The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-09-09
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Anecdotes of Andrew johnson.

One of Andrew JOhnsOn's secretaries
writes in regard to him: Mr.. johnson
was as earnest and decided in his Ordi-
nary conversation as in his work, and
when he talked he expected the person
addre ssed to listen as patiently and at
tentively as he himself did to what was
said to him. AS said before, on account
of obtaining relief from gravel, he pre-
ferred to stand, which made his speech
and silence both more impressive.
In talking, he looked directly into the
eyes of the person spoken to; in listen
ing he hung his head, wearing the while
gloomy and seriously attentive express
sion.
l have seen it recorded that Mr.. John
son was humorous. 1t may be that he
was, but in all my intercourse with him
! never saw any trace of it, unless it was
in the grotesque grimness and stOlid Sc
renity with which he contrasted with the
light-hearted young men about him
Colonel Moore, very easy and aflable in
his manner, and quick in his motions !;
Colonel Morrow Handsome, hearty, hap
py Bob, whose terrible suicide in San
Francisco was such heartbreak to his
many friends), whose genial smile was
sunshine IN the longest days in the White
House; Colonel Long, as playful as a
boy, and Colonel Rives, as full of wag-
gerry and drollery rs an egg is full of
meat. Possibly, however, as Falstaff was
not only witty in himself but the cause
that wit was in other men, and, there
fore, entitled to the credit, SO, on the lat
ter umption-that he was the cause of
humor in Others-Mr. johnson may be
said to have been humorous, but in no
other way that can see.
He never told stories nor perpetrated
jokes nor INDUCED in facetie, nor even
relished anything akin, as ! learned to
my serious discontinue upon one occa-
sion.
At one time there was a large Jew in
frequent consultation with his excel
lency, and the President, desiring to adj
dress communication to him one day,
put his head inside the secretary's room
and inquired:
"What is the Christian name of Mr..
So-and-soT"
"He has none, Mr.. President" replied,
gravely, "he is jew"
The President closed the door, and /
had the modification, a few minutes
afterward, to bear the satire of hearing
him inquire, in another quarter:
"What is the first or given name of
Mr. So-and-sO, the Jew?"
He did not add: "How absolute the
knave isl We must speak by the card
or equivocation will undo us p but l
thought it, and felt its full force as
just penalty for my ill-dirccted ocular
ity.
Another instance Of this reactionary
humor, in Mr.. Johnson, and at my ex-
pense, l will relate and there end.
On entering upon the duties of my
Office, l found the only vacant desk in
the room a high, massive walnut stand
in a corner; having no more backbone
than the average Government employee
about Washington, / found it intolerable
to stand for any great length of time, so
l determined to have the high desk re-
moved and low table substituted.
Not wishing to disturb the President,
in my own name requested the General
in charge Of the public buildings to fur
nish me with the kind of table desired,
and on its arrival directed the several
porters about the White House TO stow
away the great desk in the garnet or the
cellar, or cut 1t into kindling wood for
aught cared.
l had reckoned without mine host,
however. No sooner had the work of
removal begun than the grim presence
of the President appeared ut the door,
and general paralysis among the por-
tiers was the immediate result.
II Oh 81 DI <la.v
removal to his excellency. With his
hand on the door knob, he made the
following little speech, and the desk re-
NAMED in the corner where l found it
to the end of the administration
"That desk was General Jackson's; /
love the memory of General jackson
whatever was odd Hickory's' revere.
1t is about the only thing about the
White House that Is memento Of by
gone years, when the Constitution Of the
United States was worth more than the
paper on which it was printed. desire
that the desk Of Andrew Jackson remain
in that corner as long as the mantle of
its one-time grand possfssor is on my
shoulders"--or words to that effect
"Byt Mr.. President" | replied, 'if the
desk Is. not removed, whefe will j place
my .tabieYa t'f' - .retiir =
Where. You please but Andrew
Jackson's desk will remain in that cor
ner2' 90 n. r =. - ''.-' -
The door Closed. and the p,ity place
in the room where I-cgfld rd6te my Ia
ble was in'tEe ihiddH OFT, where ] did
place it, and had the satisfaction OF see
Ing his v3psiiupy3 for two years after
H@l stumble against 1t repeatedly in at