National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-21
KISSING THE PRESIDENT.

The Heroes Of the War Charge on the Lips
ofthe Lndies-Itecord ofths Daring Deeds
Of Generals Grant, sherman, Sheridan
and Custer-'Nonc bnt the brave Deserve
tho Fair.v
AT the reception OF President Grant md the
leading generals Of the United States army on
Thursday, at Toledo, the following scene
took place as reported in the Toledo CONNER
rial;
THE RECEPTION.
Everybody being In readiness the doors
were thrown open and tho ladies began TO
pour In, shaking hands with President Grant
first, and then passing on to the generals. At
the outset the proceedings were marked with
such dignity and decorum as would naturally
be expected, but as the ceremony progressed
q certain familiarity grew up between the
yisitors and ladies, and gallant Phil Sheridan
broke the leo OF the occasion by picking up
little girl In his arms and pressing his brist-
ling moustache to her velvet lips. OF course
General Custer followed suit, and IL was not
President himself were pressing their still
boards aqainst the rosy lips Of the little girls,
and portraylng every indication Of having no
very great objection to being allowed little
more license as regards the aye of the per-
sons kissed. Our reporter, standing almost
took q deep interest In this proceeding, and
will therefore be pardoncd by the ladies for
entering infinitely Into this part OF tue subject.
Tho crowd still pushed on, and II seemed as
II there was Just slight rush on tho part Of
the ladies to hurry up the stairs when they
heard that the pleasant pastime OF
KISSING THE PRESIDENT
was feature Of tho reception. II was not
long before gallant Phil took another de-
4l...ts l,,E
u young lady OF some sixteen or eighteen
summers. General Custer, declaring he
would not be outdonc, also seized aud Kissed
the young lady, and then General Sherman
began to look around him for good model.
lie soon found one, and imprinted q kiss
upon her fair check, only 10 sec her pass by
him aud kiss Generals Sheridan and Custer.
Tho President blushcd at the rashness OF his
young officers, but directly his eyes began to
sparkle, and he took out his handkerchief
aud wiped his mouth. The next real hand
some young lady who made her appearance
was the fortunate first grown lady TO get u
kiss from the President Of the United States.
The President seized her hand and pointed
his mouth for hers. She drew back at first,
but becoming Immediately cognizant Of the
honor conferred upoa her, she yielded, and the
President gave her lips q soft touch-harjly
sufficient to DO called kiss. OF course
Generals Sherman, Sheridan and Custer saw
thihf ohh u iob' W olfe"'S ioho"Su 'tht-
raj Sherman declared he was Us good looking |
Us the Presidents; gallant Phil then pleaded
that he knew he was rs handsome rs General
Sherman and then General Custer was very |
certain he looked as lovely as any Of the |
rest, aud hence the young lady kissed them |
all, one after the other. This Of course opened |
an excellent opportunity for the fair bellies Of
Toledo and the sunny daughters Of the rural
districts TO kiss the President and some of
the military heroes Of the late war, and they
took advantage Of the opportunity. lmme- |
diatcly there commenced friendly rivalry
between Generals Phil. Sheridan and Custer
to sec who could get the most kisses. The
gallant Phil took tho lead, and for timH
Kissed every lady who shook hands with him
except those who were homely.
General Sherman aud the President Joined
In the fray, and ut one time were consider
ably ahead Of tho younger generals, but we
arc forced to say, however, that they, like
the younger generals, passed every homely
lady by with n simple shake Of the hand. Our
reporter took especial pains to keep record
Of the ''timc," aud at the end Of half hour
after the kissing had commenced the tally
stood as follows: