from Congressman John Ganson, of Buffalo, one of
the ablest lawyers in New York, who, although a Democrat, supported
all of Mr. Lincoln's war measures. Mr. Ganson wanted explanations. Mr.
Ganson was very bald with a perfectly smooth face. He had a most direct
and aggressive way of stating his views or of demanding what he thought
he was entitled to. He said: "Mr. Lincoln, I have supported all of your
measures and think I am entitled to your confidence. We are voting and
acting in the dark in Congress, and I demand to know--think I have the
right to ask and to know--what is the present situation, and what are
the prospects and conditions of the several campaigns and armies."

Mr. Lincoln looked at him critically for a moment and then said:
"Ganson, how clean you shave!"

Most men would have been offended, but Ganson was too broad and
intelligent a man not to see the point and retire at once, satisfied,
from the field.

A SMALL CROP.

Chauncey M. Depew says that Mr. Lincoln told him the following story,
which he claimed was one of the best two things he ever originated: He
was trying a case in Illinois where he appeared for a prisoner charged
with aggravated assault and battery. The complainant had told a horrible
story of the attack, which his appearance fully justified, when
the District Attorney handed the witness over to Mr. Lincoln, for
cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said he had no testimony, and unless he
could break down the complainant's story he saw no way out. He had
come to the conclusion that the witness was a bumptious man, who rather
prided himself upon his smartness in repartee and, so, after looking at
him for some minutes, he said:

"Well, my friend, how much ground did you and my client here fight
over?"

The fellow answered: "About six acres."

"Well," said Mr. Lincoln, "don't you think that this is an almighty
small crop of fight to gather from such a big piece of ground?"

The jury laughed. The Court and District-Attorney and complainant all
joined in, and the case was laughed out of court.

"NEVER REGRET WHAT YOU DON'T WRITE."

A simple remark one of the party might make would remind Mr. Lincoln of
an apropos story.

Secretary of the Treasury Chase happened to remark, "Oh, I am so sorry
that I did not write a letter to Mr. So-and-so before I left home!"

President Lincoln promptly responded:

"Chase, never regret what you don't write; it is what you do write that
you are