Arizona republican., 1918-02-13
INTIMATE LINCOLN STORIES
SOME OF BEST TOLD OF HIM

fThe following are some Of the best
of the many intimate Lincoln stories.
They have been selected from George
r. Lambs Lincolnia)
At the very outset of the war sundry
wise men from New York urged Mr..
Lincoln to draw away Confederate ar
mics from Washington by naval at
tacks upon the southern seaports. 1t
reminded him, he said of New Salem,
ILL.,. girl who was troubled with
singing in her head" for which there
seemed to be no remedy, but neigh
Dor promised a cure if they would
make a plaster of psalm tunes and
apply to her feet and draw the singing
down.
At the time when General Burnside's
force was besieged in Knoxville, Tenn,
with an apparent danger Of being
starved into surrender a telegram came
one day from Cumberland Gap, an
nouncing that Firing is heard in the
direction of Knoxville"
Glad OF it," exclaimed Mr. Lincoln.
why should you be glad of it,"
asked a friend, who was present, in
some surprise.
Why, you see,' he explained, cit re-
minds me of Mrs. Sallie Ward, a neigh
Dor of mine. She had a very large
family. Occasionally one of her nu-
merous progeny would be heard crying
in some out of the-way place, and she
would exelaim, There's one Of my
children that isn't dead YETI
| No doubt Mr. Lincoln sufficiently
| appreciated the good qualities of eX-
| President Fillmore then living, but a
mention of him one evening brought
out a shot at the vice presidential sue
cession.
Just after Taylor's death, when
Fillmore succeeded him, Fillmore need
ed to buy a carriage. Some gentleman
was breaking up housekeeping and bad
one for sale and Fillmore took Edward
| (the old doorkeeper of the White
Housed with him when he went to look
at it. 1t seemed to be a pretty good
turnout, but Fillmore looked it care
| fully over and then asked Edward:
Do you think it will do for the presi-
dent of the United States to ride in d
second hand carriage%
Sure your excellency,' replied Ed
ward; you're only secondhand pres
ident, you know"
! Among the European soldiers who
from time to time came oyer and Of
fered to serve in the Union armies was
| one young man who, on receiving his
commission as lieutenant, assured the
president that he belonged to the oldest
nobility of Germany. "Oh," replied Mr..
| Lincoln, never mind that. You viii
not find that to be an obstacle to your
| advancement
Mr.. Lincoln was one day asked:
| How many men do you suppose the
Cohfederates have now in the field?''
Twelve hundred thousand, according
to the best authority" was the prompt
reply.
Good heavens" exclaimed the in
quirer.
Yes, sir, twelve hundred thousand
No doubt of it, You see, all our gen
erals, when they get whipped, say the
i enemy outnumbers them three or five
4 to one, and [ must believe them. We
have four hundred thousand in the
field, and three times four makes
twelve. Don't you see it?"
The result of the great conflict
seemed to be in more doubt than. ever
just after the emancipation pSoclama-
ton. Mr.. Lincoln expressedShis OWL
view of the situation with: We are
a good deal like whalers who have beer
long on a chase. At last we have go'
our harpoon fairly into the monster
but we must look out how we steer. o.
with one flop of his tail he will sent
US all into eternity"
Mr.. Lincoln had several reasons fo
not admiring President Tyler, ant
mention of him on one occasion