The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-22
CARDS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

A Revenue from the Waste Pastebcard-Some
Characteristic Signatures.
Washington Republican.
One of the sources of revenue of the govern
ment comes from the White House. In the last
three weeks over c, 600 people have contributed
to it by sending their card to the President
Every statesman who sends his pasteboard to
Mr. Cleveland sometimes gives the government
more than 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 tcloseiy,
sizes up the sender. it were, and takes it in to
the President. When the latter has looked at it
the door-keener takes it back to his desk in the
hail. and leaves it there Cor inspection by report
ers
At night the cards are done up in bundle and
put away. At the end of a month these pack
ages are taken to the cellar, and added to the
waste-paper collection. Then the whole is sold.
During May the waste paper brought In over
$50 Thecard portion was worth nearly a hait-
dollar. An official who examines them every
day sums up the NUMBER or Callers anu tho
cards as follows:
'"There were 6. 600 cards. Every variety made,
from the paper provided by the government 10
the gilt edge, was represented. VI the o,ooO the
plurality, or ZOO came from New York State
Every State and twelve foreign countries con.
tributed The largest number of cards received
in one day was 207, March %. There were
over $50 names written on these cards, ana the
largest number OF names on one card was
seven. That came from Missouri. The second
week of President Cieveland's administration
was what sweled the card collection. for we
took in $50. excluding Sunday. Most OF the
cars were printed, some were written In pencli
and ink The styles of penmansh,p 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'
at is rot always the rural or illterate 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. Its like all edit
ors' 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,
s'Mayor Grace writes clear hand, but fOrgets
to dot his IS and cross his It's
Representative Randall. when he leaves his
card case at home, writes his name on blank
slip in a clear, running hand. Everybody can
read it.
''Vice- president Hendricks, when he calls,
writes The Vice president a card. 1t takes
him some time to do it. Then ii can be read
easily. Even if he didn't write clearly we would
know what it was, because he never changes the
wording
Senator German dashes off Arthur German
and friends easily and quietly He writes a
legible, though careless, hand.
Senator Mcdonald has not been to IT, White
House much, and he always brings printed
cards
Representative Morrison is a frequent .
iter. He never comes with Is card. and W. ties
his name in firm. BUSINESS like heod lat is
very legible. He usually brings b. dozen
friends with him. udSwrites I'M, ais name
and friandc -