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
Mrs. Lincoln, from an adjoining room, witnessed the ladies’ entrance,
and, overhearing her husband’s jocose expression, her indignation was
so instantaneous she made the situation exceedingly interesting for him,
and he was glad to retreat from the house. He did not return till very
late at night, and then slipped quietly in at a rear door.
WOULDN’T HOLD TITLE AGAINST HIM.
During the rebellion the Austrian Minister to the United States
Government introduced to the President a count, a subject of the
Austrian government, who was desirous of obtaining a position in the
American army.
Being introduced by the accredited Minister of Austria he required no
further recommendation to secure the appointment; but, fearing that his
importance might not be fully appreciated by the republican President,
the count was particular in impressing the fact upon him that he bore
that title, and that his family was ancient and highly respectable.
President Lincoln listened with attention, until this unnecessary
commendation was mentioned; then, with a merry twinkle in his eye, he
tapped the aristocratic sprig of hereditary nobility on the shoulder in
the most fatherly way, as if the gentleman had made a confession of some
unfortunate circumstance connected with his lineage, for which he was in
no way responsible, and said:
“Never mind, you shall be treated with just as much consideration for all
that. I will see to it that your bearing a title shan’t hurt you.”
ONLY ONE LIFE TO LIVE.
A young man living in Kentucky had been enticed into the rebel army.
After a few months he became disgusted, and managed to make his way
back home. Soon after his arrival, the Union officer in command of the
military stationed in the town had him arrested as a rebel spy, and,
after a military trial he was condemned to be hanged.
President Lincoln was seen by one of his friends from Kentucky, who
explained his errand and asked for mercy. “Oh, yes, I understand; some
one has been crying, and worked upon your feelings, and you have come
here to work on mine.”
His friend then went more into detail, and assured him of his belief in
the truth of the story. After some deliberation, Mr. Lincoln, evidently
scarcely more than half convinced, but still preferring to err on the
side of mercy, replied:
“If a man had more than one life, I think a little hanging would not
hurt this one; but after he is once dead we cannot bring him back, no
matter how sorry we may be; so the boy shall be pardoned.”
And a reprieve was given on the spot.
COULDN’T LOCATE HIS BIRTHPLACE.
While the celebrated artist, Hicks, was engaged in painting Mr.
Lincoln’s portrait, just after the former’s first nomination for the
Presidency, he asked the great statesman if he could point out the
precise spot where he was born.
Lincoln thought the matter over for a day or two, and then gave the
artist the following memorandum:
“Springfield, Ill., June 14, 1860
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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