The daily gazette., 1881-10-24
PRESIDENT ARTHUR AT HOME
Personal and Social Traits Of Our
New Chief Mag Gistrafe.

Personal and Social Traits of Our
New Chief Magistrate.
From Ramsdell's Washington Republic
On certain specified days of the
week i'm drawlng-room almost large
enough for q public hall Overlooking
the Capitol grounds and furnished
with richness 9 md splendor, may be
seen during certain hours the man
toward whom al eyes are turned and
fer whom every true American has
nothing but feelings of good will and
words of encoura cement. The man
is something over six feet in height,
OF presence most imposing, a face at
once grave, self-possessed and frank
a manner composed and full of Dig
nifty and courtesy. His figure straight
as a dart, well-rounded and we'll.
proportioned, ID clad in sombre rain
ment from top to toe, yet a better
dressed figure was never seen in a
drawing room. A braidsbound
Prince Albert coat of black, buttons
ed nearly to the chin, dark trousers
aud CATERS, black silk scarf fasten.
ed with an onyx pin and half cover
ing the whltest of standing collars
these set off the grave face the close
ly'trimmed military whiskers and
mustache, the round head with its
short, graysbesprinkled hair and the
somewhat fiorid complexion. No
one can see this figure standing near
the door in an attitude of perfect
ease and grace without knowing that
it belongs to an American gentles
man. The room is well fitted for its
uses. Costly lace and satin hangines
furniture Of carved and inlaid woods,
priceless ornaments of ivory and pre-
cious metals, cunningly.wrought
bronzes, pictures from master hands
and thousand pretty things decorat
ing tables, cabinets and mentels-
these furnish the back ground to the
figure which stands near the opened
door. The gentleman within that
figure welcomes you with quiet cor
dia,ity-a cordiality that you feel
you cannot trife with. He shakes
you by the hand, and then, while he
rolls a bit Of paper between his fin-
gers, bis hands resting against his
breast, he listens to you with patti
enee, if not with interest. He talks
little and is guarded. The volubility
OF deceit is notlceably lacking In him.
He says commonplace things most
charminglY, and in graver'things you
feel that he has full appreciation
of his great responsibilities, ,and that
while he would rather have escaped
them, he will not having them, en-.
deavor to shrink from them. Thus
hurriedly and briefly is sketched the
new President al l saw him a few
days ago at his te emporary residence
on Capitol Hill.
President Arthur Is known among bis
friends to be man of great courage and
decision OF character. What blessing
it would be for him if he bad enough
courage to break up the habit of Presi-
DENTAL hand shaking He would do
more for his country il he made the
hand shaking habit unpopular in the
United States than il he conquered a
foreign foe In war. This intolerable
Duisance Is spreading all the time. If
you meet an acquaintance twenty times
day you are liable TO offend him II you
do not shake his hand. In heavens
name, what use is itf 1t means nothing,
and, if you think about it minute or
Two, it is, as a promiscuous practice,
dlsagreeabe in the extreme. But IL is
simply disgusting to President. Gener
al Grant has frequently had bis right arm
lamei for days with hand shaking, and
his hand was swollen TO twice
It's usual siza. Mr.. Hayes is the only
President who was never similarly
afflicted. Mr.. Art bur will probably
have at bis leyees five thous-
and persons, for his administration will
be socially brilliant, as we all hope 1t
will be politically strong. To think of
his shaking five thousand hands-big, fat,
thin, palsied, hard, sweaty, strong, weak,
dirty, stiff, fabby and dozen other var.
single evening is enough to
send one to st. Elizabeth. The personal
friends Of Mr.. Arthur will surely be glad
l.. e. .Y.