gestion
made by me, and supported by Mr. Keyes, that she confide in the
landlord, and give him her name without registering, so as to ensure the
proper respect. Unfortunately, the Earle Hotel was full, and we had to
select another place. We drove to the Union Place Hotel, where we
secured rooms for Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Lincoln changing her mind, deeming
it would not be prudent to disclose her real name to any one. After we
had become settled in our new quarters, Messrs. Keyes and Brady called
frequently on Mrs. Lincoln, and held long conferences with her. They
advised her to pursue the course she did, and were sanguine of success.
Mrs. Lincoln was very anxious to dispose of her things, and return to
Chicago as quickly and quietly as possible; but they presented the case
in a different light, and, I regret to say, she was guided by their
counsel. "Pooh," said Mr. Brady, "place your affairs in our hands, and
we will raise you at least $100,000 in a few weeks. The people will not
permit the widow of Abraham Lincoln to suffer; they will come to her
rescue when they know she is in want."

The argument seemed plausible, and Mrs. Lincoln quietly acceded to the
proposals of Keyes and Brady.

We remained quietly at the Union Place Hotel for a few days. On Sunday
Mrs. Lincoln accepted the use of a private carriage, and accompanied by
me, she drove out to Central Park. We did not enjoy the ride much, as
the carriage was a close one, and we could not throw open the window for
fear of being recognized by some one of the many thousands in the Park.
Mrs. Lincoln wore a heavy veil so as to more effectually conceal her
face. We came near being run into, and we had a spasm of alarm, for an
accident would have exposed us to public gaze, and of course the
masquerade would have been at an end. On Tuesday I hunted up a number of
dealers in secondhand clothing, and had them call at the hotel by
appointment. Mrs. Lincoln soon discovered that they were hard people to
drive a bargain with, so on Thursday we got into a close carriage,
taking a bundle of dresses and shawls with us, and drove to a number of
stores on Seventh Avenue, where an attempt was made to dispose of a
portion of the wardrobe. The dealers wanted the goods for little or
nothing, and we found it a hard matter to drive a bargain with them.
Mrs. Lincoln met the dealers squarely, but all of her tact and
shrewdness failed to accomplish much. I do not care to dwell upon this
portion o