The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-09-19
GRANT AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
ABRIDGED FROM ''THE STRUGGLE OF '72,"
BY E. CHAMBERLAIN.
THE WHITE HOUSE.

on visit to that great cynosure OF Amer
lean eves.and goal OF American am billions,
the White House, and to be arm ed with
such letters or escort, or persona James s
shall secure his introduction to the Chief
Mao1strate. Not much is required In thi S
way-merely enough to keep downright
idlers and adventures from occupying
the Presidents time to the exclusion of
those who have some business with him.
You seek out the Executive Mansion, To-
Gated on Pennsylvania Avenue, just west
Of the magnificent Treasury Bullding,and
opposite The luxuriantly growing Lafay-
ette Park. A broad, semi-circuar walk
admits you through the grounds of the
Manslov, which is found to be fine, spa
clous ediire, with over hun dred feet of
'front.' built Of freestone painted white,
and adorned with plain, heavy round col
umns. enclosing roomy portico, wit
driveway and landing for carriages. In
side, the imp esson is not remarkably
pleasant. The halls are vast and reachy,
aud the main reception room, directly at
the left OF the front entrance, is usually
quite deserted, except by occasional stray.
gIers. Here, however, on certain days Of
the week, the promiscuous public IS re-
ceived by the President and his lady.
This room is richly furnished, and its
eight immense pier glass mirrors are in
tel 'persed with as many portraits of for
mcr hosts OF the White House, all of
them smartly framed, but not all we'll
painted. At the foot of the broad stair
case, you encounter one or more ushers,
apparently on the Celtic race, and quite
fah n
Ing. They are utterly devoid of every
thing that could be construed into style
or "pump"-no livery, no ceremony, no
look, even, # the trained house servant.
Indeed, these fellows appear as if they
were but recently broken into this duty.
and that their latest calling had been
farming, or teaming, perhaps.
Up stairs-WhIther any one goes who
assumes the right to g0-another reception
room Is reached, wherein are usually found
throughout he forenoon and until two or
three o'clock, an average of half dozen
gentlemen, awaiting their turn for an au
dIence with the President. You seat
yourself among them and hand your card,
or your le tiers, to General Frederick
Dent, one OF those shameful brothers-in-
law OF whom we hear So much, who acts
as chamberlain, or usher in-chi1f. Dent
IS genial and withal trife louuaci Gus, so
that lew visitors fail to be entertained in
some way. Your card is taken in to the
PRESIDENT, who sits in the Cabinet cham
Der, and you await the result, as the rest
are doing.
IMPERIALISM" ILLUSTRATED.
The waiting room you discover to be
also an office for two or three clerks. To
the rear Of it is hall or ante room, in
which are two more servants. These are
colored, fat, ungaInIy and illy-dressed ;
and the visitor begins to inquire~ in his
own mind where il that imperial pomp-
that military parade-whlch Mr.. Summers
speeches had led him to expect. Not
here, certainly. We Will wait and get
glimpse OF it as we approach the Exec
utlve presence itself. If we are Cabi-
net Minister, >enator, Congressman or
nigh bureau officer, we go into the Cab.
met Chamber without much ceremony
perhaps through the office of Gems. Por-
ter or Babcock, which TANKS the Cabinet
Chambe and communicates with it. The
forenoon hours are ostensibly devoted tC
whom have legitimately much business
with the Executive but Grant manages
TO sandwich N considerable number oil
lay visitors between the official callers.
IN THE CABINET CHAMBER
Surprising sucn to be your opportunity
You pass into the chamber halloWed by
hundreds Of state meetings of graves
moment, like that when Lincoln present
ed draft of his immortal Proclamation
for the consideration of his Cabinet and
you feel, most likely, an awe begotten o.
such associations. Nor is this lesscned BY
the thought that you was now IN the
presence of the Chief Magistrate of 6
great nation and the most successful o.
modern generals. That is he at the fur
Their end of the long table Perhaps hi!
face dlsappoints you fol it is thicker anC
a shade older than the print eho rs him ,ol
than YOU reCOllect him, in the hand-shak
ing days, just after the war, or perhaps il
is his stature, which is trife below tht
medium height. His face 10 ruddy, hi
beard closely cropped. as usual, and hi
straight brown HAIR is combed back will
scrupulous care,but no grace, He throw
glance at you with his quick, clear deer
eyes--they are blue and liquid, but capa
bic of piercing like a poinard-and seem
to be satisfied with your measure at once
GRANT IN CONVERSATION.
You are asked to sit, and conversation
commences at once. Here you make an
other discovery, viz: that Grant is not tn
sphinx which Mr.. Sumner and other do
tractors have painted him. He manifest
an intelligent interest in his visitors at
fairs, or, if The talk take a public turn
expresses himself free y on the question
of public moment. The writer canno
forbear an illustration of this from hi
-. L. 1. l. Ill ..artn hr