The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-17

OF approach 70 tile august presence OF the Prcstdent
Neither arc they all Brothcrsin- Law, fact which
may also have something to do with the partial OBJ
security in which they aro kept But, nevertheless,
little patient effort perhaps few repeated visits,
would servo to Introduce US into these other gilded
and upholstered apartments, In which would be
found several officers Of distinction in the staff eorrs
Of the army. or these are Gen. Horace Porter,
who nforetime acted one Of the military
Secretaries of the General OF tho army, now
most admirably filing the place Of Private
Secretary TO tho President; Gen. Babcock,
an old time aidedecamp tho staH, lately the ne
gohator OF the samara treaty, now assigned
TO duty in some anomalous position with the chief
OF the nation Gen. Adam Badeau, the historian OF
Grant, an apprentice diplomat under Mr.. Motley,
who is now In Washington to complete his
history and discharge important social functions in
the economy OF the Administration. such an
array Of BrigadierG Generals about the President 10
ccrtainly well calculated to impress with exalted
ideas OF his position, and also suggests the similarity
Of the SURROUNDINGS of majesty and uonarchcal
governmental IL IN also a novelty In this country,
ese pTGeW o. wGh may Wen pS gSSs9ed
from the army and assumed the Presidency, he
surrounded himself with a rotinue OF BrgaderG Gen
orlls nos was Jackson famous for dragging the
military element into the Executive onlce. More
over, existing statute has been observed AZ hor
izng sancioniug military stan Tor the President.
But then We have got accustomed TO seeing things
done by modern Presidents without tho sanction OF
law. ard possibly may yet learn that son eihns Of
the divine riaht OF kings attaches TO this republican
Official.
me GRAND cuAuDRRIArS's DUTY.
But while VIC have been wandering among these
lesser LIGHTS Of military renown who bask In the 6xe-
cutivr presence, our humble visitor has be- n lett
rem bling In the august presence o. the grand Dcnt
er inaw has vast duties to perform aud oncrous
sponsiblites resting uron bis shoulders. II Is bis
duy 10 receive ai caGre ascertain their wants and
vi the common h'rd. While We have wandered he
has disposed ola room full Of waiting suitors Ono
half hnE hsaW a..NH Iii
their visits IN the several Departments A portion
OF the remainder have been ludiciously parcelied
cut among the several Brigadicrs above mentioned
snd sent under tue charge ~ uusty ushers mo the
presence ~ those shorder-strappcd reprcec tluves
Of Executive authority. still another portion have
been singled ont to be attended to by Don't In person.
NJ soon rs he gets leisure, while very few have Sc
cured the precious boon Of having their cards
sent u tho President. and are waiting
summons ipto his audience chamber. Among
them Is our friend from tue backwoods. who twirls
his hat In nervous bewildermcnt at the spl. ndor
that surrounds him and tho more unutterabie gran
deur he an ieipaes when lie shall have passed nom
the unfortunate to the actual presence ofthe Amsr
WITH fright At his own temsrity in venturing into
such place, he IL almost Frustrated with terror at
usher, who bows with all the grace Of French
dancing-muster, accompanying tile bow with the
gins, Of snogginsvillc" to which he adds, " Tue
President will see YOU.
The PRESIDENTS AUDIENCE CHAMBER.
The audience chamber of the Precedent, like the
ante rooms and apartments OF the Secretaries, has
been transformed from the plain. modest, though
beautiful room IN whicn Mr.. Lincoln was con
tent 70 perform bis Official duties, into a
Acknowledged, more taste aud skin In rs adornmeni
and ornam entiiion than the others but s,in over.
tawdry and snowy 10 tho general effect produced.
Eycrything in the room, aside nom its ireseong Is
rich and beautiful
rms cHIEr ExEcUuvE's STYLE OF REcEIvISa.
