The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-31
Garlield's Kindness of Heart and Mental
and Physical StandiBg.

observation-disclosures Ways Of
Applying Tor Office.
Garfield's Kindness Of Heart and Mental
and Physical Standing.
correspondence y. Tribune
MENTOR, o., Dec. I7.-"Theyvc got
ahead of me-" said General Garfield the
other day, as | called his attention to a
vast pile Of newspapers on one of his
Office tables. There is L sad waste of la
Dor, time and postage on the part OF
thousands Of editors who mail their jour
mails to General Garfield. 1t is impossi-
BILE for HIM to open one-ienth OF the
number. 1t was formerly his custom
To glance over all the. newspapers
which he received, and If articles
had been marked by the senders he gave
them special attention. One of his sec
retaiies was employed much of the time
in clipping articles that were worthy of
preservation and putting them in care
fully prepared and classified scrap-books,
for future reference. But now, thou
sands of newspapers come to him, in
Guiding nearly all the dailles in the
country, and an innumerable multitude
of country weeklies. Hundreds of these
contain marked articles, which the able
editors have written with great care, and
containing valuable suggestions in re-
gard 10 cabinet-making, civil service re-
form, the southern question, etc, all of
which the able editors aforesaid expect
the presIdent-elect to read carefully and
inwardly digest. His inability 10 open
thousands OF these marked papers causes
a daily loss of suggestion, advice and
admoniIion, the enormous value of
which can only be properly estimated by
the writers thereof
Mentor has two post offices. The one
at which General Garfield receives his
mail is West Mentor, and l.. Ii. Luse,
Nj. d., the village physician, is the post
master. Six mails arrive and depart
daily ana every one of them brings a
large amount of matter for General Gar
field. The post office is half mile dis
tant from General Garfield's residence,
ahd he often goes there on horseback
and carries home sack of mail on the
pommel of his saddle. The General is
good hOrseman, and his manly form
shows to good advantage in the saddle.
| have seldom seen more striking tig-
urc than this ''man on horseback" pre-
sents as be galiops down the road, erect
and graceful in the saddle us a trained
cavalryman, but dressed like a plain
farmer, and the broad brim OF his SLOUGH
hat Tapping in the wind. His neigh
bors never tire Of gazing at him as he
passes.by in this fashion, and his unas-
Stunning manners help TO confirm them
in the belief which they most devoutly
cherish, and which they emphatically
declare on every proper occasion, that
'he is the greatest man in the world"
The other day General Garfield desir-
ed To see Il gentleman who lives in q
remote part of the town, and went TO his
house on horseback. Riding up 10 the
gate he hallSed in the familiar manner
which is customary among neighbors in
this country, and the lady of the house
came lp the door. The horseman in
quircd whether her husband was at
home, and being told that he was not,
requested the lady TO tell him to call at
his (the speakcr's) house to see about a
certain matter OF business. The lady
had never seen General Garfield, except
on public occasions, and in his farmers
garb she did not recognize him. III
you will tell me where you live" she
answered, ~ will tell my husband to call
at your house" MY name Is Garfield, "
SAID the General, modesily. And that
lady will probably never forget her en-
barraSSment and modification at not re
cognizing her distinguished townsman
before he made himself known.
General Garfield is rs kind and courte
Gus To poor and humble strangers as he
is To all his townspeople. Some of the
letters which he receives from such PEG
pie are very amusing, and not a few art
pathetic IN their appeals for favors.
could fill volume with incidents Illus
trating his kindness of heart. Recent
ly he received letter from a woman
! stating that her husband was disabled
and that her family was destitute. SHIT
also stated that her husband was entitled
to n pension which he had never received
and bcsought General Garfield TO 0btaiI
the pension for him. She did not give
her husbands name, nor state on wha
account he could ask for a pension
! The General wrote kind reply, point
! ing ont these important omissions
but assuming that her husband haC
| been soldier, gave her minute ins,ruc
| tons as to the manner in which an APP
! plication for Il pension should be mad
| Another woman, who evidently has con
fidence in the better half of mankind
wrote TO Mrs. Garfield TO this effect
I'VE are very poor. Ny husband is com
petent to ill the office of postmaster il
this village, aud ii General Garfield will
| give him the office / will give you
switch made of my own hair"
Michigan lady applied fer post Office
apparently confident that her applies
ton will be favorably considered, b,
cause, rs she alleged, she attended
teachers institute twenty years ago s
which she heard General Garfield d.
liver "a lecture on grammar, which wa
Just spleRdid'' 4 lady who appears I
believe in the rule, first come, firs
served" came here from distant stat
soon after the Chicago convention an
applied for an office. She came agai
a few days ago. General Garfield lister
cd with apparent patience to her stor,
and then gravely said Madame, it
not III my power TO do anything for yol
am ont of Office myself
Some of the presents which the pres
dent-elect receives are as quaint an
amusing as some of the applications f
Office. Recently an honest German, {
J Pennsylvania, who is engaged in III
manufacture of rustic chairs, came her
bringing with him q specimen of h
, nandiwork for General Garfield's us
1t is rustic chair made entirely
: hickory withes, very curiously and il
; gSniously wrought together In IL
, centre of the back Is representation
= a canal boat. made of the same matters
as the rest of the chair. In its way il
an elaborate and artistic piece of worl
5 of it. When he arrived with this cha
E at the railway station he was met by IL
e ubiquitous interviewer, who said: 'YC
| want an Office, OF course ?" "Mein Got
) mol" replied the ehairmaker. Al shu
want to see Sheneral Garfieldt-stnd a
I uertise meiR shdirSf' A tobacco firm
{ one of the large cities sent an invoice
smoking tobacco present, / fes
: which is not appreciated, as GeAer
Garfield and the gentlemen about hi
1 do not indulge in the pleasures of Il
, pipe. A few boxes of cigars might hA
e had a warmer reception.
$ Such incidents are the bubbles on 4
J, surface of General Garfield's daily Iii
n but below is deep, still current of ear
n est thoughtfulness, careful study of poll
D cal problems, and diligent preparati,
S for the great duties and respC
/ sibilities of the near future. Ne
d er did e man more earnestly a
s conscientiously desire TO serve his cou
try ably and unselfshly; and althou
8 he is temporarily out of Office, he is I
/ voting himself day and night to stu
l. and labor for the public good His (
d tensive correspondence Is attended
V with scrupulous care, and every visit
( Is accorded as much time and courte
If as the memorable demands of busin,
N will permit. Fortunately his physiS
e. basis is exceptionally sound and S,
e. stantisl. If il were not, his health Won
> be broken under tie heavy burds
5, which his hard master, the public, i
n poses upon him. And these burdt
h. will increase in number and weight
N the time for his Inauguration dra
X nearer.