The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-14
CARDS At THE WHITE HOUSE


a Revenue fron the waste Pastebeard-
Some Characteristic Signatures.
One of the sources of revenue of the
Government comes from the White
House. In the last three weeks over
5000 people have contributed to it by
sending their card to the President
Every statesman who sends his paste
board to Mr.. Cleveland sometimes gives
the Government more thsn he gets. His
card is worth just .OOO5. When card
is sent to the President the door-keeper
at the head of the steps regards it
closely. sizes up The sender. as It were,
aed takes it in to the President When
the latter has looked at it the door
keeper takes it back to his desk in the
hall, and leaves it there for inspection
/ by reporters.
At night the cards are done up in .
bundle and put away. At the end of a
month the packages are taken to the
cellar. and added to the waste-paper
collection. Then the whole il sold.
During May the waste-paper brought in
over $50. The card portion was worth
nearly a half-dollar. An official who
examines them every day, sums up the
number of callers and the cards as fol-
lows:
There were 5000 cards Every va
riety made, from the paper provided by
the Government to the gilt edge, was
represented. OF the 6.OO0 the plurality,
or 200. came from New York State.
Every State and twelve foreign countries
contributed. The largest number of
cards received in one day was 207. on
March %. There were over $50 names
written on these cards. and the largest
number of names on one card was seven.
That came from Missouri. The second
week of President Cleveland's admins
tration was whss swelled the card col
lection, for we took in $50. excluding
Sunday. Most of the cards were printed,
some were written in pencil and ink.
The styles of penmanship covered every
system taught, and the writing and or
biography of some were very bad. One
that came from Boston merchant had
written on the back of the card: Want
to Sc the President on matters of Official
bisness.'
''Itis not always the rural or illiterate
Office-seekers that the bad penmanship
comes from. Some well-known men
are very poor penmen. George William
Curtis writes struggling hand. and it
cannot always be read. It's like all ed
itOr's penmanship-
''Henry Ward Beecher nearly always
has his cards printed. Sometimes the
name of friends who accompany him
are written on the back. Nobody ever
tries to decipher it.
''Mayor Grace writes a clear hand,
but forgets to dot his is and cross his
is.
Representative Randall. when he
leaves his card-case at home, writes his
name on blank slip in clear, running
hand. Everybody can read it.
''Vice-President Hendricks. when he
calls, writes The Vice-President' on a
card 1t takes him some time to do it.
Then it can be read easily. Even if he
didn't write clearly we would know
what it was. because he never changes
his wording.
Senator German dashes off arthur
German and friends easily and quietly.
He writes legible, though careless,
hand.
Senator Mcdonald has not been to
the White House much, and he always
brings printed cards.
Representative Morrison Is fire.
quent visitor He never comes with a
card. and writes his name in a firm,
business-like hand that is very legible.
He usually brings half a dozen friends
with him. and writes under his name.
and friends. - Washington Republi-
can.