Wit, Wisdom and Foibles of the Great; Together with Numerous Anecdotes Illustrative of the Characters of People and Their Rulers (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 Excerpt: ...to share with me." "Where is your room?" said he. "Upstairs," said I, pointing to a pair of winding stairs which led from the store to my room. He took his saddle-bags on his arm, went upstairs, set them down on the floor and came down with a most changed countenance. Beaming with pleasure, he exclaimed, "Well, Speed, I am moved."--Speed. He paid but little attention to the fees and money matters of the firm--usually leaving all such to me. He never entered an item in the account book. If any one paid money to him which belonged to the firm, on arriving at the office he divided it with me. If I was not there he would wrap up my share in a piece of paper and place it in my drawer, marking it with lead pencil, "Case of Roe vs. Doe.--Herndon's half."--Herndon and Weik A singular story is told of a case in which a good many prominent men were involved besides Lincoln. Abraham Brokaw, of Bloomington, loaned five hundred dollars to one of his neighbors and took a note, which remained unpaid. Action was brought, the sheriff levied on the property of the debtor and collected the amount, but neglected to turn the proceeds over. Brokaw employed Stephen A. Douglas, who collected the amount from the bondsmen of the sheriff; but returned to his seat at Washington without making a settlement. Like some other great men, Douglas was very careless about money matters and, after appealing to him again and again, Brokaw employed David Davis to bring suit against the senator. Being an intimate friend and fellow Democrat, Davis disliked to appear in the case, and by his advice Brokaw engaged the services of Lincoln. The latter wrote to Douglas at Washington that he had a claim against him for collection and must insist on prompt paym...