The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02

ing both men read in the papers that
some enc else-probably man they never
heard of-has carried off the prize. This is
what has soured the politicians on Mr..
Hayes, and is what Andy johnson would
have termed "my policy.' A silent spec
tator, studying the visitors, recently counted
FIVE Southern Democratic Representatives 70
every one Northern Republican who called
on the President.
While all this has been going on inside,
the ante-room has been filing rapidly with
people who have no ENTHUSIASTICALLY
young married couples on their wedding
tours-all waiting for a chance to pay their
respects to the President. Word is sent
inside. His Excellency takes position in
the center of the room, and the crowd surges
in and shakes hands with the Chief Magis-
trate. 1t is the plain pump-handle ceremony,
with smiling variations. Then the folks
pass out to go to their homes, and tell how
they shook hands and spoke to a real live
President. These little daily receptions are
events in the lives Of thousands. Mr.. Hayes
takes great pleasure is them, and gives each
person such a cordial grasp of the hand that
you feel as if he had known you personally
for some years.
The President is oVerTun with visitors.
Some come to borrow money, and others to
seek his aid in the procuring of pensions for
them. Not few caB and request him to
give them positions in the Treasury Depart
ment or some other berth they have singled
out. And the amusing part is that many of
these people think the President has nothing
to do but to say ayes" and their salaries will
begin at that moment
One of the most curious visitors is an old
woman who comes 30 Washington once
year regularly from Maine. She has the
idea in her head that she owns the whole
United States The deluded creature brings
an armful of papers-old deeds-and takes
q seat in the wsiting-noo1n. Here she goes
over the documents and prepares them so
that the President can sign them. She de-
elares she has been cheated out of her rights.
and that as soon as His Excellency places
his signature and seal on the papers, she
will recover all that has been stolen from
her. This is carried on for about a week,
when the attaches learn that her funds have
run low. Then they hand her over to the
District authorities, who kindly send her
back to her home For twelve or fifteen
years this woman has made these singular
and alliwho know her treat her
with consideration.
Then there are two men who call two
or three times year. They gen.
orally labor under the hallucination
that they are President of the United
States. They come separately, walk in and
examine the house, quiz the attaches to
know whethertheY are taking good care of
the place, ask how the machine is running,
sit around awhile. and finally move of.
They always leave word that they will be
back soon to take possession, and for the
present occupant 70 hurry up and vacate.
The word '-auto, !" written on the edge of a
postal card, hasa.terrible meaning. and is
the latest popular craze. The President is
deluged with letters from all over the
country, requesting that he will send his
"De YOU write your signature
yourself?" he was asked. Certainly" re-
piled the President There are at present
four hundred letters upon his table from
persons who make this modest request. and
the President is so conscientious about it
that he will not allow a clerk 10 write the
name for him. He laughingly remarked
that one day week would have to be set
apart as Autograph day. if the deluge did
not end. And all the Counties have net
been heard from either