On March 5, 1865, the day after second Lincoln’s Inauguration, John Wilkes Booth scrawled a short poem onto an envelope in his room in at the National Hotel in Washington.
Now, in this hour, that we part, I will ask to be forgotten never. But in thy pure and guiltless heart Consider me thy friend dear, Ever. J. Wilkes Booth
Booth’s poem was in response to a larger poem that had been written across the back of the envelope.
For of all sad words from tongue or pen. The saddest are these – It might have been.” March 5th 1865
In John’s room –
The text of this poem is from John Greenleaf Whittier’s, Maud Muller.” It was written by Lucy Lamber Hale, the daughter of Republican Senator John P. Hale of New Hampshire, and Booth’s secret fiancé. However, an actor, even one as famous as Booth, was no match for woman of high standing such as Miss Hale. (Booth had attended the inauguration with a ticket Lucy procured through her father.)
For decades the note was kept a secret and Lucy Hale was never questioned about her relationship with Booth, which had started with a Valentine’s note in 1863. Their engagement was not a complete secret as Booth had told his brothers and his mother, admitting that Lucy was worth more to him than all the money he could make on the stage. After Lincoln’s assassination, Hale was whisked out of Washington by her father and spent the next five years in Europe.
John and Lucy had dinner on the night of the assassination. At 8 p.m., Booth abruptly got up to leave. His final words were from Hamlet. “"Nymph, in thy orisons [prayers], be all my sins remembered."
Special Edition: Wild Bill (March 5, 1865)
Special Edition: Wild Bill (March 5, 1865)
Special Edition: Wild Bill (March 5, 1865)
On March 5, 1865, the day after second Lincoln’s Inauguration, John Wilkes Booth scrawled a short poem onto an envelope in his room in at the National Hotel in Washington.
Now, in this hour, that we part, I will ask to be forgotten never. But in thy pure and guiltless heart Consider me thy friend dear, Ever. J. Wilkes Booth
Booth’s poem was in response to a larger poem that had been written across the back of the envelope.
For of all sad words from tongue or pen. The saddest are these – It might have been.” March 5th 1865
In John’s room –
The text of this poem is from John Greenleaf Whittier’s, Maud Muller.” It was written by Lucy Lamber Hale, the daughter of Republican Senator John P. Hale of New Hampshire, and Booth’s secret fiancé. However, an actor, even one as famous as Booth, was no match for woman of high standing such as Miss Hale. (Booth had attended the inauguration with a ticket Lucy procured through her father.)
For decades the note was kept a secret and Lucy Hale was never questioned about her relationship with Booth, which had started with a Valentine’s note in 1863. Their engagement was not a complete secret as Booth had told his brothers and his mother, admitting that Lucy was worth more to him than all the money he could make on the stage. After Lincoln’s assassination, Hale was whisked out of Washington by her father and spent the next five years in Europe.
John and Lucy had dinner on the night of the assassination. At 8 p.m., Booth abruptly got up to leave. His final words were from Hamlet. “"Nymph, in thy orisons [prayers], be all my sins remembered."
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