The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-01-25
OLD LINCOLN JOKES
BUT FUNNEY STILL
How Emancipator Settled q Law
suit Shows Human Side
of Him.

J. Dittenhoefer in ".How We Enacted
Lincoln" He writes in the book:
4 man whom l knew we'll discovered
the President at his office counting
greenbacks and inclosing them in al
envelope. He asked Mr.. Lincoln how
he could spare the time for such g
task in the midst of the important du-
ties that were pressing upon him. Lin
coin replied:
"The President of the United States
has multiplicity of duties not speci-
fed in the Constitution or the laws
This is one of them. 1t is money which
belongs to a negro porter from the
treasury department. He is now in
the hospital, too sick to sign his name,
and, according to his wish, l am put
ting a part of it aside in an envelope.
properly labeled, to save it for him."
An eyewitness relates that one day
while walking along a shaded path
from the executive mansion to the war
Office he saw the tall form of the Pres
ident seated on the grass. He after
wSsd learned that wounded soldier,
while Oh his way to the White House
seeking back-pay and a penison, had
met the President and had asked his
assistance, whereupon Mr.. Lincoln sat
down, looked over the soldiers papers
and advised him what to do. He end
ed by giving him note directing him
TO the proper place to secure atten-
ton.
Driving up to hospital one day,
he saw one of the patients walking di-
rcctly in the path Of his team. The
horses we're checked none too soon.
Then Mr.. Lincoln saw that he was
nothing but boy and had been wound
ed in both eyes. He got ont of the
carriage and questioned the poor fell
low, asking him his name, his service
and his residence. 81 am Abraham
Lincoln" he said upon leaving, and
the sightless face lighted at the Pres
ident's words of sympathy. The fol-
lowing day the chief of the hospital
delivered to the boy a commission in
the Amy Of the United States as first
lieutenant. The papers bore the Pres
ident's signature and weEe accom-
panied by an order retiring him on
three-quarters pays for the years OF
that lay before him.
"Some of my generals complain that
impair discipline in the army by my
pardons and respites," Lincoln once
said. "But it rests me after hard
days work if can find some excuse
for saving a mans life, and l go to
bed happy as think how joyous the
signing of my name will make him
and his family and his friends"
! orce heard Mr.. Lincoln telling a
number of Congressman in the ante
room of the White House that in the
distribution of patronage care should
be taken of the disabled soldiers and
the widows and orphans of deceased
soldiers, and these views were sub
sequently conveyed to the Senate in
message which contained the follow
ing language:
yesterday little Endorsement Of
mine went to you in two cases of post
sought for widows whose
husbands have fallen in battles of the
war. These cases occurring on the
same day brought me to reflect more
attentively than l had before as to
what is fairly due in the, dispensing
of patronage to the men who by fight
ing our battles bear the chief burden
of saving our country. My conclusion
is that. other claims and qualifications
being equal, they have the better right,
and this is especially applicable to the
disabled soldier and the deceased SOL
dier'5 family"
How Honest Abe" Settled a Lawsuit.
While Abraham Lincoln was in
Springfield a fellow lawyer, who was
mainly supported by the other law
yers of the town. became indebted to
a wealthy citizen for $3.50.
The rich man directed Mr.. Lincoln
to bring suit. Lincoln was unwilling,
but his client insisted.
Finally Mr.. Lincoln said, swell, if
you are determined, my charge will
be So" The client paid the money
at once.
After his departure Lincoln went out
of the Office, returning in an hour with
an amused look. Asked what pleased
him, he said: "Well, l brought the
suit against - and then hunted him
up and told him. l gave him half of
my SO, and we went over to the
squire's Office, where he confessed
judgment and paid the bill"
Mr.. Lincoln adde dthat he saw no
other way ''to make things so gener-