ing.

"WHEREAS," HE STOLE NOTHING.

One of the most celebrated courts-martial during the War was that
of Franklin W. Smith and his brother, charged with defrauding the
government. These men bore a high character for integrity. At this time,
however, courts-martial were seldom invoked for any other purpose than
to convict the accused, and the Smiths shared the usual fate of persons
whose cases were submitted to such arbitrament. They were kept in
prison, their papers seized, their business destroyed, and their
reputations ruined, all of which was followed by a conviction.

The finding of the court was submitted to the President, who, after a
careful investigation, disapproved the judgment, and wrote the following
endorsement upon the papers:

"Whereas, Franklin W. Smith had transactions with the Navy Department to
the amount of a million and a quarter of dollars; and:

"Whereas, he had a chance to steal at least a quarter of a million
and was only charged with stealing twenty-two hundred dollars, and the
question now is about his stealing one hundred, I don't believe he stole
anything at all.

"Therefore, the record and the findings are disapproved, declared null
and void, and the defendants are fully discharged."

NOT LIKE THE POPE'S BULL.

President Lincoln, after listening to the arguments and appeals of a
committee which called upon him at the White House not long before the
Emancipation Proclamation was issued, said:

"I do not want to issue a document that the whole world will see must
necessarily be inoperative, like the Pope's bull against the comet."

COULD HE TELL?

A "high" private of the One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry Regiment,
Pennsylvania Volunteers, wounded at Chancellorsville, was taken to
Washington. One day, as he was becoming convalescent, a whisper ran down
the long row of cots that the President was in the building and would
soon pass by. Instantly every boy in blue who was able arose, stood
erect, hands to the side, ready to salute his Commander-in-Chief.

The Pennsylvanian stood six feet seven inches in his stockings. Lincoln
was six feet four. As the President approached this giant towering above
him, he stopped in amazement, and casting his eyes from head to foot
and from foot to head, as if contemplating the immense distance from one
extremity to the other, he stood for a moment speechless.

At length, extending his hand, he exclaimed, "Hello, comrade, do you