to back, and let's see which of us two is the taller!'

"In another moment I was standing back to back with the greatest man
of his age. Naturally I was quite abashed by this unexpected evidence
of democracy.

"'You are from the West, aren't you?' inquired Lincoln.

"'My home is in Ohio,' I replied.

"'I thought so', he said; 'that's the kind of men they raise out
there!'"


* * * * *


"HARDSHIPS STRENGTHEN MUSCLES."

As in the old country, kings evade the tiresome features of
receptions, after a time, by retiring and leaving the ceremony to
be carried out by a deputy, so the daintier Presidents before the
sixteenth one eluded the handshaking when possible. But, on the
contrary, "the man out of the West" continued to the last, and the
latest visitor had no reason to cavil at the grip being less hearty to
him than the first comer. On visiting the army hospital at City Point,
where upward of three thousand patients awaited his passing with
enrapt respect, he insisted on no one being neglected. A surgeon
inquired if he did not feel lamed in the arm by the undue exertion,
whereupon he replied smilingly: