Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-05
MEASURED BY LINCOLN.
"Old Abe" Called Soldier from thu
 Ranks to Compare Heights.

To be not only the tallest living vet
 eran of the civil war, but to have
 actually aroused a pang of jealousy in
 the breast of Abraham Lincoln by
 reason of his height, is the proud dis | tinction of eX-Chief of Police Mahlon | Shaaber of this place.
 Shaaber recently attended the an | nual G. A. k. encampment at Sara toga Springs, where he attracted a
 great deal of attention. One of the features of the parade there was the
 grenadier guard, composed of men from each department, forty-five in all, and each one over six feet in height. Mr Shaaber was the tallest of
 the lot, as he measured six feet seven and one-half inches.
 Shaaber was a member of Company B, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Nolun teers. He served with distinctior throughout the war but the proudest moment of his life was when he was called out of the ranks by ''Old Abe," who wanted to see which was the taller, the president of the United States or the stripling soldier.
 AS Shaaber tells the story, while his regiment was passing in review on Pennsylvania avenue, they met a small group, one of whom was very tall, pale gaunt man, dressed in black frock, who wore a silk hat. Suddenly he called out. "Bub. Bub," and Captain Arthur noticed that the tall man was addressing Shaabar.
 The officer gave the private per mission to leave the ranks. The tall man, who was Lincoln, grasped Shaa- ber's hand and said, Excuse my manners. It was jealcusly on my part that made me call you out, to size you up"
 He then asked me-" says Shaaber, 'how tall was, and inquired my age. l informed him that was six feet six and One-half inches, which was my height at that time, and that I was 1T years old, weighing 40 pounds The president with stub pencil noted down my answers in a black memorandum book. He then in troduced himself in ths character istic manner: I am Old Abe was startled, but felt hOnored. was next introduced by President Lin coin to Nice-PreSident Hamlin as my son. and noticed General Cameron and Governor Curtin in the rear.
 ''President Lincoln then compared our heights, and when he had jotted them down he showed me his note book which contained the following: MahlOn Shaaber of E. 93d F. V., 6 feet 613 inches tall; Abraham Lin coin. G feet inches: Vice President Hamlin feet 2l2 inches; Governor Curtin, 6 feet ? inches. Total, 31 feet I inches.
 ''In a joking manner President Lin coin remarked that it was q rare Oc- currence that so many tall men would meet one another, and that it might probably never occur again"
 When Shaaber was ready to leave President Lincoln he thought of the order of stragglers. and he asked the president to give him a pass ar else he might be gathered up by the pa trolman and put in the guardhouse. He at once reproduced his black | book tore out a blank, | and wrote these words:
 Pass this soldier on his way to l camp. By request of Abe Lincoln l
 For years Shaaber has not missed 1 q q. \. II. encampment. and he al- | ways attracts great deal of atten- 1 ton on account Of the fact that he is l taller than any other veteran in line. At home he has charge of every fu- 1 neral of a civil war veteran.-Reading | Dispatch to Philadelphia North Amer ican.