Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-20
THE MAN WHO SMOKES.
The Daily ROuiine of HIS Excel.
lency she president at the sea
Shore CAPITAL

ShOre Capltal.
Don Piatt in the Capital.l
This is what Long Branch is now
called, and we walked by the Executive
Mansion. 1t is a rather unpretending
cottage, hanked on either side by more
pretentious houses. All three belong
ing to His Excellency, who rents at ex.
orbtant prices the two. There are some
shabby sort of people who are willing to
pay heavily for the privilege of having
a President as landlord and neighbor.
We questioned a gentleman who is on
familiar terms with General Grant as to
how this intellectual parsonage managed
to put in his time. Our friend replied,
slowly, as if trying to remember between
sentences.
"Well, he rises about nine and smokes.
Then he breakfasts and smokes. After
that his secretary opens his mail and
the President smokes" "
docs he ever read the papers2"
"0h, no; his secretary reads them,
and when he sees a passage or para
graph likely to interest the President he
marks it. The files thus marked the
President looks into, but he seldom gets
beyond one, and this he does not keep
long unless it happens to be a sporting
Journal After this Intellectual effort
he has visitors"
And the President listens and
smokes?"
He smokes, certainly; but there is
popular delusion anent. that silence
Among his intimate friends and family
he talks incessantly-that is, if the sub
ject is not political. When politics are
touched he suddenly grows reserved
and sinks into silence"
"And after2'
"Well, then comes an early dinner
and more smoking. After dinner there
is drive OF two and sometimes three
hoars. Then tea and smoke. After tea
mere company and more cigars. Some
times he INDUCES in walk and then he
is accompanied by a friend and cigar.
After, a night cap and bed.
"Why, does he give no time to the
affairs Of the Government
my dear friend, he gives all his time
here, as in Washington, to Government
matters. This is done by talking. Our
Government is carried on through talk,
in a social, pleasant way. Every man,
and sometimes the women, has an Office
to be got, either for himself or friend.
That is Government business, and be or
she talks it at the President. Or there
is contract in question. This is Gov
ernment business, of course"
And so we pay hundred thousand
dollars year, directly and in directly to
have a man talk politics. However, that
is very inoffensive sort Of way to put
in the time How are his habits2'
lot so good as his occupation. They
talk about third term The way His
Excelency is drinking and smoking it
Is not likely that he will live out the sec
ond term. II he does he has constitu-
ton far stronger than that of the United
States"
"Is it not perfectly amazing that such
a mass of stolid ignorance and Ill breed
ing should be tolerated by people sup
posed to be civilized2
" 1t would not be, perhaps, if the jour
nails so prompt to expose the short-com-
ings of sub0rdinates, such as Senators
and Secretaries, were to comment upon
and criticise those of the President"
'That is true, we said. mo man ever
held office in this country who has been
so teuderly treated as this man, with his
brood of brutal relatives. We have a
very high opinion of the people; but if
they knew what the citizens of Washing
ton generally know Grant would be
hooted out Of the White House"