Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-20
CRANK CALLERS AT THE WHITE
HOUSE.
a Watehman's story of His Curious In
terView with One of Them


terview with One of Them
Washington Star.
Meeting one of the guardians OF the Ex-
ecutiye Mansion and grounds off duty a
few days ago "a reporter asked him If he
had any trouble with cranks now.
well. there are not so many around
this rough weather." was the reply. "but
you newspaper men don't catch on to one
In ten Of the queer people who try to see
the President, but are intercepted before
they reach the house, or are turned away
from the door"
Il should Think said the reporter.
''yOu would be imposed on sometimes by
plausible fellows who, only a little Off
mentally, like Guiteau, are more danger
aus than raving lunatics."
A'AS a general thing you can gauge 'em
en- sight," was the reply. There is a
wandering of the eyes, or an abruptness
Of speech, or a wildness of gesture, or
some peculiarly of dress or manner.
This. however, is not always the case.
remember " hen Hayes was President |
was on duty in the grounds one night
when a reception was going on. / was
approached from the White House pOrticO
by tall, clean-shaVen, middle-aged man
neatly dressed in a black walking suit,
who asked in a tone as if he merely
wanted u chat with some one:
'''Are YOU Waterman heref'
80 An that line said /.
i" The President is giving a reception, /
belieVe.'
al believe he is said 1.
ga public reception isn't itp asked
the stranger
"'I don't know anything about that l
answered.
Would YOU take me to be a respect
able citizenT was the next question.
-''Hnrdly able to Judge an o" hort an
''The stranger chuckled quietly at this
and said: Quite right. But from my
general appearance now, my manners
and conversation, would you set me down
as respectable or Otherwiser
'Respectable,' said l.
+''Just 80. And yet in this great and
glorious land OF the free sarcastically,
"a respectable citizen is suddenly turned
away from the door Of the Executive
Mansion by 1unkies when he simply
seeks, with other citizens, to pay his re-
spects to the officer they have chosen by
ballot to preside over them; at time, too,
set apart, it is understood, for that pur-
pose
But said l, there must have been a
reason. Perhaps you are mistaken and
this is not a public reception
."'Asked if had card continued the
remaTk); questioned and crOSs-ques-
toned as il was felon or cOnspiratOr.
and the door then shut in my face. All
right if this is st. Petersburg and that is
the palace of the Gar (pOinting to the
White HOuse); UNANIMOUSLY wrong if this
is u aShingtUn and that is the White
House.
so far there had not been anything in
the mans manner or talk" continued the
n frtAf 70 ha tSrac on
thing more than visitor to the city dis
gusted and indignant ut his disappOint-
ment in being summarily deprived of what
be perhaps considered his only chance
while here to see the President; but sud
denly changing his manner after his last
remark. he abruptly asked me in the
sepUlchral tones Of the ghost II Hamlet
do you ever read the Bible?
." 'SOmetimes.'
Ibid you ever read the Book of Revela-
tiOns:'
Yes
"'Do you remember the red man in that
BOOkY
'''I can't say that do
'''Well read il again, guardian Of the
night, read it again. said the stranger,
adding quickIy: 1 am the red man
there mentioned. l hold in my hands the
fates Of nations and their rulers. l make
and unmake ashingtOn,
Jefferson, jackson, Lincoln, Grant and
this man Hayes. They were elected, yes,
but elections cannot change destiny.
That / control. Let the present occupant
OF the White House bewaTeP And with
a threatening shake of his long forefinger
at the mansion the man started down the
nag sidewalk towards the gateway. Now
If that fellow had got in he might have
behaved as well as ANYBODY. But in case
he had got started on the Book OF Revela-
tions there is no knowing what might
have happened.'