The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-09-21
Observations in the Presidents Office,
Correspondsnos Chicago Tribune.


square room with two windows l6okihg
Southward. The view from either of these
windows is In SOME RESPECTS an exceeding
lly attractive one. Directly beneath is the
trim and handsome little park, constituting
what 10 known as the "Whits House
Grounns" proper, with its vista toward the
river, and its smooth, grassy, artificial,
|tree-covered mound on either side. Here
Is where tho Marine Band plays for two or
two and half hours every Saturday eve-
ming from May to October; ana the sight
on favorable occasion Is, from the VIM
dowsof the Presidents Office, one not soon
to be forgotten. Beyond the park IL the
large common known in Washington par
lance a. ''the grounds south Of the White
House. Here the refiase ::earth made in
grading the F street railway, as we'll a.
that made in finishing thewest front Of the
Treasury building, is hauled to raise the
Upper part OF the common. 1t was low
but not wet, and IL handsomely filed with
trees. In the lower and central portion of
this common is the broad plateau whefe
| the boys play ball--where the grand match
games at base ball have just been played
by our National Club with the Athletics
Of Philadelphia and the Atlantics Of Brook
(lyn. Still lower il the little grovein which
the colored people held Fourth of July Gel
sbrati6h, to the infinite and never-ending
disgust OF Washington secesh s6cietf:--
Beyond the common is the "Wall' proper,
with the ungainly and unfinished WASH
lington monument--now and for years q
mere cattle yard. Then there is the BROAD
bossomed, alwaysiplacid Potomac, lying
under smiling Virginia shores, and re-
fecting the spars Of far AWAY and aimly
seen Alexandria. This is the view from
the windows of the Presidents office-one
suggestive Of the whole range Of human
experience, light here and shadow there,
the solemn joy Of purified liberty, and the
bitter passion Of the slavery -natured re-
bellion. '~.' |'' "..'' ..'..'''' .-.''
The Office is ~ plain and unpretendirg
as the verest He'd Republican could desire.
The walls are covered with a dark green
paper, forever suggestive Of insidious dis
ease, and hung here and there with maps
on which the long fingers Of great and
eforitied Abraham Lincoln traced the
march OF arnie, and evolved the shrewd
plans which crop ont i'm so many of his
letters to Mcclellan. Hooker and Meade
In front of the door as YOU enter from the
broad hall, which s~rvea an ante-room, is
large table, with books, papers, pens
ink, &C., where always sits clerk when
the Office is open to the public. On the
right is book case, beyond that the fire.
place, and then just in the corner stand
ing desk. On the left is another case o
book shelves, and three long and old fash
ioned lounges, with half dozen old fash
ioned chairs. Between the two windows
; and beyond the large central table, Ii .
small table-desk, at which the Presiden
sits or stands when receiving the public
the standing desk Of his private secreta
ries, Gen. Mussey and Col. Browning, be
ling lust behind him, and not ont Of arm.
reach. The floor Of the room Is covered
Q with mating. Sole adornment Of the of
fec in q picture Of Andrew jacobson, hang
ing over the mantiepiece, and lookins
grim1y down alike upon friend and foe
and especially upon the horde Of more o.
less repentant rebels who daily throng tn,
room for favor and pardon. One canno
i help querying II there is not the work o
: the shadowy Fate Of Oriental philosophy
i OF course the picture has hung there 70
e years, but did not Fate, looking througl
the dista1icc, hang it there especially TO
these days! """A "+ ''''
= Tuesday and Friday OF each week ar
q cabinet days, and the public are not ad
1 a. l.
othef days there is admission from ten til
d. two for verybody-though let me CRATE
fully nots that certain women OF manner
. free aud easy with rebeldom in waiting
who were wont month ago to press il
:, and braZenly urge the pardon OF those VIII
e paid Vt We're likely to pay, have been IRE
!. vocably excluded. Into the great square an
q into the gaudy East room, and there il tn
general reception room. 1t is next Yves
!, from the office. The barbafiahs used =
;. to beset Mr.. Lincoln in his passage thro
). this room froin the Office to the privat
II chambers Of the hotise, that a passage wa
was built across the further side of it,
The wall In so high that no one can no,
= trouble the passef through, though if yo
y are tall You may stand in a chair and loo
= over it. To the east st the office, and j
IS the corner Of the house. is the oiffce Of tl
II private secretaries; and across the hall. !
4, the opposite corner, il the room of half
y dozen clerks. The door Of the President
1 room is not generally set open till abot
ie noon-tlough he receives persons on bu'
ct mess for three or four hours previously
p, toese days the hall and reception room
ie are generally crowded. and though the el
lg trance to the house is closed at 2 o'clocl
m the President is not unfrequently kel
ne busy till three or even ST o'clock, wi,
I'd those inside when the house is shut. Il
ne makes it point to see all who arc in wht
Ae o'clock arrives, unless ne is unusual
IN tired or unwell. ...-.. ..-r ,..-,,sf.-. ..7..
H. There ought to be some way for keepir
81 out three Of every fyur persons who pre-
in to bring themselves or their cases b
OF fore the President. He is the veriest sla'
~ In the country. Servant Of the people
~ he is, there's neither reason nor good sen
!" in bringing before him such a multitude
questions a. each day presents. Yeste
= day afternoon I Judge he gave audience
" not less than one hundred and twenty-fi
'' persons i'm about three hours. Only CO
up slider tho mental exhaustion conseque
~ upon hearing andconsidering such n nu,
ber of cases In such time! or the nul
on Der probably half had business that al
'o clerk could have told them must be do
| IL