The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1881-09-12
FROM LONG BRANCH.

5t1II NEOWneN-DeHNIHN ADOuN inc |
President and his surroundings
Journalists ut the BraBch-HOw
They Get Their News. SC.
Special Correspondence ofTHE EVENING Carrie |
LONG BRANCH, N. j., Sept. 1.-THE !
social season here is now rs gay and brilliant |
as at any time during the summer. 1t
usually ends about this time. In fact, one
or two of the hotels have already closed.
Those remaining open, however, arc doing
thriving business, almost equal to
the height of the season. OF these
the West End is the principal. 1t
now has over 700 guests. The Elberon,
much smaller house, is crowded with friends
of the suffering President The United
States and the Atlantic are also doing we'll
The Presidents removal here is of course
the main cause for the recent large influx
of visitors from all parts of the country.
His presence will also, undoubtedly, prolong
the season late into this month. The
healthfulncss of the location, the fine surf
bathing, the splendid hotel accommodate
tions, and the social gayety form the princi
pal attractions of the Branch. The wealth,
dignity, beauty, fashion and culture of the
country arc each represented by their
leaders. The press, that mighty lever of
public opinion" is present in full force
There never were so many
Newspaper Men
at watcring-place before. They appear to
enjoy the novel sensation of writing their
dispatches to the inspiring cadenccs of the
sad sea waves. Their work at present Is in
collating facts concerning the progress of
our afflicted President, and in making
themselves as comfortable as possible. An
interview with the storm-tossed pillows Is
one of the daily incidents of their stay.
The effect is shown in their accounts of the
| .c ,1..,, b.
don't need to inquire about the President Mt
all. They take u dip in the briny and are
then in prime condition to weave a long
and interesting account of the incidents of
| the day, as evolved entirely from their
inner consciousness. 1t is not alto
| gether true, of course, but then
it's mighty interesting reading. Experience
has shown that the average newspaper
reader prefers q lie treated in brilliant style
to the truth when indifcrently told. Some
people don't believe this statement; others
do. THE CRITIC men never resort to such
receptions. 1t is not necessary with them.
They know the secret of giving facts in an
attractive manner.
Among tho Washington correspondents
here ave Z. b. Wight, Chicago Tribune; 7.
G.. Crawford, Chicago Times; ii. A. Preston
and Ross Raymond, New York Herald J;
Stilson Hutchns, Washington Post George
II. Walker, Cleveland Herald M. II. Casse-
day, New York World; +. A. Richardson,
Baltimore SIN L. j. Edwards, New York
SIN; w. p. Copeland, Brooklyn Eagle; f..
r. Bickford New York Tribune; +. ii.
Truesdell, National Associated Press p. v.
R. Elliott New York Post; +. A. G. Handy,
New Orleans Democrat; George Lee, Ma
tional Republican; w. S. Lloyd, Cincinnati
Commercial; W. c. MacBride, Cincinnati
Enquirer; II. V. Boynton, Cincinnati
Gazette w. Scott Smith, Boston Traveller +;
CHARLES T. Murray, Philadelphia Times; G.
NJ. Ogden, Philadelphia Press G. II. Gray,
Cleveland Leader and THE CRITIC cor
respondent. Ae
How They Get the News.
The President is more secluded from the
world here than when he was at the White
House. There the newspaper men and all
other people who had the entree to the
Mansion could get within fifty feet of his
bed, while here they cannot even get nearer
than one hundred yards of the building in
which he lies That edifce is sacred to all
save the members of his family, the
surgeons, the Cabinet and the necessary at
tcndants. Armed soldiers guard the
grounds. Private Secretary Browns cot
tage used as Executive Headquarters, is
also inaccessible except to the above-men.
toned and few newspaper men, who are
provided with passes. All the surgeons
the Elberon Hotel, aud it is there
the irreprcssiblc news-gatherers lie in
wait for them and get the points upon
which to base their exhaustive dispatches
Some of the wealthier of the craft take
doctor or an attendant out for drive, ani
in that way secure an uninterrupted talk
One or two of the most venturcsome jour
nalists have gone so far as to interview the
Presidents bedside companions in the
ocean while rollicking in the restless surf
DR.. Bliss, Col. Rockwell, Col COrbin ant
Mr.. Brown were interviewed in that way
This style Of gathering news was rather un
profitable, though, as the force and fire
quency of the incoming pillows precluded
more than u monosyllabic conversation
, There is another way of getting
news, however The members O
the Cabinet see the surgeons an(
in turn are seen by the correspondents
But as a rule all their information come
J. direct from the surgeons. Drs. Hamilton
| and Agnew are not inclined to be communi
+ cative on the subject for professional rea
Q sons and DIR. Bliss has been delegated thu
Y surgical spokesman. He stands the ordea
= of talking to about hundred differen
newspaper men at different times ON TIN
: same subject every day remarkably well
and in telling the same story over and 0vel
2 again to different people it is no wonde
that he occasionally makes mistake O.
that his uttcranccs are garbled and miscon
! strued. 1t is severe test, and DIR. Bliss ha
passed it so far with much credit. He give
] out the official information and Dr. Boyn
i ton the unofficial, and it is not strange tina
: their reports arc somewhat conflicting
@ Each views the case from n different stand
# point. Dr. Bliss is said to be over sanguin
a concerning his patient, and Dr.. Boyntoi
sometimes too dubious regarding his frien,
: and companion AS general thing, whei
, these two gentlcmen differ in regard to tn
. symptoms of the case, it is safe to accep
! Il medium view between the two as the mos
o likely situation. Among Others who, b.
/ reason Of their relations with the patient
I are capable of talking intelligently abou
the case are Gen. Swain, Col. Rockwell
Col. Corbin, Private Secretary Brown an
:, Mr.. Warren S. Young. All of them al
= willing to speak generally of the President
% condition, but are averse to entering int
% details. 1t will be seen by this list this
y there is no lack of sources of informatio
- for the journalistic fraternity to draw upoi
, Gay Scenes
- were enacted Mt Elberon in the first da,
u of the Presidents arrival. Messenger DO,
y in livery mounted on neat little ponie
"a were galloping from place to place as if IL
,, fate of q world depended upon saving
"a moment United States army officers