Lincoln Home Historic Furnishings Report

SECTION E: RECOMMENDED FURNISHINGS (continued)

DINING ROOM: INTRODUCTION

The Lincolns' dining room table should be set to show an ordinary family meal--breakfast sometimes and late evening tea (dinner or supper) at other times. However, a festive table setting would be appropriate at holiday-time. [6]

Written references to the Lincolns' mealtime customs are sometimes contradictory; however, they do furnish some information:

He (Mr. L) was not a very early riser .... Mr. Lincoln was what I call a hearty eater and enjoyed a good meal as much as anyone I ever knew. I have often heard him say that he could eat corn cakes as fast as any two women could make them. [7]

Lincoln used to go to bed ordinarily from ten to eleven o'clock .... He rose early... breakfast was extremely frugal--an egg, a piece of toast, coffee, etc. At noon the President took a little lunch--a biscuit, a glass of milk in winter, some fruit or grapes in summer. He dined at from five to six. He was very abstemious, ate less than anyone I know. Drank nothing but water, not from principle but because he did not like wine or spirits. [8]

Mr. L was very fond of honey .... He was a fast eater, though not a very hearty one. [9]

Mrs. Lincoln's table was famed for the excellence of many rare Kentucky dishes, and in season it was loaded with venison, wild turkey, prairie chicken, quail and other game which was then abundant. [10]

According to Miss Leslie's Lady's House Book which Mary owned, the manner of preparing a breakfast table differs but little from that of a tea table. [11] First, a cloth should be laid. Each place setting would consist of a plate, glassware, knife on the right with the blade inward, and fork and napkin to the left. A tea tray should be placed at one end of the table, where Mary could easily reach it. The tray would be arranged with slop bowl in the middle, hot water urn, teapot and coffeepot behind, sugar bowl on the right, creamer to the left, and the cups and saucers with the teaspoons to the right of the cup on the saucer.

Period illustrations and inventories show that not every room in a house would have contained lighting devices; therefore, no candlesticks or lamps are recommended for this room. When the table is set for an evening meal or festive occasion, candlesticks should be brought in from another room. (For a more detailed discussion on period lighting, see K. Menz, "Lighting Devices Used in the American Home - 1840-1860, unpublished report, The Harpers Ferry Center, December, 1982.)