Mrs. Benjamin Price, of Baltimore, told, at a meeting of the Woman’s
Literary Club of that city, two anecdotes of Abraham Lincoln. In one of
them she said that her father-in-law had at one time been appointed to
a government position in place of Mr. Addison, who was a most polished
but notably plain-featured man. The two gentlemen went together to call
upon President Lincoln, who received them cheerfully in the midst of the
somewhat embarrassing operation of shaving. His face was a lather of
soap, he extended a hand to each, and upon Mr. Addison enumerating the
good qualities of his successor, and congratulating the President upon
securing so eminent an officer, Mr. Lincoln exclaimed:
“Yes, Addison, I have no doubt Mr. Price is all that you say, but nothing
can compensate me for the loss of you, for when you retire I shall be the
homeliest man in the employment of the government.”