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.”