The National tribune., 1900-07-05
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
tContinusd from first page.

| less expensive to nfeSand human interests
than mans. What ! say now Is mere
| whim, you know; but when speak Of g
school of events, mean one in which, be
fore entering real life, students might pass
| through the mimic vicissitudes and situ-
atoms that are necessary to bring out their
powers and mark the caliber to which they
are assigned. Thus, one could select from
the graduates an invincible soldier equal
to any position, with no such word as fan;
a martyr TO right, ready to give up life in
the cause; a politician too cunning to be out,
witted; and so on. These things have oil
to be tried, and their sometime failure
creates confusion as we'll as disappoint-
ment. There is no more dangerous OF
expensive analysis than that which con-
sists of trying man..
EXCHANGING VIEWS WITH PROF.
AGASSIZ.
Among Mr. Lincoln's callers one Sunday
evening, was the distinguished scientist.
Prof Agassiz. The two men were some
what alike in their simple, shy. and un-
pretending nature, and at first felt their
way with each other like two school boys.
Mr.. Lincoln began conversation by Saying
to Prof. Agassiz: Il never knew how to
properly pronounce your name; won't you
give me little lesson at that, please?
Then he asked if it were of French or Swiss
derivation, TO which the Professor replied
that it vas partly Of each. That led to
discussion of different languages, the
President speaking several words in differ
elft languages which had the same root as
similar words in our own tongue; then he
illustrated that by one or two anecdotes.
But he soon returned to his gentle cross
examination of AgassiZ, and found out how
the Professor studied, how he composed
H.. Ill, Il l.
found different tastes in his audiences In
different portions of the country. When
afterwards asked why he put such ques-
tons to his learned visitor, he said: "Why
what we got from him isn't printed in the
books: the other things are" But Lincoln
did not do al the questioning. In his turn,
Agassiz asked Lincoln II he had ever en-
gagged in lectIlring. Lincoln gave the out
line of a lecture, which he had partly writ
ten years before, to show the origin of in
ventions, and prove that there is nothing
new under the sun. Il think can show,
said he, "at least, in fanciful way, that all
the modern inventions were known cen
tlries ago" Agassiz begged that Lincoln
would finish the lecture some time. Lin
colin replied that he had the manuscript
somewhere in his papers, "and" said he,
when l get out Of this place, I'll finish it
up, perhaps.
MAGNANIMITY TOWARD OPPONENTS.
So great was Lincoln's magnanimity.
and so kesn his sense of Justice, that he
never allowed personal considerations to
influence his official acts. 1t is probably
true that it was easy for him to forgive an
injury; but in any event, he was incapable
Of using his position as President to gratify
his private resentments. It was once
represented to him that recent appointee
to an important Office hsd been bitterly
opposed to him politically. Il suppose
said he, "the Judge did behave pretty ugly;
for his place, and Ihave "a Scriptural ali-
thority for appointing him. You rccollect
that while the Lord, on Mount Sinai was
getting out a commission for Aaron, that
same Aaron was at the foot Of the mountain
making false god? golden calf, for the
people to worship;Iyet Aaron got his com
mission, you know" At another time.
when demonstrated with :ipon the appoint
ment to place of oneof his former opponents,
he said: Nobody will deny that he is a
first rate man for tile place. and 1 am bound
to see that his oppositionlto to me personally
shall not interfere with my giving the people
Of similar character, when demonstrated
with by members of his Cabinet, he said:
Il can't afford to punish every person who
has seen fit to oppose my election. We
want a competent manlin this Office. and
know Of no one who could perform the
duties better than the one proposed"
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION.
With all his self-abnegation, Mr.. Lin
coin could be stern when the occasion
warranted 1t. AS all illustration the follow
been cashiered from the service, forced