Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
RUBBING AGAINST GREATNESS.
A Chat with President Arthur and Sec.
rotary Lincoln.

Chat with Presiden, Arthur and Sec.
rotary Lincoln.
Bill Nye In the Providence Sunday Star
When President Arthur paid a visit to the
great National Park several of the prominen,
men OF wyoming, including myself. went UP
10 Green River, where the Presidential party
would leave the special train. and, under az
escort, cross over land to the park. There were
half dozen OF US who felt as though the north
east corner of the national fabric rested on our
shoulders, and we felt that so long as the Presi-
dent was TO visit for number of weeks within
the borders of Wyoming we ought as matter
Oh common pOliteness. to go and give him the
freedom OF the park and the Shoshone Reser-
walton.
In the party We had O 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 Gen. Sheridan Senator
Vest, Secretary Of War Lincoln, Col Sheridan
and Others. we waited quite awhile for the Presi-
uent come out and see us, but he remained in his
car thinking, at last that perhaps the Presi-
dent had not heard that we were there we
walked around the train few times, 80 that he
could see US and call us in and converse with u.s.
But he made no overtures whatever and We
finally had to go into his car and introduce our
selves. He may have been overjoyed to see us,
and doubtless was, but he has remarkable con-
troll over himself that way
When the President took nv shapely hand in
his, and Col. Sheridan told him who / was, he
looked me square in the face with q sort of
rising Infection as though he might be irving
to remember who l was. but could not At that
moment would have given 50 if could have
thought OF the proper thing to saw The more
inOEnd a nn with do f,,I
eyes of his, and patiently waited for me to say
something, the less l seemed to have my mind
with me, and l wanted to tell him that in the
hurry of starting off had left my thinker at
home on the piano At last got desperate,
and said: "Mr. President don't YOU think we
are having rather backward spring."
That was nearly two years ago. and he has
never, officially or otherwise, gratified my NOR
bid curiosity. He still looked at me in dumb
wonder and surprise. Perhars he felt oppressed
with the pOmp and glitter of my good clothes
Marshal Schntger and Surveyor General Mel
drum dropped into an easy conversation with
General Sheridan. and fought their battles over
again. Just then Judge Blair was presented
to the President. and l fell into the hands of
Secretary 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 fiat
tered me at the time very much but when l saw
him half an hour afterwards looking at a young
cinnamon bear In the same way, was no longer
proud.
Casually looked up at Judge Blair and the
President to see how they were coming on The
President had nailed the Judge with that same
earnest. eXpectant look, and the Judge was
feeling of his head to see If it were there and
at the same time was trying to think of hard
word.
Just then the President seemed to think of
something that he had left in the other car
He rose and with a firm and dignihed step
walked away and have never seen him since
Neither has he seen me since
% 1t is years since last we have 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 1t would be better for us to withdraw
before the rest Of 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. l made one resolution on that
occasion, which | have rigidly adhered to-
When call OH another President of the United
States 1t will be when he sends a double
barrel quo ,cd,TaltO 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
rubup against greatness has been fully glutted in
me. The wild yearnng to shed happy smile
On the President. who is a total stranger to me.
has been thoroughly satiated. Should one 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 warn the future Presidents Of
this Republic that 1 will neuer, NEVER darken
their doors.