''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 145"He remained thoughtful for a moment, and then stated the amount."I continued: 'How many times do you think a man can write a signaturelike Spinner's in the course of twenty-four hours?'"The beam of hilarity left the countenance of the President at once. He putthe greenback into his vest pocket, and walked the floor; after awhile hestopped, heaved a long breath and said: 'This thing frightens me!' He thenrang for a messenger and told him to ask the Secretary of the Treasury toplease come over to see him."Mr. Chase soon put in an appearance; President Lincoln stated the cause ofhis alarm, and asked Mr. Chase to explain in detail the operations, methods,system of checks, etc., in his office, and a lengthy discussion followed,President Lincoln contending there were not sufficient safeguards affordedin any degree in the money-making department, and Secretary Chaseinsisting that every protection was afforded he could devise."Afterward the President called the attention of Congress to this importantquestion, and devices were adopted whereby a check was put upon theissue of greenbacks that no spurious ones ever came out of the TreasuryDepartment, at least. Counterfeiters were busy, though, but this was not thefault of the Treasury.LINCOLN'S APOLOGY TO GRANT."General Grant is a copious worker and fighter," President Lincoln wrote toGeneral Burnside in July, 1863, "but a meagre writer or telegrapher."Grant never wrote a report until the battle was over.President Lincoln wrote a letter to General Grant on July 13th, 1863, whichindicated the strength of the hold the successful fighter had upon the man inthe White House.It ran as follows: