Clifton M. Life . '.i ham Lincoln. - University Library

ANECDOTES. 265
ADVICE TO A CLIENT.
To a man who once offered him' a case, the merits of which he did not
appreciate, he made, according to his partner, Mr. Herndon, the following
response:
,
"Yes, there is no reasonable doubt but that I can gain your case for you. I
can set a whole neighborhood at loggerheads; I can distress a widowed mother
and her six fatherless children, and thereby get for you six hundred dollars,
which rightfully belongs, it appears to me, as much to them as it does to you. I
You seem a
shall not take your case, but I will give a little advice for nothing.
sprightly, energetic man. I would advise you to try your hand at making six
hundred dollars in some other way."
DIFFICULT BRIDGE-BUILDING.
" I once knew a sound churchman by the name of Brown, who was a member
of a very sober and pious committee, having in charge the erection of a bridge
over a dangerous and rapid river. Several architects failed, and at last Brown
said he had a friend named Jones who had built several bridges, and undoubtedly
'
could build that one. So Mr. Jones was called in. Can you build this bridge? 1
inquired the committee. '
Yes,' replied Jones, k or any other. I could build a
bridge to the infernal regions, if necessary!' The committee were shocked, and
Brown felt called upon to defend his friend. '
I know Jones so well,' said he,
'
and he is so honest a man and so good an architect that if he states soberly and
I believe it; but I feel
positively that he can build a bridge to to ,- why,
bound to say that I have my doubts about the abutment on the infernal side.'
' '
So,' said Mr. Lincoln, when politicians told me that the northern and southern
wings of Democracy could be harmonized, why, I believed them, of course; but I
always had my doubts about the 'abutment' on the other side."
THE PRESIDENT ADVISES SECRETARY STANTON TO PREPARE
FOR DEATH.
Secretary Stanton, when secretary of war, took a fancy one day for a house
in Washington that Lamon had just bargained for. Lamon not only did not
vacate, but went to Stanton and said he would kill him if he interfered with the
house. Stanton was furious at the threat, and made it known at once to Lincoln.
The latter said to the astonished war secretary:
"Well, Stanton, if Ward has said he will kill you, he certainly will, and I'd
advise you to prepare for death without further delay."
The president promised, however, to do what he could to appease the murderous
marshal, and this was the end of Stanton's attempt on the house.