Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-07
ARTHUR CALAROo,ED.
The Mean Practical Joke Per-
Petrated on Dur President By
Members OF His Cabinet,

members OF HIS Cabinet.
considerable Pains have been taker
IN the East to suppress the following
incident Of the Presidents recent visil
to the South-why, it is hard to say
as Mr.. Arthur is the last person tc
consider his personal dignity impaired
by the relating of good Joke. al,
him.
lr seems that the President is quite
an adept at certain sleight of hand
tricks, his proficiency in some Of
which he has kept up since boyhood
lie boasts his ability to remove a
handkerchief or watch from pocket
with as much adroltness as the most
li0ht fingered member of the swell
mob"
Even the members of the cabinet
have, time and again, been made the
victims. Of theirl Chiefs uncontroIl,
able penchant for playing practical
jokes, his victims being the more east
4hystihed, as the exalted position Of
the perpetrator usually protects him
from suspicion.
While at jacksonville the Presiden-
tlal party determined to attend gen.
ulne old fashioned monster darky
camp meeting, about twenty miles
away near small village and to enjoy
It better, went incog. While waiting
for conveyance at the tavern in the
said village, the President noticed an
extremely fat farmer doing in chair
in the barroom, and displaying a pre-.
posterous watch chain and bunch OF
seals from his fob. Mr.Arthur winked
at his friends and, watching his op.
portunity, removed the watch and hid
it In the saddlebags ofsnother traveller.
that hung on the wall. Now,i appears
that Secretary Chandler had pretty
sever joke played upon him by Ar,
thur, few days previously, and he
here saw chance to get even. He
quietly led each member of the party
aside and let them into the conspiracy,
When the carryall returned from the
camping ground the President was
immediately collared by the fat man,
who roughly demanded his prop
erty.
What do you mean, fellow" said
our chief magistrate, winking at his
staff, who, however, seemed suspicious.
ly indifferent.
"Oh,you can'tplay smoothly on mel"
roared the despoiled granger. "The
barkeeper saw you steal my watch and
put 1t in your pocket. Here, consta.
BILE, do your duty. | want this man
searched"
Very well, then, search me. /"
head.
II thought SO, said the policeman.
as ne hshed out the watch from the
first pocket he dived into, much to
Arthur's astonisbment. "Ill lust
put you in the calabOose, my fine tel.
low" 'N'
You will, ehY" returned Arthur
with chpckle, ''Here, Mr.. Freling
| am" ""o
Did you speak to me. my man?"
SAID the Secretary of State. looking at
the President, innocently.
Yes, yesl Hurry up and explain
this thing" said Arthur. ss the cons
STAPLE began taking out pair of hand
Explain what2 l don't know you.
sir" And, to the Presidents amaze.
ment, his State adviser walked off
Great ScOttl" cried Arthur. "Say.
you, there-Chandlerl What does
all this meanH Tell these people that
| am the Presidaat-quickl"
If yeu are addressing me-" said
the Secretary of the Navy, putting on
his glasses and taking a benevolent
survey of the prisoner, my name is
not Chandler, and | don't think |
ever saw you before"
Great heavensl this is outrageous"
screamed Arthur, fighting desperately
to prevent them from putting on the
nippers. This is going too far. II
tell you | am the President"
Don't be rough with the poor
man, said Chandler, kindly. Per.
haps he's little -; What are YOU
President Of, my good fellowS"
I'm President Of the United
States" gasped the prisoner, furious.
ly, "as you'll pretty soon find outl"
Tut tut tutl" murmured Mr..
Chandler pityingly. "Clean gone:
clean gone. Fine looking man, too
Got away from some asylum, likely"
And, to the unspeakable horror and
wrath ofOur first citizen, he was load
ed into wagon and carried off to the
county bastile, where he was kent for
full hour before q majority Of his
cabiaet voted for release. To the
credit OF the Executive, be it said that,
although he was extradited" in a
state Of frenzy, and vowiug an entire
smash of the cabinet slate, he cooled
down before he reached Jacksonville
again, and concluded to rset 'en up"
for his prosecutors in true White
House style. But he has been out
Of the joke business ever siacs.