Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-10-08
tFrom the correspondence Y Republic, 2slh'l
DOORKEEPER DENTS DOINGs.
The wiIes. ways and whims Of a Hen
Waiter.


ant Brevet Brigadier- General Frederlek
Thompson Dent, Doorkeeper OF the heGep-
tion Room at the White House, IS n waiter.
let attention be invited to the definition oil
that mere menial found in any dictionary, as
follows:
WAITER-One who waits. -,
To illustrate: First Lieutenant brewer
Bripadier General Frederick Thompson
Dent sits in a cane-bottomed chair, IN front
of an Indifferent walnut desk in the ante
room of the White House, from lO a. M 10
8 p. NJ. of each secular day-for whatF Why
only to loait to see who calls on the tIes''
dent. Some one calls; he ndits uh'il inc
caller has written his name on caro-; ne
scaits until the card is handed 70 nlmi NC
aoaits (always) until he las read inc caro-
he then aoaits a second or two and SOUNDS
little hell, (ihe Identical one Mr.. Seward
used to have, his solitary legacy TO thls Ad-
ministraiion, except some $2O,OOU ol caple
telegraph bills which are not yet pala Tue
little bell rung, he aoaits till suD-nunkey
approaches 10 take the card; be 7oauS uhtli
the sub-aunkey returns from the President
and tells him the answer; he then aodus ulltil
the same process is gone through with IN me
case of several hundred callers, perhaps! III
a day: thus day in and day out iodits flrst
Lieutenant BreVet Brigadier General FREQ
erick Thompson Dent, Doorkeeper OF the
Reception Room Of the White House. From
which is the itrisistible inference that FIRST
Lieutenant Brevet Brigadier General FRED
eTick Dent, Doorkeeper Of the Reception
Room of the White House, is WAITER,
and the dictionaries are yindicaled.
AN HOUR IN THE ANTE ROOM.
l had thought that pun (at least in Gu
phony) could be peTpetrated on The term
t'Ante- Room" and wholesome application
made 10 the distribution OF the ublic GUAR
/ bu fln President
who believes that nothing is so becoming as
careful regard to all the "rrlalions" OF
life. But lei that pass, and let us look
round, 1t is large, almost square room,
yery plainly furnished, the carpet OF we'll
worn ingram, some green and feu lealher
backed chairs standing here and there, ana
circular table, covered with large sheet
of blotting-paper, .acknge oil blank cares,
and some pens and ink being placed in the
center The plainness of the department
makes all description commonplace; SUI
the yery plainness is republican, and there
isa negligent sort of comfort and bachelor
like ease. which sensible men sensibly ap-
nreciote. For n quiet smoke, or nursery,
or for any purpose requiring room and
freedom" this is a very suitable place.
And, too, in extent, and simplicity, II IS ol
could be made very satisfactory apartment
wherein citizens can linger till their turn
l
yond in his reception room. Therei is some
thing very becoming, there is something, in
sense, very BETTING the theory OF ouI
Government, in the unstudied plainess and
solid comfort ofihe room, which lies acros:
the path toward the office OF the citizen
President of all the citizens. In Andrew
Iohnson's time this republican simplicity
was complemented by its associations. MT
Kershaw, the popular predecessor o! DOOR
| n fn tain Tho fnrls in with
, | out any fuss or show, and because he was
plain, cheery little man, not at ali above III
i business, people liked him, and often gaY'
= him trifle, which he deserved. Now, how
ever. all is changed. Right in the mos
consticuous part of the room is First Lieu
/ tenant Brevet Btigadier General Frederici
I Thompson Dent, doorkeeper OF lhe recep
tion room, is, as said, perked before an IN
different desk, and there dispenses the dig
! niles and duties Of head waiter in mos
a extraordinary manner. He is a little fellow
= irving to look big. What be lacks in siz
n he flls out IN "ars." A bucolic body
4 stubby, ungracelul, and with no quaint.
a about it except the unduly large hands an
feet, face as expressionless as fiag-slont
q eyes of leaden gray, hair ditto, and mous
Q ache and imperial ditto. His htlle pallt
4 head is thrown back askance, his eyes Dea
!. tile satisfied look compounded of pomposlt
q ulu uSSuThntt hulNh niH"J "bhA"'' ~
is of sensibility.
- A Quiet old farmer slouches in. He ht
IS come all the way from Towanda, Pennsy
yapia. and he has "sOn of the stiP' wlltte
" ali over him. He has come TO pay his r.
of sneuts TO the President, squash hands WI
a. him and 70 home TO tell his vile aud chi
ID dren. He is simple, sensible old ielioy
q: and he measures of the room 1n NO.
ne boots with sturdy independence which
he "trooly rooral." ,.
o. Seeing people sitting round, he looks in
every ones face but fails 10 recognize the
at to be Grant, whose features are by pinot
IT. graphic circulation familiar TO him. Al lhi
ut in his gazing and walking, he nears Den
il desk. and that flunkey nt once accosts hi
,er in purposely loud tones, so as to attract
g attention of every one in the room, WIN
to ''Do you wish to see the PresidenlF'
ly Astonlshed to find his purpose discoyere
of the old fellow takes in LIS lhterloculor u
ry glance, and says:
th- eyes, | do, but who be your"
of This is Dents opportunity. Tins III
h very loud voice: -. ouo, nont
Of The United States Army, and on the stan
nv brother-in.law, the President; I
President is now engaged with sera
iue -, whom sent in few minutes o.
fits The President will be engaged with sena
|
ays President will be occupied with the meet
nan of The Cabinet for the rest OF the day. I
for reception days iorthe public are on Mond'
} in and Thursdays, from 10 to IL O'Clock in
led morning. VIII be happy to see you at l
raw time and to send in your card"
ed. Herein is contained enough evidence
lrer the Presidents dependence on Dent
Of satisfy even his mind. Apparently II 1t o. \
eral whelms the old farmer, lot III gush Vi
of Lo raonon1e.
'r- "Well, faint no matter ef didn't see
ork, Gin'ral. Let me shake hands with you,
lnts lest you tell him l called"
Inds Exit the old man, without having lelt c
one bis name, but obviously stepped in the
our dividual importance OF Dent.
nue. Enters the reporter OF Washington
rld's per. He wants to know wheiher Ger
inds annointment has been made which is p
,loy- ing, but he wants TO know ii Quietly;
robe he does not want any other OF the ne
IS he PAPER men present to be aware that h
AT after the item. He approaches Dent
after whispers an inquiry in his ear. Dent M
y for masses into the Presidents room, comes
upon In a few moments and speaks loud enc
says 10 he heard clearly down stairs;
+hou. "Mr. Brown, the President inform
from that 70 change has yet been maue I'D
all in Sixth New York District"
ife in Whereuron every other reporter Of e
other Washington paper, all oil whon
present, knows exactly what the report
grad question came for, ana what news ~
oking obtained. From the Tone oi ,o,i. DTo,h
mong Dents answer, II Is perieetly v1 oovlous n'
en so reader of intentions that ne pIuIteu u, ol
nver- whole thing, Just 10 enable him to adv
hus9" the above significant words: "1he
Mt al dent informs Mel"
ig the now, ,,v,sr n pATnoNtzFs GRANT.
Dthes. nv" NV 60, s.,, W.
wear When Grhnt Whs NeneIali nv -
,e es- about 10 O'Clock gentleman, high IN O
n rea- station at that time, called at army
Ma Il. quarters, corner OF Seventeenth al
~ ~ | strnnts The gentlnm0n found MIR, BO