much happiness
in the giving, as it was a very happy and
sad remembrance.
Do you remember the beautiful blue
watch with the diamond stones our beloved
President Lincoln gave me that memorable
afternoon of January, 1841, with the in-'
scription inside: "To Miss Mary Todd from
A. L., 1841"? Well, I want you to accept it
from me and keep it as a remembrance of
me, when I pass to the great beyond, dear
Elizabeth. ,
I feel sure you will do this for me as it
will make me very happy. I will send the
watch by Harry upon his return. Doctor
White feels that my cold is improving and
I will be well again this summer.
Good-bye, dearest faithful friend. I so
hope to see you soon.
With all my love,
Mary
Today, the beautiful Lincoln watch is
part of a collection in the Lincoln library
in Shippensburg, Pa.
Family Weekly, February 7, 1960
IS
Relief! Mien
Nose fills up
Spoils Sleep!
It's wonderful the way a few drops
of Vicks Va-tro-nol bring relief
when your nose fills up at night,
spoils sleep. Va-tro-aoi acts 19 to IS
times faster than decoagestant tab
lets ... coarforts hoars lodger tfcaa
watery sprays.
In seconds, Va-tro-nol shrinks
swollen membranes, clears conges
tion. You can breathe again . . .
sleep again. Get it at drug counters.
Vicks VSertro-nol
NOSE
DROPS
DOES
LEAKING
QDp igljtg
MAKE YOU FEEL OLD
NEW YORK Special : Thanks to new,
scientific laboratory formulation, thou
sands of men and women now escape
feellne old. tired. Irritable and depressed
from losing sleep and worrying about
"Bladder Weakness" Get tine up Mishit
or Bed Wettlnc due to common Kidney
or Bladder Irritations, which often re
sult In secondary Backache. Headache
and Nervousness. In such eases New Im
proved Cystez usually dyes quick, calm
ins relief by eombatint irrttatlns semis
In acid urine: and by relazins. analsesie
pain relief. Safe for youns and old. Get
Crates at drusslst. Peel better fast.
FALSE TEETH
That Loosen
Need Not Embarrass
Many wearers of false teeth have
suffered real embarrassment because
their plate dropped, slipped or wob
bled at Just the wrong time. Do not
live In fear of this happening to you.
Just sprinkle a little FASTEETH.
the alkaline (non-acid) powder, on
your plates. Hold false teeth more
firmly, so they feel more comfort
able. Does not sour. Checks "plate
odor breath". Get FASTEETH at
drug counters everywhere.
DRIVE SAFELY
"l TENDERpaft
Now!
Shave your
tender zone
without
skin irritation
or your money back!
Special live action lather does it!
Colgate Instant Shave actually
shaves the "Tender Zone" tinder
your chin as smoothly as your face.
Amazing live action lather is
charged with activated moisture
that softens whiskers for the quick
est, closest shave possible . . . unfh
out irritating nicks or scrapes. Get
new Colgate Instant Shave.
MONET-SACK SIMMNTEE. If not com
pletely satisfied with Colgate Instant
Shave, send the package to Colgate
Palmolive Company for a full refund.
New
COLGATE
Instant tjhave IfoiAjM
No better
shave cream
at any price
If yea prefer tabes, there's petti better
tkaa Cstfat ftmkieu ar Cetfsts Utter.
Research finds
new fast way
to shrink
hemorrhoids
without surgery
Today there's a fast new way to
shrink hemorrhoid tissues, stop pain
and itching all without surgery. The
name of this medication: The PAZO
Formula.
CLINICALLY TESTED BY DOCTORS.
The PAZO Formula does more than
just shrink hemorrhoid tissue. It
also contains specific ingredients to
relieve pain and itching promptly,
fight infection, promote healing, and
lubricate membranes.
WORKS FAST. Soon after using The
PAZO Formula, you sit. stand, walk,
and enjoy active sports in comfort.
This superior over-all medication
brings symptomatic relief even to
long-time pile sufferers.
AVAILABLE NOW in stainless sup
positories or ointment at your
druggist's. Get faster, more complete
relief without surgery. Get
The PAZO.Formua
A setter Fiat Product of Grew Laboratories
Eajoy
Sports