CHAPTER VIII.

THE HUMOROUS SIDE OF HIS CHARACTER.

Mr. Lincoln calls himself "Only a Retail Story-Dealer" 123

The Purpose of Mr. Lincoln's Stories 124

Mr. Lincoln shocks the Public Printer 124

A General who had formed an Intimate Acquaintance with himself 125

Charles I. held up as a Model for Mr. Lincoln's Guidance in Dealing with Insurgents--Had no Head to Spare 127

Question of whether Slaves would starve if Emancipated 127

Mr. Lincoln expresses his Opinion of Rebel Leaders to Confederate Commissioners at the Peace Conference 128

Impression made upon Mr. Lincoln by Alex. H. Stephens 129

Heading a Barrel 129

A Fight, its Serious Outcome, and Mr. Lincoln's Kindly View of the Affair 130

Not always easy for Presidents to have Special Trains furnished them 132

Mr. Lincoln's Reason for not being in a Hurry to Catch the Train 133

"Something must be done in the Interest of the Dutch" 134

San Domingo Affair 134

Cabinet had _shrunk up_ North 135

Ill Health of Candidates for the Position of Commissioner of the Sandwich Islands 135

Encouragement to Young Lawyer who lost his Case 136

Settle the Difficulty without Reference to Who commenced the Fuss 137

"Doubts about the Abutment on the Other Side" 138

Mr. Anthony J. Bleeker tells his Experience in Applying for a Position--Believed in Punishment after Death 138

Mr. Lincoln points out a Marked Trait in one of the Northern Governors 140

"Ploughed around him" 142

Revenge on Enemy 143