The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-02

A Little Chat with President Arfhur-Bri1
liant Talk About the Weather.


liant Talk About the Weather.
Bill Nye. in Louisville Courier Journal.
When President Arthur paid a visit to the
great National Park several of the prominent
men OF Wyoming, including myself went up to
Green river, where the presidential party would
leave the special train and, under escort,
cross overland to the park. There were half
dozen of us who felt as though the northeast
corner of the national fabric rested OH our shout
ders, and we felt that so long as the President
was to visit for number of weeks within the
borders of Wyoming we ought, as matter of
common poiteness, to go and give him the free
dom OF the park and the Shoshone reservation.
:. In the party we had member of the Supreme
Court OF the territory the United States mar
shal, the present Surveyor general of the Terri
tory and myself
When the Presidents train arrived. bearing.
besides the President, General Sheridan, Senator
Vest Secretary OF War Lincoln, Colonel Sheri-
dan and others, we waited quite while for the
President to come out and see us, but he re-
manned in his car. Thinking at last thatperhaps
the President had not heard that we We're there,
we walked around the train a few times so that
he could see us and call us in and converse with
us. But he made overtures whatever, and
we finally had to 60 into his car and introduce
ourselves He may have been overjoyed TO see
Us, and doubtless was, but he has remarkable
control over himself that way
When the President took my shapely hand in
his and Colonel Sheridan told him who [ was he
looked me square in the face with sort Of rising
infection, as though he might be trying to re-
member who was, but could not. At that mo-
ment would have given 50 if could have
thought of the proper thing to say. The moro
lie looked at me with those dark, solrowftl eyes
of his and patiently waited for me to say some
thing, the less seemed to have my mind with
me- and wanted to tell him that in the hurry
OF starting off had left my thinker at home on
the piano AT last l got desperate and said:
Mr. President, don't you think we are having
rather a backward spring2r
Nh,%,r Il,
never, officially or otherwise gratifed my NOR
bid curiosity. He still looked at me in dumb
wonder and surprise. Perhaps he felt oppressed
with the pomp and glitter of my good clothes.
Marshal Schnitger and Surveyor general Mel
drum dropped into easy conversation with
General Sheridan, and fought their battles over
again. just then Judge Blair was presented to
the President, and fell into the hands of Sec
rotary Lincoln.
Probably the Secretary still wakes up nights
and thinks with pleasure of that little chat we
had together at Green river. He looked at me
IN an attentive and interested way that fattered
me at the time very much, but when saw him
a half hour afterwards looking at young cinua-
mon bear in the same way L was no longer proud
Casually IL looked up at j Judge Blair and the
President to see how they were coming on, The
President had nailed the Judge with the same
earnest expectant look, and the Judge was feel
ing OF his head to see If it there and at the
same time tryingto think of a hard word.
just then the President seemed to think Of
something that he had left in the other car He
rose and with firm, dignifed step, walked
away, and have never seen him since. Neither
has has he seen me since.
1t is years since last we met
And we may never meet again;
have struggled to forget,
But the struggle was in vain.
Soon afterward we all hastily withdrew We
thought it would be better for us TO withdraw
before the restof the party did. 1t would be
more etiquette and bonhomie
Take it all around. we had a very pleasant call
on the party. and everything passed off smoothly.
Still, made resolution on that oc-
cason which l have rigidly adhered to-
When | call another President of the
United States it will be when he sends a double
barPeled quo warranto after me, or when have
business with him of an important nature
shall never call on the President of the United
States again just to kill time. The desire to rub
up against greatness has been fully glutted in
nae. The wild yearning to she'd happy tear on
the President, who is a total stranger.so ms
has been thoroughly satiated Should vne OF
my own family be chosen to that great Office
and insist on my coming to Washington to run
the administration through the holidays, might
do so. otherwise L warn the future presidents of
this Republic that will never, never darken
their doors.
HUDSON Wis. Jan, %.