The Florida agriculturist., 1885-04-29
From ourDegular Correspondent.
Washington Letter.

The week has been busy one for
President Cleveland. Since his occupan-
cy of the White House, each day has
been filled with demand upon his time
and patience, but the last few days have
been marked by a variety of duties, Of
fetal, social and otherwise, that fall to
the lot of the President of the United
States. He has received about one hun
dred and fifty business callers each day;
he has performed his part att the regular
cabinet meetings; he has made thirty APP
pointments to office; he reviewed the
parade of the colored people on emanci-
patton day, and has given attention to
the various delegations that, have throng-
ed to the White House. Friday after
noon was one of the most animated and
eventual occasions that has been wit
messed at the Old Mansion during the
new Administration Delegation after
delegation poured into the East Room,
and many striking Incidents occurred.
The eolored bishops and, clergymen of
the A. NJ. E. conference, the representa-
tives of the Knights OF Pythias, large
Virginia delegation, and the ballet girls
and other female meIibeps of an operatic
troupe, shared Mr.. Cleyeland's atten-
ton and hospitality within the space of
one short afternoon.
When the President came down to the.
East Room to meet the colored preach
eFs, he found a group of twenty-five
young ladies from Virginia Academy
and about seventy-fye other people
waiting to shake hands with him. Be-
fore he could begin his work of hand
shaking, he was asked to listen to an ad
dress by colored bishop, which by Ear
excelled the average addresses the Pres
idents are compelled to listen to. Then,
before shaking hands with the ministers,
Mr.. Cleveland quietly stepped over and
shook the hands OF the ladies. After
daily practice Of an hour for six weeks,
Mr.. Cleveland has this part of his duties
down to science He does all the
shaking himself, and thus prevents over
enthusiastic people from wringing his
| arm out of joint.
| In replying to the clergymen's address
the President dwelt upon the importance
of the ministerial position. His. admo-
milton to the colored politicians, was
that they be not blindly led or cunning
ly deceived.
In the procession OF freedmen celebrat-
ing the anniversary of emancipation in
the District, there were many ludicrous
scenes and incidents. A telegraph wire
hanging low caused a great dealof trouble
by sweeping the decorations off the
top of chariots filled with girls in white,
queens of beauty, goddesses, etc. The
President stood in the center of the
White House portico as the procession
passed, and Secretaries Lamar and
Endicott and Postmaster General Villas
stood behind him. Whenever the
national colors came past Mr.. Cleveland
raised his hat, but the salutes of organ
izations in line were recognized only by
nod He smiled broadly when several
| old women in an omnibus called out to
him, and the glances of the queen OF
beauty seated on high throne, elected
slight nod and another smile from the
Executive. At the oratorical exercises,
closing the festival, Frederick Doug
lass was profuse in compliments to the
Democratic party, though he said he has
not joined that party yet. Republican he
was, had been, and expected to be. In
regard to the President, he remarked
that no better words had been heard from
the east portico of the Capitol since the
inaugural addresses of Lincoln and Grant
than fell from the lips of Mr.. Cleveland
OH tllc lourCn vi last MhTCu. Ah0 SPEAK
er had done all in his power to elect Mr.
Blaine, but he was now prepared to trust
Mr.. Cleveland.
| The President and his cabinet expect
to spend the summer in Washington at
work. They have given no thought to
vacations for recreation. Mr.. Cleveland
says he has 30 much to do before Con.
gress reconvenes that he cannot afford to
! lose moments time.
Some of the applicants for diplomatic