Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1882-06-12
LIFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.


business. President Arthur has set
apart certain days of the week for
special purposes, and all the employ
ees know nothing can be allowed to
interfere with the regular work for
each day. One day in every week
the president has reserved for him.
self. Few people realize this con-
slant strain to which the president is
subjected. 1t is absolutely necessa-
ry that he should have some relief
from the pressure which is brought
to bear upon him from morning until
midnight. President Garfield gave
himself day and night to the duties
of his office and the constraint on his
nerves and strength told upon him
very apparently even in the short
time he held the office. At first, Sat-
urday was the day chosen by Presl-
dent Arthur when he should seclude
himself from the crowd of sight-seers
and business callers who daily be-
siege the White House, but as the
day is one when senators and repre-
sentatives are most at leisure to look
after affairs which necessitate call
upon the president (both houses of
congress usually adjourning over
that day. he decided upon Monday
as "his day. Tuesday and Fridays
have long been ''cabinet days"
Members of congress, however, are
received on those days from 10 until
II o'clock. The latter hour is the
time for the regular cabinet meeting,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Satur-
days are what are known as business
days, when those who have business
affairs to lay before the president, or
who merely wish to see him and
shake him by the hand, are received
from IL till / o'clock. The presi-
dent generally breakfasts about $50
o'clock, lunches at 2, if pressure of
business allows him and dimes at
7.30 o'clock. About 4 o'clock he
goes out driving. During the even
ing he always has number of call
ers, either personal friends or officials
with whom he has appointments.
When the last caller has departed
the president usually devotes sever
al hours to matters which he set
aside to be considered at this times,
or which have been crowded over
during the press of the day. 1t is at
this time that a decision is reached
on many matters of weight, including
frequently important appointments.
The rules which have been laid down
in the White House are not deviated
from except in case of special APP
| pointmenU. In fact, business is done
somewhat as it was under the Jack
son and Grant regimes. 1t will be
remembered that President Garfield's
private secretary, Mr.. j. Stanley
Brown, acted in the same capacity
for President Arthur for a time.
| Owing to the request of Mrs. Gar
field that he should take charge and
arrange certain papers with view
to their use in the biography of the
late president, he was abliged to sew
er connection with the White House.
On the 1st of January Fred j. Phil
lips, personal friend of President
Arthur, succeeded Mr.. Brown. AL
though President Arthur has much
smaller force of assistants than his
predecessors, the work of the exec
utive mansion is dispatched with re-
markable promptness and accuracy.
This is owing more, perhaps to the
signal abilities of Mr.. Phillips than
to anything else. He is a thorough
man of business. The president has
implicit confidence in him, and relies
on him great deal, and consequent
ly Mr.. Phillips succeeds in relieving
him of much that would otherwise
occupy his time and annoy him. The
many callers whom he is obliged te
see are disposed of with rapidity and
satisfaction. The hungry office seek
er is not lured by false hope, be
cause of disinclination to say no, bu
, he is told at once whether there il
) any chance for him or not. Whel
he is told no he understands it to b,
; no. Mr.. Phillips time is more thai
occupied. He is rushed. He ha
no relief and no time for recreation
' No matter how busy he is, he alway
has pleasant word for those VIII,
i approach him. He is not only lee
: ognized as a thorough business maj
but as thorough gentleman. MI
Crump is the steward of the Whit
House. He came there with Presi
y dent Hayes and rendered valuabl
assistance during the late president
illness. Mr.. Crump and the ne1
French cook make the president
y dinner parties success every time
! The presidents door keeper, Charlie
v Loeffler, knows every person c
d prominence. He never forgets a face
e He is daily passed by crowds of pee
Z pie desirous of audience, but h
: knows how to discriminate, and hi
! phlegmatic temperament keeps hil
d leyel-headed. He came with Genel
al Grant. Arthur Simmons has bee
n the door keeper of the private secrt
Is tary's office since 1866, and he
% likely TO remain there for a man
y years. Edgar Beakley, door keept
st of the reception room, came wit
N General Grant. There are sewers