A New York firm applied to Abraham Lincoln some years before he became
President for information as to the financial standing of one of his
neighbors. Mr. Lincoln replied:
“I am well acquainted with Mr. ----, and know his circumstances. First of
all, he has a wife and baby; together they ought to be worth $50,000 to
any man. Secondly, he has an office in which there is a table worth $1.50
and three chairs worth, say, $1. Last of all, there is in one corner a
large rat hole, which will bear looking into. Respectfully, A. Lincoln.”