Mr. Lincoln’s skill in parrying troublesome questions was wonderful. Once he received a call from Congressman John Ganson, of Buffalo, one of the ablest lawyers in New York, who, although a Democrat, supported all of Mr. Lincoln’s war measures. Mr. Ganson wanted explanations. Mr. Ganson was very bald with a perfectly smooth face. He had a most direct and aggressive way of stating his views or of demanding what he thought he was entitled to. He said: “Mr. Lincoln, I have supported all of your measures and think I am entitled to your confidence. We are voting and acting in the dark in Congress, and I demand to know--think I have the right to ask and to know--what is the present situation, and what are the prospects and conditions of the several campaigns and armies.” Mr. Lincoln looked at him critically for a moment and then said: “Ganson, how clean you shave!” Most men would have been offended, but Ganson was too broad and intelligent a man not to see the point and retire at once, satisfied, from the field. A SMALL CROP. Chauncey M. Depew says that Mr. Lincoln told him the following story, which he claimed was one of the best two things he ever originated: He was trying a case in Illinois where he appeared for a prisoner charged with aggravated assault and battery. The complainant had told a horrible story of the attack, which his appearance fully justified, when the District Attorney handed the witness over to Mr. Lincoln, for cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said he had no testimony, and unless he could break down the complainant’s story he saw no way out. He had come to the conclusion that the witness was a bumptious man, who rather prided himself upon his smartness in repartee and, so, after looking at him for some minutes, he said: “Well, my friend, how much ground did you and my client here fight over?” The fellow answered: “About six acres.” “Well,” said Mr. Lincoln, “don’t you think that this is an almighty small crop of fight to gather from such a big piece of ground?” The jury laughed. The Court and District-Attorney and complainant all joined in, and the case was laughed out of court. “NEVER REGRET WHAT YOU DON’T WRITE.” A simple remark one of the party might make would remind Mr. Lincoln of an apropos story. Secretary of the Treasury Chase happened to remark, “Oh, I am so sorry that I did not write a letter to Mr. So-and-so before I left home!” President Lincoln promptly responded: “Chase, never regret what you don’t write; it is what you do write that you are often called upon to feel sorry for.” A VAIN GENERAL. In an interview between President Lincoln and Petroleum V. Nasby, the name came up of a recently deceased politician of Illinois whose merit was blemished by great vanity. His funeral was very largely attended. “If General ---- had known how big a funeral he would have had,” said Mr. Lincoln, “he would have died years ago.” DEATH BED REPENTANCE.