The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-01-08

Grant. came the Assistant Secretaries of
the Departments, the solicitor General,
Assistant Postmaster General, Assistant
Attorney General, and the heads of Bu-
reaus. At about quarter Of one, the Pres
Ident, whose hand and arm had been going
like pump handle without intermission
since eleven o'clock. began to look little
tired, and he had a feS minutes rest, dur
ing which he put on fresh pair Of gloves
Then the Veterans Of the War Of 1872,
about twenty five in number, we're ushured
in, aud those were followed by the Mexi
can Veterans Of 1886. After them came
delegation from the Grand Army % the
Re- Rtpublic, and then the crowd
Ia the good old time" refreshments
we're furnished at the White House re-
ceptions, bnt this custom was discontinued
long ago. Now the public simply files
past the President, shakes him by the
hand and then leaves The mansion BY way
Of tie East Room Every body Is admit
ted, without regard % aye, sex, color, pr
previous condition ~ svrvltude, and
thc African element - always very largely
represented. Full dress is not at all
requisite, ana velvet trains iaud rags are
beautifully blended together III this pro
uIscuOus rpWd. among which ] noticed
nurses with babies IN their arms, cumely
lnatrous. deCreplt cd men and women,
ana not few stylish representatives of
the deB,i monde Each one claimed the
privilege If a hand shake with the PresI-
dent, and some were evidently disposed
To prOlong the Interview. but acre forced
onward by the crowd behind. One little
fellow VI some tpu summers. his shoulders
hardly reaching 90 the knee Of the Pres
dent, marched boldly up, shook him by
the hand and said loudly, " How du you
do, Mr. President wish you Happy
Centennial For more thar an hour this
stream Of humanity poured III one door
and out the other. and the President
right glove soon began a. show symptoms
of having come III contact with perspIrlng
gIo,+less hands The large crowd made
the rooms excessively hot, and can
fancy Nha relief 1t must have been for
Mr. Grant to 20 up stairs, puiI of his
gloves, wash his hands and put his arm
III sling. after It was al over
The receptions at the residences of the
Cabinet officers we're very brilliant, but
uncomtortabiy crowded Many, after
- DONG" the White House, made the
round Of the Cabinet officers, and pre-
scented themselves. although total strang-
ers. for another hand shake. This is a
ridiculous custom, but nne that - very
generally indulged 10 here, as the Cabinet,
As well as the President. Is consIdere to
be a snrt If public property, a. be stared
at and hand shook on this particular occa-
sion BY everybody who plesses. Il Is not
every dog that can shake hands with a
real hive President, and people do II ON
New Years. ! fear. not 50 much as
mark II respect, as because Il affords them
the qualification Of being able to say that
they have done II
Receptions we're very general through
out the city. and centennial headaches
were, venture to say, also very general
the following morning. One of our young
bloods told me. late III the evening, that
he had started with the President and
made sixty nine calls, and would have
made the seventeen but for the fact that
he saw distinctly tro door knobs on the
last house. when he knew there was only
ots, when caused him III think that he
had called enough and had better leave off.
Aud thai mot the tW u door knobs reminds
ne that ! had better leave off also so
ddie,' f"r the present. PUEBLO.