The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-08-30
WHOLE No. 1913

to the others when he is ready to hear them
| The interviews are generally very short
When the President desires to consult with
| out interruption with callers they retire to
the library adjoining Everybody who calls
is received except those upon business
strictly pertaining to the different depart
ments. The President positively refuses to
hear applicants for such places. He prefers
| TO leave those things to the heads of the de
| partments. The number of people he re-
ceives during the day up to half-past two
generally average about two hundred.
WHAT THEY WANT.
| As general rule each caller is on q
different mission. Delegations frequently
| take eight or ten in on the same missions
| except Baltimore delegations, which split
| up rhen they get before the President, and
each man urges separate candidates. The
number of people who call to "pay respects
and shake hands, - is great and growing.
| They humble something, seize the Presi-
dents hand for a second and depart. 1t is
great thing for the principals of female
| seininaries in the adjoining States to bring
to Washington whole batteries of beauty,
and brin. them TO bear upon the President
Bridal parties are very numerous. Some
times they announce to the President that
they are newly married, but whether they
do or not, that fact is perfectly apparent
When no attempt at the concealment Of
their happiness is made, the President pre-
sents the " blooming, blushng bride with
Il flower from the large, fragrant bouquet
which is always on his table. When con
cealment is intended he looks unconscious
while the groom looks remarkably con-
sciouS. The President pays good deal of
attention to bridal parties, evidently re-
mem bering the time when he was happy
and fortunate groom. Another class of
visitors are excursionists by the hundreds.
These and large delegations arc received in
the 90 East ROOM There Are frequently as
many as five hundred people in one Of these
excursions. The member of Congress,
whose constituents they are, arranges with
the President for their reception. He gets
them in line, and they file by the President,
tho member introduces each one, and makes
lots Of votes for the next time.
THE HAND-sHAKISG BUSINESS.
There is something peculiar about this
understanding business with the President
of the United States, and there are peculiar
ways of going through that greeting. Some
folks seize the Presidents hand in both of
theirs, others merely touch the tips of his
fingers; some grab him above the wrist,
and then others think the harder they press
the hand the greater is the honor they enjoy.
The old ladies always stop to ask how Mrs.
Hayes is, and when Mrs. Hayes assists the
President in the reception, all the ladies,
both young and old, invariably look back
after passing to see what she has on. The
old men want to add Il word or two of
advice on political management as they
pass, and the young man, when from rural
parts, tries to appear as if he made prac-
tice of being introduced to the President
every day. About half-past two the Presi-
dent takes lunch. He then returns to his
room and looks over the mail that concerns
his official business. This mail is always
briefed and laid on the table ready for his
inspection. He directs what answers, If
any, shall be sent.
SOME MORE CALLERS.
Then the persons whom he has made ar
engagements to see during the afternoon ar
rive. When they have left hp always takes
Il drive, unless the weather prohibits. He
returns from the drive in time for dinner
After dinner there are more visitors 10 DC
seen-viSitors whose business would occupy
more than the time that could conveniently
be given during the day. The President Is
seldom able to join his family after dinner.
This is about the day. routine at the White
House during the session of Congress-
During the Summer the President drives in
from the Soldiers Home about ten in the
morning, and leaves carly in the afternoon.
He has but few callers. A great many
people go out to the Home q beautiful niece
about five miles from the city,) to see MIN
OH business later in the day
THE CABINET MEETINGS.
On Tuesdays and Fridays there are Cahi-
net meetings. The members of the Cabinet
drop in one by one, but they are all OH hand
by twelve o'clock. Each member brings
his portfolio. The President sits at the head
of the table, and Secretary Schurz at the
foot on the right next to the President, is
the Secretary of State, next to him the
Secretary of War, and beyond him tn"
Postmaster General. On the left next to
the President sits the Secretary of the
Treasury, the next to him the Secretary OF
the Navy, and next to the Secretary of the
interior on that side the Attorney General.
After the Cabinet meets it is ten or fifteen
minutes before the members get to work.
That time is taken up in greeting and OIL
hand talk, in which the spirit of fun amt
humor crops out II good deal. The Cabinet
are all men with 4 sunny, fun-lnving side
when ont Of official harness. Judge Key Is
perhaps the iolliest, though the Attorney
General pushes him hard for that distinction.
1t is said that Secretary Thompson is pro-
verbal lover Of pleasant joke, while Sec
retary Schurz is hardly equaled in telling
one. Secretary Sherman does not indulge
in humor often, but when he does, it is, on
account of its unexpected character, the
more enjoyable. Secretary EvartS Is one OF
those of the quietly humorous sort. His
mine of dry humor and wit is incxhaust-
ibe. The President has probably the hear
test Cabinet that any President ever assem-
bled around him. The old borcs who keep
at them day by day are numerically dealt
with by the heads of departments when
they assemble. After this few minutes OF
boy play before school, the President calls
the meeting to order, and the regular bust
Il, III hn
leading off with his budget. The discussions
is conducted in u conversational way. The
meeting generally lasts about two hours.
THE DISTRICT.
There is not much of interest Transporting
here during these sultry days. most OF the
head of departments and other distinguished
persons being absent on their Summer Naca-
lions, The city has Il buSiness-like appear
ance however, as the Government Will en-
pend about seven million dollars on public
buildings IN the District during this year.
4 FREE LIBRARY.
There is petition now in circulation ask
ing the erection of Il suitable building, 10
which the books now constituting the Con-
gresSional Library, except such works OF rel
ereuce as are needed for the use of Congress,
NAV he removed and made accessible, UNI
der proper restrictions, to the general pub
lie. 1t would be balm to the jaded minds
of thousands, and evidence an unparalleled
philanthropy in Mr.. Spolord, if such a mag
niticent library were thrown open for a few
hours during the evening. An opportunity,
would thus he afforded 70 the vast army OF
clerks to wander pleasantly in the hy-wayss
of literature, and to quatf an intellectual
draucht, instead of guzzling heavy beer
from stove-pipes. As it is, we are forced to
exclaim respectfully, longfuly,
q Three hundred thousand volumes there,
And not n book to read.
c. T. w.