THE WAR-LORD.
Lincoln states that the community among whom he was brought up would have hailed him as a wizard who spoke the dead tongues; and, granting his legal studies made him familiar with Latin as lawyers use it, he carefully avoided those hurdles of the classic orator, Latin quotations. Nevertheless, we have an exception to what would have pleased Lord Byron--the poet thought we have had enough of the classics. The President, spying Secretary Stanton, of the War Department, inadvertently striking an imposing attitude in the doorway of the telegraph-office in the Executive House, without knowing the President was here, at the desk, suddenly was aroused by hearing the jocose hail:
"Good evening, Mars!"--(Certified by Mr. A. B. Chandler, manager of the postal telegraph, War Department.)
FILE IT AWAY!
Stanton, as secretary of war, was bombarded with complaints and bickerings of the officers under him; they seemed to revel in annoying one famed for being of the irritable genus. Once he showed his principal a letter written in answer to a general who had abused him and accused him of favoritism. Lincoln listened with his quizzing air, and exclaimed rapturously:
"That's first-rate, Stanton! You've scored him well! Just right!"
As the pleased writer folded up the paper for its envelope, he quickly inquired:
"Why, what are you going to do with it now?"
It was to be despatched.
"No, no, that would spoil all. File it away! that is the kind of filing which keeps it sharp--and don't wound the other fellow! File it away."