Remarks at Leaman Place, Pennsylvania1Jump to section
February 22, 1861
Mr. Lincoln appeared and said he was too unwell to say much to them. He expressed his pleasure on entering the great county of Lancaster, and thanked them for their friendly greeting, concluding by saying that he had merely come out to see them and let them see him, in which he thought he had the best of the bargain! To this the crowd responded ``no you haven't!''
Loud calls being made for Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. L. brought her out, and said he had concluded to give them ``the long and the short of it!'' This remark---with the disparity between the length of himself and wife---produced a loud burst of laughter, followed by enthusiastic cheers as the train moved off.
Annotation
[1] Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Evening Express, February 22, 1861.