Lincoln, the unknown

LINCOLN THE UNKNOWN• 151Bible and a book of sermons every night before retiring, hewas utterly unable to comprehend a President who took to bedwith him a volume of Artemus Ward or Petroleum Nasby.Lincoln's flair for humor, at almost all times and under nearlyall circumstances, irritated and annoyed Chase.One day an old crony of Lincoln's from Illinois called at theWhite House. The doorkeeper, looking him over with a criticaleye, announced that the President couldn't be seen, that aCabinet meeting was in session."That don't make no difference," the caller protested. "Youjust tell Abe that Orlando Kellogg is here and wants to tellhim the story of the stuttering justice. He'll see me."Lincoln ordered him shown in at once, and greeted him witha fervent handshake. Turning to the Cabinet, the Presidentsaid:"Gentlemen: This is my old friend, Orlando Kellogg, and hewants to tell us the story of the stuttering justice. It is a verygood story, so let's lay all business aside now."So grave statesmen and the affairs of the nation waited whileOrlando told his yarn and Lincoln had his loud guffaw.Chase was disgusted. He feared for the future of the nation.He complained that Lincoln "was making a joke out of thewar," that he was hurrying the country on to "the abyss ofbankruptcy and ruin."Chase was as jealous as a member of a high-school sorority.He had expected to be made Secretary of State. Why hadn't he?Why had he been snubbed? Why had the post of honor gone tothe haughty Seward? Why had he been made a mere Secretaryand resentful.of the Treasury? He was bitterHe had to play third fiddle now. Yes, but he would showthem; 1864 was coming. There would be another election then,and he was determined to occupy the White House himself afterthat. He thought of little else now. He threw his whole heartand soul into what Lincoln called "Chase's mad hunt for thePresidency."To Lincoln's face, he pretended to be his friend. But the momenthe was out of sight and out of hearing, Chase was thePresident's ceaseless, bitter, and sneaking foe. Lincoln was frequentlycompelled to make decisions that offended influentialpeople. When he did, Chase hurried to the disgruntled victim,sympathized with him, assured him that he was right, whippedup his resentment toward Lincoln, and persuaded him that if