New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-08-23

representative of the learning and higher thought
of Great Britain and her American Dominion,
did not know, MT: PRESIDENT. that you have two
Oh, yes.' said the President; al will illustrate
that point by a little story Two young contra;
to have been seated together, when said to the
other: Jim. do you know 'rithmeticT"
Meanwhile Senator Wllso1s right foot was Play
known a thousand stories he would not have told
one of them to Professor Smith and his grave
the President who in all essential things had few
men to equal hun in dignity Of manner, should so
inopportuncly indulge In such frvolIty.
Unconscious of the Senator'S annoyance. the
President proceeded: I" jim answered: No; what
Is 'rithmet;cf Well said the other. it's when
you adds up things; When you have one and one s
when you substracts things. when If you have two
things and yoa taxes %nS away Gp one man s
It's no goodp Here dispute arose. when jim
said Now, Won spose three pigeons sit on dat
fence and somebody shoot one Of dem; do 'tother
doder Teller falls;' and. Professor trifing the
story seems IT illustrates the arithmetic you must
use in estimating the actual losses resulting from
referred to give the killed wounded and missing at
the first rol-call after the battle. which ALWAYS
exhibits greatly exaggerated total, especially in
thee dunn of missing"
But Mr. President" intcriected the Professor.
is It not very unfortunate that such should be the
case for these original reports go everywhere. and
doubtless generalo create the impression which
led TO my inquiry. whether you not proceeding
rapidly toward exhaustion "
Admitting that it would be BETTER in some
respects if the statement of losses should be
delayed, the President said he did not think it
quences of such delay. The early reports of
European battles did not furnish standard by
which to Judge the accuracy OF oars OF TO form an
the greater number of missing shown in our eariv
reports. Tdc Peninsula, in which the war was then
raging. had. he said. been found TO he heavily
wooded swampy. terra incognito and the battles
were fought by volunteers. most of whom were
serving their s and and not S
Overtaken by darkness in % swampy region, pene-
trated by roads save those made by the CON
tending armies men, exhausted by long
marches loss Of sleep and long stretches of fighting.
were hardly culpable in seeking nights sleep 10
prepare them for returning to camp IN the morning,
The surprise to him had been, not the iargeness put
the smallness of the number OF missing. when the
final records of losses in battle had been made up
And. to the astonish,nent not only OF ms inter-
iocutor but OF all who were present. MT. Lincoln
proceeded to compare the first and the final reports
of the losses at several important battles, and to
the record was not one which exhibited OH the part
of volunteers many Of whom were little more tnan
raw recruits, devotion TO the country Oh when
every patriot m ght he proud.
Having heard Mr.. Lincoln answer the Professor
satisfactorily, and vindicate his resort to darkey
arithmetic, left without waiting to learn TO what
other topics his attention might be invited by Ills
British guests. 81, .
Goodwin Smith and his friends 20 my side inst after
had taken my usual seat mt the dinner table. The
Professor was the most remote of the party and the
gentleman who sat next me had evidently parted
from him before he left the Executive Chamber
and could not help hearing the conversation
between them.
Professor" said he 1" can ven give me the i'm
preston President Lincoln made upon your
a Yes" said he; "it was very agreeable one;
Such person Is quite unknown to our official
ciraes or to those Of Continental nations Indeed
think his place 10 history VIII be unique. lie mas
not been trained To diplomacy or administrative
affairs and is in all respects of the people but
how wonderfully he is endowed aud equipped for
the performance OF the duties OF the chie execuiye
officer of the United States az this tine. The
precision and minuieness Of his Information on all
Questions to which we referred was a suggestion of
surprises TO me- WILLIAM D. KELLY.