at hand the impartial testimony of history proves. The story of General McClellan's career is wellknown and has been the subject of much acrimonious discussion. He had presented to him magnificent opportunities which he failed to take advantage of. While he succeeded Scott as General in command, he was yet inferior in rank to the President, who was clothed by the Constitution with the power of Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy. Yet he refused to heed the advice of his superior officer and delayed to obey his commands until the occasion. which had called them forth had lost its significance. Again and again he permitted the enemy to make raids into Maryland, and carry on offensive campaigns in Virginia without making an effort to repulse them though he had a splendid army under his command much larger and more efficient than that of the enemy. His constant appeals for re-inforcements; his ill-concealed contempt for the orders of the President and Secretary of War; his inactivity and constant failure to make use of the armies intrusted to his charge and his jealousy of his inferior officers are all so directly at variance with his vehement asseverations of loyalty and love of his country's cause as to be almost inexplicable, except upon the grounds of insincerity. His personality was attractive and his ability was generally admitted. Yet his ability was not of the kind which fitted him to control the movements of great armies or to direct the conduct of complicated campaigns. Had General McClellan never been elevated to the chief command, his career would, no doubt, have been distinguished and his rank in history second to that of none of the minor generals.

Many of the peculiar qualities of Mr. Lincoln's character were shown in his dealings with General McClellan. In the first place, McClellan was a Democrat and strongly opposed to the political policy of the administration. Yet this did not deter the President from appointing him, for he believed him to be not only the most available man but the best equipped in every way for the position. The appointment was not a popular one among the friends of the administration but as long as it was evidently for the good of the nation the President was little moved by the complaints of his friends, and long after General McClellan had proved himself, to the satisfaction of the majority, totally unfit for the position, Mr. Lincoln continued to have faith in him and did his utmost to urge him on, nor did he withhold his hearty support as long as there seemed to be a single chance of his achieving success. Only the most longsuffering patience would have ignored his sneers and reproaches or his persistent disregard of orders.

These embarrassments and the subsequent failure of a number of generals to successfully fill the requirements induced Mr. Lincoln to make a close. study of the science of war. He became deeply dissatisfied with the lack of skill and energy on the part of the commanders and of progress on the part of the armies and endeavored to infuse something of his own vigor and enthusiasm into the hearts of his subordinates. The metamorphosis from the plain country lawyer unversed in the technical details of either war or government into the most accomplished ru.er and commander of the day, was one to which history hardly presents a parallel. Slowly he gathered up

the details of the war and directed the multitudinous movements in the various departments with a sagacity, wise judgment and determination which finally brought victory out of impending defeat and saved the Union. General Keep says: "The elements of selfishness and ferocity, which are not unusual with first-class military chiefs, were wholly foreign to Mr. Lincoln's nature. Nevertheless, there was not one of his most trusted warlike counsellors in the beginning of the war, who equalled him in military sagacity."

CHAPTER XVI.

Ir is an old saying that "Circumstances make the man," and it is also true that man impresses much of his character upon his surroundings. As the foot imprints its form upon the sand, man impresses his character upon his environment and moulds it to the peculiarities of his taste and temperament. The very

rooms in which a man of affairs does his work will bear the stamp of his activity and be suggestive of his presence.

This was true of Mr. Lincoln to an unusual degree. He always dressed plainly and made no attempt at personal adornment. The conventional garb of society sat awkwardly upon his long gaunt body. He was most at ease when most simply clad and was always glad to exchange his dress suit for his working clothes. His mind seemed to be far above the petty details of dress and chafed when compelled to give attention to them.

In the furnishing of his house his tastes were equally simple. The old kitchen, where the whole family were wont to gather around the fireplace and read or work by the bright blaze, was to him the most comfortable room in the house.

He never felt at home in the broad and ornate rooms of the White House and spent the most of the time in his office, which he often spoke of as his “workshop."

Mr. Arnold thus describes this historic room:

"It was about 25x40 feet in size. In the centre on the west was a large, white marble fireplace, with big, old-fashioned brass andirons and a large, high brass fender. A wood fire was burning in cool weather. The large windows opened upon the beautiful lawn to the south with a view of the unfinished Washington Monument, the Smithsonian Institute, the Potomac, Alexandria and down the river towards Mount Vernon. Across the river were Arlington Heights and Arlington House, late residence of Robert E. Lee. On the hills around, during nearly all his administration, were the white tents of soldiers and field fortifications and camps, and in every direction could be seen the brilliant colors of the national flag. The furniture of this room consisted of a large oak table, covered with cloth, extending north and south, and it was around this table that the Cabinet sat when it held its meetings. Near the end of the table and between the windows was another table, on the west side of which the President sat in a large arm-chair, and at this table he wrote. A tall desk with pigeonholes for papers stood against the south wall. The only books usually found in this room were the Bible, the Constitution of the United States and a copy of Shakespeare. There were a few chairs and two plain hair-covered sofas. There were two or three map frames from which hung military maps on which the position and movements of the armies were traced. There was an old and discolored engraving of General Jackson on the mantel and a later photograph of John Bright. Doors opened into this room from the room of the Secretary, and from the outside hall run