Lincoln's yarns and stories : $b A complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story tellerMcClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
History
Lincoln's yarns and stories : $b A complete collection of the funny and witty anecdotes that made Lincoln famous as America's greatest story teller
McClure, Alexander K. (Alexander Kelly)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Anecdotes
“Oh,” said the President, “Stanton has gone to Fortress Monroe, and Dana
is acting. He will attend to it for you.”
This he said with a manner of relief, as if it was a piece of good luck
to find a man there who would obey his orders.
The nomination was sent to the Senate and confirmed.
IDENTIFIED THE COLORED MAN.
Many applications reached Lincoln as he passed to and from the White
House and the War Department. One day as he crossed the park he was
stopped by a negro, who told him a pitiful story. The President wrote
him out a check, which read. “Pay to colored man with one leg five
dollars.”
OFFICE SEEKERS WORSE THAN WAR.
When the Republican party came into power, Washington swarmed with
office-seekers. They overran the White House and gave the President
great annoyance. The incongruity of a man in his position, and with
the very life of the country at stake, pausing to appoint postmasters,
struck Mr. Lincoln forcibly. “What is the matter, Mr. Lincoln,” said
a friend one day, when he saw him looking particularly grave and
dispirited. “Has anything gone wrong at the front?” “No,” said the
President, with a tired smile. “It isn’t the war; it’s the postoffice at
Brownsville, Missouri.”
HE “SET ‘EM UP.”
Immediately after Mr. Lincoln’s nomination for President at the Chicago
Convention, a committee, of which Governor Morgan, of New York, was
chairman, visited him in Springfield, Ill., where he was officially
informed of his nomination.
After this ceremony had passed, Mr. Lincoln remarked to the company that
as a fit ending to an interview so important and interesting as that
which had just taken place, he supposed good manners would require that
he should treat the committee with something to drink; and opening
the door that led into the rear, he called out, “Mary! Mary!” A girl
responded to the call, to whom Mr. Lincoln spoke a few words in an
undertone, and, closing the door, returned again and talked with his
guests. In a few minutes the maid entered, bearing a large waiter,
containing several glass tumblers, and a large pitcher, and placed them
upon the center-table. Mr. Lincoln arose, and, gravely addressing the
company, said: “Gentlemen, we must pledge our mutual health in the most
healthy beverage that God has given to man--it is the only beverage I
have ever used or allowed my family to use, and I cannot conscientiously
depart from it on the present occasion. It is pure Adam’s ale from the
spring.” And, taking the tumbler, he touched it to his lips, and pledged
them his highest respects in a cup of cold water. Of course, all his
guests admired his consistency, and joined in his example.
WASN’T STANTON’S SAY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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