The President's reply to an autograph fiend who sought his signature, appended to a sentiment, was:
"DEAR MADAM: When you ask a stranger for that which is of interest only to yourself, always enclose a stamp."
CHESTNUTS UNDER A SYCAMORE.
The President, on his way to the Department of War, perceived a gentleman under a tree, scraping among the heaped leaves with his cane. He knew him, a Major Johnson, of the department, an old District of Columbia man who had never been out of the district.
"Good morning, major!" hailed the executive officer. "What in the world are you doing there?"
"Looking for a few horse-chestnuts."
"Eh? Do you expect to find them under a sycamore-tree?" The President laughed freely and passed on. He ought to have removed the misguided botanist into the Department of Agriculture, where he might have learned something.
STILL OF LITTLE NOTE.
On hearing that a man had been arrested in Philadelphia for trying to procure $1,500 by a forgery of Lincoln's name, he humorously said: "It is surprising that any man could get the money!"
The secretary pointed out that use might have been made of a signature given to a stranger as an autograph on a blank paper, the body of which had been improperly filled up as a note.