THE ABUTMENT WAS DUBERSOME.

President Lincoln was told that the Northern and Southern Democrats
had at last accomplished a fusion.

"Well, I believe you, of course," said he to the informant, "but I
have my doubts of the foundation, like my friend Brown. Brown is a
sound church member. He was member, too, of a township committee,
having to receive bids for building a bridge over a deep and rapid
river. The contractors did not seem to like the proposition, so Brown
called in an architectural acquaintance, named--we will say, Jones.
At the question 'Can you build this bridge?' he was overbold, and
replied: 'Yes, sir, or any other. I could build a bridge from Sodom
to Gomorrah with abutment below.' The committee being good and select
men were shocked at the strong language, and Brown was called upon to
defend his protege.

"'I know Jones well enough,' he rejoined, 'and he is so honest a man
and good a builder, that if he states positively that he can build a
bridge from Sodom to Gomorrah, why, I believe him! But--I feel bound
to state that I am in some doubt as to the abutment on the other
side!'

"My friend, I reassert I have my doubts about the abutment!"


* * * * *


"GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PRESIDENT."