Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-12-19
The White House Callers.


ances some people go through when in
the presence of greatness are amusing.
No place in this country, or probably in
the world, witnesses so many of these as
tho reception rooms of the White House.
Most of the presidents time is taken up
in receiving the calls of people who
come to see him for no other purpose
than to shake hands aud thus crafty
their curiosity. There are many others,
however, who visit the White House for
thousand and one reasons, and as a
general rule the never-ending throng
that seek the presence of the president
are well-mannered, intelligent and easy
appearing people.
Embarrassment and nervousness are
generally the predominating weaknesses
to which the callers find themselves sub
iect, and the marks of this can be seen
on the furniture in the ante-rooms.
This is of dingy green velvet uphols:
terry, ornamented with heavy tassels and
fringe. The pendant cords of these ap-
pear to be about the only things that
can give relief to the FACILITATING breth.
rem, whose knees tremb1e while their
names are being sent to his excellency,
and they twist, pull and pick at the
loops so energetically that the uphol'
-sterer has to be engaged to repair dam.
ages every month or 50. To the attaches
Of the president the pranks of these PEG.
pie afford a constant study of the human
character. One of them told me this
week that embarrassment seemed at
times to bring out peoples true nature
as readily as liquor does in other in
stances. He said he had seen big. stout
men come to the white house to see the
president, who, after they had dashed
themselves up to the point of sending in
their cards, the prospect of an encounte,
with the personality of SO much power
after half an hours fdgeting in theil
seats, would leave precipitately. Again
others would come to the house, anl
upon entering would salaam to every
person they saw behind a desk, suppos
inng each time that they were salutin{
the president of the United States.
Among others who 60 to see the presi
dent are many fond mammas and crow
ing babies, the latter of whom are inva
riably put forward as candidates TO
pIes1ucut4dl AAeScS. TIOW O1u uhAus wiz
visit Mr.. Hayes there always comes
request for a flower to remember hin
by, and as there are many Of these, tn
president manages to pull two or tire
bouquets to pieces every crowded day
A crowded day means six or eight hun
bred callers. There have been as man,
as four thousand people at the executiv
mansion in one day; but it was durin
the centennial. In the olden time, tina
hard-swearing, heavy-drinking socia
pirate, Andrew Jackson, used to keep
punch bowl standing during the winte
for the patriotic tramps who svarme
through the miry streets to see him q
his court; but now thirsty pilgrims VIII
invade the sublimated moral atmospher
of Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes, if they expec
refreshments, will find nothing of tn
kind. Perhap s if they specially reques
it they will probably be served wit
Appollinaris water and pumpkin pie,
diet which, it is said, has sent severs
wine-seasoned diplomats away from tn
state dinners doubled up with colic.-
Wash. Cor. C2eve. Leader.