Mr.. Grant receives his visitors with no trace OF
cordially whatever Ordinarily he remains scntec
and fFr ~
like good morning" as the caller apprOachrs;
listens moodlY, almost aestractediy, to him be
dismlsses him with 4 nod and half inauiible good
day. Those OF more tlan ordinary preteusious
typed snake OF the hands, the Pre- sldent rising and
atcompsny'ns the snak. with something hike I" rm
sch up in lis studied rrtcsnce and Listens pa.
tently answers brc1y,and geN through the business
AZ Guckig az possible With q thru class however,
he Is altogether different person. Thesg his
old army companions and such civilians as have
gaiuod his confidence. 70 gam Mr.. Grants conf.
denee e an achievement now rarely accomplished
II was easier Cight ten years aro, and hence the
most OF hs conhdlnis are those who had rcll tious
with tm when his stqi began 10 rise. such are re.
ceiyed by him with the utmost coriinhty pnd
familiarity. They relieved from the examination
by Dent aui are admitted to the presence at any
g." How you, sherman - or iIai ., smith;
familiMs call no etiquette whatever is followed.
CHARS arc usually pro iuccd nj once and then fol
vegsa,ion. And as ibe smoke becomes thick ia
the room, aud the familiarity attnns its height, |
Mr.. Grant becomes the most plabie person Ina
ENABLE. All rcucence aud stoidIIy are laid aside;
he talks as freely Us any one; tells good story
as the best and Viii promise anything that may be
ASKED OF him. There are but a lew person who
enjoy this Csc acquaintance with Grant, md tbeS
are very forum te. H.l fourth class - com.
oted tXclusyely Of sold men, men who are sup
posed 90 able 10 draw their CHECKS for fabulous
amounts; the Stewards, Bores, and such like Gnau-
ally great uen OF the country To these the Pres.
n b. IA al HH ~ flu
announcement Of Their names he turu. % erect
them, and himself attends 20 OF rnS lhclI sc.ds.
Their calls are never considered too long, or IN
the slightest sense bore To them he i cordial 10
subserNeney
rnE wHIrs HOUSE CLOSED TO THE rrDLic.
Having observed the Innovations and changes in
ue east end or business portion OF the Executive
other parts Of the establishment. BoWng ourselves
plain. od.ashloned staircase to the gorgcously res
coed vesubuie, We approAcn the magniccnuy-
dressed usher and ask pcrmsson TO sec tile house.
We are politely shoNn into the famous cast room,
and there told that, by order OF Mrs Grant, the rest
OF the house isuot open TO sisht ssers, Neither thu
seen. except ute occasions, under the iorui
dabe ceremonies Of call uTOa Ma. Grant. In the
cast room no change 10 apparent from IL old time
traits Of the exfrcsIdeuts, which now very apLro
pnately adorn the walls. having been COLLECTED for
Tat purpose from variors rooms throughout the
mansion snd from other sources. And as this room
has been written about and described until TIA sub
turn away DIS gusicd az the new tan god notions
which close tie beet parts OF the historic establish.
ment FROM tho Inspection Of It's owners.
Forbidden GRouSp.
Tho range OF pariors stretching along the back Of
tie mansion from the state dining a. tho East
Room have alwys been free TO veiiOIs until the
present time. Why tlOy should DC closed now IL
ole, the more since Mrs Grant has
caused to he provided parlor stairs for her
usr, and mHkts DTetense OF oeeupying either
the RED Blue, Green pariors for domestic or
family purposes. These three rooms retain the
furniture as formerly, ana the walls have thu
same cUloring. Tue floors have been covered with |
new carpets, beyond which they are precisely as |
Mrs. Patterson, Mr. Johns0n's excellent house. |
K ceper lett Iuem. Tho Red Room, adjoining the |
state di0nG room. used by presidSn JopnsOn's
hous hold a. family parur Ii IL now lett to tho |
lordly drserton, save on pablo occasions as
the rooms further east
MRS. GRANTS DOuDoIn.
TIE the upper door at the southwest cor.
OF the house, formerly occupied by Mr. PatteT.
Sun bedclamoor, has been trans oriued into |
an elegant private parlor TOR Mrs. Grant ending |
and Tesco have been brought lutn free use IN this
and changed 1t into u luxurious boudoir
Tile elegant lace and damasK curtains, tie costly |
Tsdish carpet tla magnificent mirrors, and the |
uch rosewood furniture are all new, und were |
mostly procured sbro d expressly Tor tns domcs-
tic retreat H. re, wheu woari win the batteries
OF her admirers ana eNhi US, ed with the studied