The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-08
ANOTHER NEW LINCOLN STO-
~

ton, who as boy sat upon the lap of
Abraham Lincoln in the '40s makes an
interesting contribution to the archives
wherein are gathered the countless an
| ecdotes and quaint stories for which the
immortal Lincoln was so famous.
When Mr.. Lincoln was president he
was visited by three influential Indiana
politicians. These gentlemen We're gun
ming for spells, and with view Of re-
lieving the president Of routine toll had
thoughtfully prepared their slate and
duly subscribed to its provisions. one
gentleman-a resident of indianapolis
was listed for postmaster; another
| hankered to be United States marshal;
the third would be content should the
ermine Of a federal judgeship fall gent
ly upon him.
The politicians, having been presented
to the president, INDUCED in few COM
monplace remarks, then unWrapped
their slate and placed it before the
chief executive with calm assurance.
Mr.. Lincoln received their overtures
with his customary complacency, re-
marking that the applications would be
| promptly filed, together with subse-
| quent letters and endorsements, with
the department under which each prop
erly belonged, and, while the three men
| from Indiana We're yet struggling to re-
| gain their feet the president, in his
| blandest style, observed that the Incl
dent recalled a story he had once heard,
and. without waiting for request, pro-
| ceeded to unfold the tail.
1t appears that an Oriental Dotentate
4 al r,
functionary known as the Imperial
Wise Man 1t devolved upon this wise
man, among other things, to forecast
and prophesy, heading off dire probable
titles. and placing his sovereign in pos
session of valuable advance informa-
ton.
Upon q certain occasion the potentate
gave notice to the Imperial Wise Man
that 1t was desired to indulge in a royal
hunt and consequently important to as
certain accurately the prospective eli
matte conditions The wise man re-.
tired for a couple of hours, during which
time he consulted numerous charts and
maps and made many figures and call
culations, finally appearing before his
majesty with q well-defined prophecy;
the weather would be propitious during
the ensuing three days.
Thereupon the potentate, with his
lords and ladies and herads and a re-
tipue of servants all clad in gorgeous
apparel, gold trappings, and fine linen,
set forth toward the hunting preserves,
some hours distant. About noon, when
perhaps half the distance had been ac-
complshed, the royal cavalcade sud
a r1n1Iine
along, bearing upon his back a peasant
in coarse raiment. The countryman,
perceiving the evidences of royalty,
quickly slipped from the back of the
iackass, and, prostrating himself in the
dust. said
Most noble and august petentate, re-
turn without delay to your castle;
mighty storm is about to fall upon you,
and your purple robes and fine linen
and magnificent trappings and those of
your lords and ladies and suite, will be
ruined, and you will be Grenched to the
skin; return at once, o King; return"
The king and his court beheld a cloud
less sky, and laughingly proceeded on
their way, while the servants merciless-
ly gibed at the poor countryman, who
desisted not in his prostations. Within
an hour terrible storm arose. rain fell
in torrents and the wind blew with
great violence, and being without shell
ter. the king and his lords and ladies
and servants were soaked to the skin
and their fine trappings and rich appa-
rel utterly ruined. Crestfallen and in
bedraggled garments they put back to
the castle with all speed.
The wise man was called before his
king, and made a sorry mess of his ex-
PLANTATION, OF course, he was discharged
and narrowly escaped with his neck
Thereupon the potentate summoned
the countryman who had foretold the
storm, Informed him he might consider
himself duly initiated as Imperial Wise
Man, and made the appointment public
by special proclamation. The peasant
received his appointment in dazed
sort of way, escape from the royal pres
ence in rather bad form, drew his |
stipend regularly thereafter, but made
no drafts upon his occult powers.
One day some weeks later, the king
called the wise man to his chamber. and |
administered mild rebuke to the latter
for his failure to prognosticate asking I
him incidentally what he supposed he |
was drawing>a fat salary for.
The peasant protested that he could |
not measure UP to such responsibility; |
that he couldn't prophesy fifteen min |
utes ahead on the weather or anything
else, and then and there rendered his re-
signation to take immediate effect
But did you not foretell accurately |
the terrible storm that drenched the |
royal party and ruined our trappings |
and best clothes?' inquired the king, |
ooh, no, mighty king" responded the |
peasant, 1T was not / who foretold the !
storm; 1t was the jackass. He is is |
who, by some mysterious gift of dis
cernment. is able to foretell the storm, |
and in token thereof he has peculiar |
way of folding back his ears / merely |
voiced to your majesty in words what |
my faithful jackass expressed to me in