Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1872-07-03
AN HOUR IN THE PRESIDENTS
RE CEPTION ROOM.


AN HOUR IN THE PRESIDENTS
RE CEPTION ROOM.
On entering the White House one
is struck with the cheapness of the
buiIdinR and lack Of decoration
Turning to your left, after passing the
outer door, YOU are met by an usher
with "PIesse step into the reception
room-up stairs-first door to your
rioht.n To the reception room you
will hand your card to colored usher
who yanishes. In a short time, 1.-The
President will see Mr.. p" is called
| from a door at the rear, and you are
Immediately escorted to the office Of
the President Of the United States-s
room about forty feet square, with
walls aud ceiling freseOed in excehrnt
tsste on the left side q fire place with
dark marble mantle. glass, a neeely
mounted clock, etc. In front OF you,
| in the rear Of the room, two windows
with outlook over the Pc, omac, show
ing green fields, sparkling water, and
the distant city of Alexandria, the
damask curtains forming a rich red
borderto a beautiful scene. On your
ri0bt two or three sofas and some
| Comfortable arm chairs trimmed in
! brown silk, 3 map stand, DC. A table
covered with blue cloth, surrounded
by eight chairs, finished in brown
| leather. under 3 chandelier in the
center of the room, furnishes the
4 President and Cabinet with desk
room. At the head of the room a
| medium sized man with full beard,
and dressed in black ,usingR common
pen and an ordinary glass ink stand,
with a much used blotter, which rests
on a pile of plain cards, and 8 we'll
worn lead pencil.
GOOD morning, sir, Z" IS the saluta-
tinn as YOU enter-spOken in good,
round Saxon-as the President ofthe
United States rises and extends his
hand. ttBe seated. " As there are
three Others in the room the prohered
seat if taken and your casual waits
| his return. The first visitor walks to
| the table, takes a seat to the right OF
Si am from st. Louis, for some time
connected with the-paper, an agrl-
1 cultural paper, and for many years
identified with the agricultural inter
eats of the State OF Missouri. Not
being advised as to the method, L
wrote some weeks ago asking an ap-
poiutment in the consular service at
4 point where I could gain some
knowledge of the agricultural cause,
etc. / enclosed q recommendation 10
Won at the time of writing"
Eyes, I remember. You are Mr., Z.
st. Louis. referred them to Cover
nor Fish, and was much impressed
with them. You are recommended
by Mr., Mr. and MI"
'"Yes, Mr.. President. would Ike
an appointment in Russia or in the
lArgentine Confederation. l am used
to cattle and the breeding Of them"
The President then entered into a
conversation with him on cattle in
general, and showed through know
ledge of the subject, much to the sur
prise of the applicant, who finally
Stated that he was a graduate of Dart
mouth. and not an Office seeker by
profession. --
q Are Won acquainted with Cover
nor FISH ?i' said the President mo-"
i(yriting on aeard.) "Well, tO-mor-
row being Cabinet day, l will speak
to Governor Fish about your case
You can see him in the meantime. L
have said to him on this card: "This
will Introduce Mr., &c. Take this
tn Governor Fish, at the State de-
partment." IAN
mCalI to morrow at q O'Clock, after
7 have seen Governor Fish GOOD
morning. - And the MIssourian bowed
himself out, and the President was
ready for the next, who came forward
and took the seat just vacated ,
he was negro. His head looked
like an enlarged oven, and IS knotty
as q red-Oak. He was dressed in the
shabby igenteel manner. with 9 ma:
ming req necktie. The PRESIDENT
gave him q AongT searching look. and
saw what he was then settled him
self back in his chair for q siege.
"Mr. President, I am a native of
Westminster, England, graduate OF
Cambridge, and q barrister in the
English courts, also q shorthand re-
porter. I came to Halifax and found
but little to do. Came to Boston,
staid two years in the practice, and
found two colored lawyers there who
were doing the business. As am not
and could not become citizen of the
United States, was not popular. i
then came to Washington and OBJ
tanned employment as shorthand
reporter with Mr.. Miller. on the Globe.
Then / worked with Mr.. Sumner I;
then for Mr.. Douglass, who publishes
q paper in the interest Of the eolored
man. and nov am out Of work and
Ldestiu,te. / have heard, sir, Of your
kindness4and charity to the people Of
my race, and come 10 you 70 see II
you could not -snggest something ior
me.n
Yes, have the same interest In
your people that nave IN 9Iher elll-
Eens OF the U nlted o-Sies. hAye you
been to the Howard University =
INQUIRED the President.