Savannah morning news., 1885-06-30
THE PRESIDENTS DAY.
What Cleveland Does Between 7o'CloeI
in the Morning and Midnight,


In the Morning and Midnight,
The President has so systematized his
work, says a Washington special in the
Philadelphia Record, that it does not
trouble him. He is cool, calm, self
contained, and naturally industrious,
with a happy faculty OF concentrating
his attention on the particular task before
him, and he dispatches business as
easily as he receives visitors. He is al
ways up at O'Clock, and breakfasts at s,
After breakfast he goes at once to the
library, the large oval room, where he
spends most of his time. 1t is on the
upper floor of the mansion, directly
next to the Presidents private
apartments. The Cabinet cham
Der opens out of It on the east, and next
the cabinet chamber is the office of the
private secretary. Col. Lamont rises and
breakfasts as early as the President as
ne is waiting for HIM when he enters the
library. l know no other slightly built,
nervous man who can do as much work
as can Col. Lamont. The President finds
on the big Oaken desk in the bay window,
behind which he takes his seat, such let
ters and papers as Col. Lamont may have
prepared for him either ut his special re-
quest or out Of the mail of the day before.
In the hour from 8 to 10 the President
and his secretary, aided by the steno-
grapher, will dispose Of the morning busi-
ness. Then it is time for the morning re-
ception; receptions, rather, for Col.
Lamont has as many visitors as the Pres
dent They have been gathering IN the
ante-rooms on the north side of the man
sion for an hour, and still they come.
They hand their cards to the doorkeepers
(who love rare collections OF queer and
absurd cards) and, if they are admitted.
pass into the library or the private secre-
tary's room, as the case may be. If the
rush is greater than usual, Leoftler, the
gray-haired soldier who is the chief door
keeper, organizes an overflow meeting in
the Cabinet chamber. From 10 until 10
O'Clock there is a constant movement into
the two rooms.
The President stands up throughout.
be moves about as much as possible,
though, for the sake of the exercise. He
moves from man to man, from group to
group. Everybody gets chance to speak
aud courteous reply. The President is
kindly even to the undeserving. To
agreeable people who do not want any
favOrs he is positively charming. He has
humor and keen sense Of wit, and he
laughs easily and musically. His power
OF repartee is little known, but it will be
well known before he leaves the White
House. 1t has served him in many try
ing and annoying conversations since
March 4. If it is Cabinet day the recep-
ti0n closes at - O'Clock. A few minutes
before that hour the library and the
Cabinet chambers are cleared, and the
members of the Cabinet begin to arrive.
At high noon promptly the President
fQEpG hfa a fhn hnad nf tho Euhfnaf
table and opens the days session. If it is
not Cabinet day the Presidents recep-
tion continues until / O'Clock. Then, If
there are any delegations or other large
bodies waiting to see him, he receives
them, going down stairs in the East
Room for that purpose. On the hottest
day of this week he shook hands with 800
men and women in the delegation of rail-
way master mechanics. At l O'Clock he
goes to lunch, returning to his desk in the
library before O'Clock. There he
works steadily, save as he may be inter-
rupted by caller who mas made an en-
gagement for some hour in the afternoon,
until after O'Clock. Sometimes, when
interrupted by too many of these callers,
he finds that it is after O'Clock before he
can leave his desk, and then he must fore
go his afternoon drive.
But usually, with his private secretary
or some other intimate friend. he is driven
over the hills around the city, behind the
high-stepping seal browns, until O'Clock.
Then he dimes quietly and simply with
his family, and perhaps friend or two.
Before $50 he is back in the library again
and at work behind bis big desk with its
load of papers. Presently members of the
Cabinet and their assistants drop in for
formal conferences. The business of the
day and of the morrow is talked over.
These informal Cabinet conferences have
had probably as much to do with shaping
the governmental policy as the formal
Cabinet meetings. BY II o'clock all his
visitors have gone. Toe President works
on until midnight and then retires, and
by O'Clock the White House is as still as
Alexandria.