Maung Wan Tha - The Life Journey of the First Lady

The dance where the shoelace broke

On a cold winter night in 1839, Springfield City Hall was lit up with colorful lights and a festive atmosphere. Musical instruments were playing throughout the hall. The city's dignitaries were celebrating the city's decision to become the capital of the state of Illinois.

The graceful couples danced in harmony with the melodious music.

Mrs. Ninian Edwards, also known as Elizabeth Todd, is the guardian of the young ladies of the Golden Age. She is the wife of Mr. Edwards, the mayor of Springfield. Mr. Edwards is not only the son of the governor of Illinois, but also the mayor of the city, and is a person of great honor. As a result, the Edwards family is a highly respected and respected class in Springfield.

Near Mrs. Edwards, a plump, beautiful young woman, her red lips slightly parted and a smile on her face, watched the couples dancing in the center of the hall.

The young woman's sparkling eyes gradually drifted towards a young man who was politely sitting with a middle-aged woman.

The young man's strong body and plump face exuded youthfulness. He was only about 26 years old. However, his importance was evident even in the dance. As they danced, couples passing by would look at the young man and smile and nod their heads in greeting. The young woman who was watching touched the arm of Mrs. Edwards, who was nearby, and whispered, "Mrs. . . who is he... huh?"

Mrs. Edwards, watching the young woman's gaze with a slight misgiving, replied in a whisper. "That's Stephen Douglas, Mary. My sister's eyes are always on the right track. He's been a big name in this town for a long time. And now he's Secretary of State at this young age."

Mrs. Edward's voice sounded pleased. She even praised her sister's eyes for their accuracy. In those days, young ladies of the upper class were like this:

It was a custom to look for a bride at the dances. Young women would carefully select the bridegroom they thought had the best potential for growth and development from among the young men, and young men would choose a “Hlamakot” from among the many young women who would be one of the ten “Kataw” (the ten best wives).

"Mary has already caught the eye of Stephen Doc, a Springfield native, but Stephen has not yet paid any attention to Mary. He is dancing with the women who surround him, as if he were dancing.

Mary's breasts swelled as she imagined herself in the position of the woman dancing side by side with Stephen Douglas. Her breasts even rose at the thought of the warm air coming out of Stephen's nostrils touching her forehead.

After dancing with this couple, Stephen, seeing her, approached her gently, bowed his head politely, and said, "May I dance with this beautiful girl?" Mary wondered how she would respond to the girl's expression.

"Mr. Todd... I would like to dance with you, please allow me."

Mary was thinking well when she was suddenly awakened by a soft but cracked voice. She looked at the speaker with a pale face. She looked up to see his face. He was tall and slender, and his eyes were dark and gloomy. His face was thin and thin, and his lips were smiling, but his eyes were gloomy.

"I'm not very good at dancing, so I'm sorry if it bothers you, but please let me dance in the weakest way possible," he continued.

Mary leaned over and looked at her sister who was nearby. The meaning was, "Who is this? Are you of a high enough status to let me dance with you?"

Mrs. Edwards immediately put on a smile on her face, which had become fixed, and then took a step forward and introduced herself in a cheerful voice.

'Oh, Mr. Lincoln, I haven't seen you lately. Where have you been hiding? Here . . . Mary, he's Mr. Lincoln, a famous lawyer. He was the most active leader in your efforts to make Springfield the state capital. Mr. Lincoln, this is my sister, Mary Todd. She moved here from Latzington a few months ago. Mary, Mr. Lincoln is from Kentucky. We've met in the same county.

Lincoln looked at Mary with a smile and nodded again in acknowledgement. Mary, who, from her sister's manner, considered Mr. Lincoln to be "someone of importance," returned the greeting with a friendly smile. Then, taking the hand Lincoln offered her with only her fingertips, she walked toward the center of the room. As the dance began, Mary realized that Mr. Lincoln did not know even the basics of the waltz, and she was disappointed. She had to restrain herself from frowning at Lincoln's smiling face.

Mrs. Edwards looked at the Lincoln and Mary couple and thought of Abraham Lincoln.

I think of how Lincoln, who had just arrived in this city as a young lawyer, had become a prominent figure within two years. Lincoln had risen from a position as an assistant to the politically engaged attorney general, John Stuart Mill, to a position of prominence. He soon became a member of the state legislature. His ability and connections were well-suited for a career in politics. At that time, a movement was brewing among the people of Springfield to move the capital of Illinois from Vandalia to Springfield, and Lincoln took a leading role in it. Lincoln’s reputation as an eloquent speaker at meetings and conventions spread throughout Springfield.

Lincoln was already involved in various businesses, but he did not live as a "commoner." His close circle of friends was limited to a small group that met every evening in the back room of Joe Speed's store to discuss and criticize political and social events. This group was mostly associated with Lincoln's chief lawyer, John Stuart Mill. As Stuart was a Whig (Republican) politician, most of Lincoln's conversations revolved around the Whig Party. Thus,

Lincoln became closest to the Whig Party and began to actively pursue a political career.

At that time, Lincoln had shown his mettle in the campaign to make Springfield the capital, making him a promising candidate in a political field that was open to those who could demonstrate their mettle.

Mrs. Edwards had listened to many of Lincoln's speeches, and she was particularly impressed by his eloquence. Although Springfield was a foreign city to Lincoln, she had heard him boast more about it than the natives. He gave many facts about the city, its location, its transportation, its manufacturing, and its commerce, and he used to say in his speeches that if this city were not made the capital, the leaders of the state would regret it for the rest of their lives, and he was met with thunderous applause from the people of Springfield.

The dance was over and there was a round of applause. Mrs. Edwards searched the couples in the middle of the hall for her sister, and first noticed Lincoln's imposing figure. Near his shoulder was Mary's young face. The two of them walked toward Mrs. Edwards. Lincoln's face was pleased and cheerful... Mary, though she was not convinced, seemed to be trying to hide it.

Mary was handed over to Mrs. Edwards, and Lincoln bowed and departed. Mrs. Edwards looked at Mellow with a quizzical look. The meaning was, "What's up, you scoundrel?"

Mary didn't answer verbally, but she discreetly stuck her right foot out from under her long, flowing dress. One of her pretty pink shoelaces was sticking out. Judging by the fact that the shoelace had been stepped on, one could guess the condition of the sole.

Mary smiled wryly and said to her sister, "Well, as he said, he danced in the worst possible way."

Mrs. Edwards looked at Mary and felt like laughing. Mary, who was in a state of shock, looked at her sister's face, and, stamping her feet in shame, turned away. If she could, she would have trampled on that big man named Lincoln with her big feet, as if to avenge him.