The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-07

Methodical ways are a second nature to him.
He always rises at Z o'clock. He dresses very
leisurely and glances over the morning papers
after he is dressed. he breakfasts at s. There
Is hardly ever any one with him at breakfast ex-
cept his sister, Miss Cleveland, unless there are
special guests in the house. From his breakfast
room he goes directly to the library. This is his
favorite room. 1t is a long oval chamber, plain
ly furnished with red leather sofas, chairs and
other library furniture. There are In this room
number of the portraits of ex- Presidents. The
Presidents desk is of light wood, and at the
south end of the room. The windows back of him
are wide and high, and take In a very compre-
hensive view, reaching way over beyond the
Smithsonian Institution, at the left, down the
Potomac to Alexandria, directly south, and over
TO Arlington at his right. 1t was out of this win
dow that Lincoln, through q glass, saw the con-
federate flag flying over Alexandria, when Col
onel Ellsworth, OF Chicago, was calling upon
him. Mr.. Lincoln's remark that the confederate
flag ought, at least, to be out of sight of the cap
ital, undoubtedly stimulated Ellsworth to the
act of tearing down that flag, which act cost him
his life. Upon the right of this room is another
where the Cabinet meets. This is where Mr.
Hayes used to receive his visitors. The library
room was the place where the surgeons who at
tended upon Garfield used to meet to make re-
ports to the Cabinet.
The President. when he comes into the library
in the morning, finds a bundle of papers upon
his desk. These are selections made from the
mail by Colonel Lamont, his private secretary,
and the documents In such special cases as the
President has expressed a desire to consider. A
stenographer comes and takes his seat at the
Presidents rigfA. Colonel Lamont joins him and,
from 9 until 10. the President disposes of these
eases After 10 o'clock he sees his regular call
ers, the senators, members and leading politi-
clans from out of town, who come to talk to him
upon the one subject of Offices. Struggling
through the crowd there will occasionally be a
caller who has come for the purpose of paying
his respects: This latter class is very few il
number. The Presidents reception continues
until l o'clock, except upon the two Cabinet
days of the week. He then receives only until
II o'clock, or when there is a large del
egation at the White House to see him
sfe generally comes down to the East Room and
colds a reception there. He lunches at 2 o'clock
md then goes back to his work. He keeps at
shat steadily until 5 o'clock. unless he is inter
rupted by some very prominent caller who
cannot be put off. He leaves the White House
at that honr and drives with his private secre-
tary until 7 o'clock. He then returns home and
dimes. His dinner is always a plain one. He
gets back to his work again at $50. He works
until midnight before he r~etires. There is very
Upon the Saturdays which he does not see
general callers he simply devotes the extra time
he gains thereby to endless papers which are
always accommodating upon his desk. Hegoes out
for longer drives Sundays, and occasionally upon
that day takes a walk. But even a portion of
that day is devoted to the consideration Of public
business. There never was a harder working
President in the White House.