Lincoln, a lifelong beardless man, receives a…

Lincoln, a lifelong beardless man, receives a letter written by Grace Bedell, an eleven-year-old girl from Westfield, New York, in October 1860.

Grace writes, in part, “I have got 4 brother's and part of them will vote for you any way and if you 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 husband's to vote for you and then you would be President."

On October 19th, Lincoln responds: “My dear little Miss: 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?”

The winner in the November election, Lincoln will leave Springfield on February 11th, 1861, bound for the White House, by which time he will be fully bearded.