Abraham Lincoln's beard

Abraham Lincoln's beard ? Really ?

Yes, really. It's not as boring as you might be thinking. 

Honest Abe must had had the same common touch as Obama, who has just been telling us some obvious truths with ordinary charisma and directness.

In October 1860, when he was campaigning for the Presidency, Lincoln got a letter he could so easily have ignored. It was from Grace Bedell, aged 11.

Dear Sir,

My father has just come from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr Hamlin's.

I am a little girl only eleven years old but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you won't think me very bold to write such a great man as you are. 

Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell them to write to me if you cannot answer this letter.

I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you will let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin.

All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you too but I will try and get everyone to vote for you that I can.

I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty.

I have got a baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be.

When you dirct your letter direct to
Grace Bedell
Chautauqua County, New York

I must not write any more answer this letter right off.

Goodbye

Grace Bedell

Grace half expected to get no reply. But just four days after the date of her letter, Lincoln, who must have been exhausted from relentless campaigning, wrote back:

My Dear little Miss,

Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received. I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters. I have three sons, one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age. They, with their mother, constitute my whole family. As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now ?

Your very sincere well-wisher,

A Lincoln

On his way to Washington for his inauguration the following February, Lincoln's train stopped near Westfield where Grace lived. After talking to the crowd he asked for Grace Bedell. He knew she would be, as he had arranged for her to be there with her father.

Grace stood on the platform by Lincoln, now with his familiar beard. At 1930 mm tall (6'4") and stick-thin he must have towered above her. He lifted her into the air, maybe to give her a closer view of the beard (!), gave her a politician's kiss, and put her back on the platform. Grace was so overcome that she forgot to give him the flowers she had brought just in case.

Before Grace and still faintly cadaverous

After Grace - not quite cuddly, but trying hard

I have known this story forever, but internet serendipity (there ought to be a special name for that) found me the almost equally lovely story of Liz Bedell, who had never believed the family legend about her grandfather's Aunt Grace who had written to Lincoln.

You can read her story here, and see the originals of the letters Grace and Lincoln exchanged.

It's real stature to be prepared to sweat the small stuff.