Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-05-15
THE NATIONAL DEADHEADs.

ton, gives an amusing account of Pres
ident Grants tribulations, while en- route
for Concord, to grace the great celebra-
ton on the 10Th ult He was attended
by his Cabinet, escorted by Col. Hack
EFT of Gov. Gaston's staff, the latter in
full uniform with sheathed sword hang
ing at his side, and still further envel-
oped in doeskin bag. He evidently
thought the red coats still in Concord.
In New York the party took carriages
for the Grand Central Depot. Col.
Hackett alighted first, and having as
sisted the President to alight, drew his
arm through his own and marched
straight for the entrance to the cars.
The hundreds of persons in the de-
pot turned their eyes at once toward
Col. Hackett and his convoy. "There's
the President" was passed from mouth
to mouth with electric rapidity. The
two elbowed their way through the
throng aud reached the railing around
the door Of entrance to the cars. A
doormaster stood there punching the
tickets.
To him Col. Hackett waved his hand
loftily saying, "The President" and
he would have passed through without
further ceremony.
Tickets, gents" said the doornas-
ter, stepping in front of the would-be
deadheads.
The President of the United States
President Grant," Col. Hackett re-
peated, pointing to that individual,
whose eyes and face up to this time had
been as expressionless as ever.
"I can't help who you are. You
can't pass through this gate without
showing your tickets" said the door
master dutifully, but with rocky firm
ness of tone and manner.
The President cast upon the official
look of such concentrated contempt
and scorn as might have withered one
who stood in awe of him.
Stand back and don't block the
passage, gents" said the impervious
doOrmaster.
The corners of the Presidential mouth
drew down at this unexpected obstacle.
His eyes flashed as he turned to his
fidus Acbates. His lips moved and ut
tered the solitary word, Damn"
Vice-President Wilson, who had been
elbowing his way with Secor Robeson's
arm in his own just to the rear of the
President, was keenly alive to the
shamefulness of the situation. With O
hasty glance he saw how it was to end,
and he dropped back far enough to be
out OF the focus of eyes. Even Secor
Robeson's rubicund visage grew redder,
and he looked as if he would have
stood something handsome to be mile
away from there.
This was the picture that hasty
glance around the depot building re-
vealed. But the President stood It all
with calm visage. As before reported,
he calculated Damnl' then after a
few seconds pause he Missed into Hack
ett's ear. I" What's to be done ?" That
resourceful individual pulled a rueful
countenance, and said, "I guess there's
nothing for it but to pay"
Buttoned right on to the vest pocket
in which Col. Hackett carried his mon
ey was his military coat, and over that
was a belt, from which dangled his
sword and side arms. He couldnot
reach his purse, and this unwelcome
fact impressed itself upon the Presiden-
tial mind SO disagreeably that he Lit up
his countenance with another whitening
glance and shot it at the doormaster.
1t was useless, and he saw it. With q
hasty movement his hand went down
into his breeches pocket, aud came out
clasping o little wallet. A hundred
dollar bank note was fshed out and
thrust into Hackett's hand. The two
then vacated the passage, and the gorge
of blocked travellers with tickets were
given opportunity to enter the cars.
The President stood off to one side,
and Secor Robson approached him
with comforting words. Whether the
service was acceptably performed was
not indicated by the august face, the
features whereof were set in their old
immovable, self-concentrated, stony
stare.
Gen. Belklap thought he'd try to fix
things, and, acting upon the old saw,
Molasses catches more flies than vim
egar," approached Cerbe rus with silken
tone: "The tickets are being bought,
surely you can have no objection to per-
NIT the President to, seat himself in
the cars ?"
The doormaster glanced at tho tower
ing form Of Col. Hackett, who was
buying the tickets, thought moment,
and thcn said politely: 81 presume no
fault can be found with me for permit
ting that"
He says we can go into the cars
without waiting for the tickets" the
Secretary of War said in pleased tones
to the President.
"Well, We won't do it," the Execu-
tive replied, with surly positiveness.
By this time Col. Hackett had re-
turned with the tickets. I'll stand
here and check you off as you go
through" said he to the President, at
the same time taking position along
csJo kho Ioo~po