The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-10
CLEVELAND AND ARTHUR.
A Comparison of the Men, Including Def
inition of "Good Form"


inition of 'GOOd Form"
Washington Letter in Pittsburg Dispatch.
No man can look upon Mr. Cleveland without
confidence in his ability as an executive motor.
I stood near him on the platform while he deliv-
cred his inaugural address / afterward stood
nearer him as he stood in the East Room of the
White House. He impresses me as man Of
great brains. little education, less culture of
strong will, selfconfdence, energy, good nature,
contempt for society in its modern acceptation,
and perfectly able to take care Of himself. He
is more homely than his pictures make him.
There are good many lines on his face that
seem like the lines of dissipation, though
they may have come from laughter He is
good nature itself, and does not seem to know
that it is not good FORM to have any express
sion. He laughs easily and when he does the
eyes, which are small at any time, twinkle up
out of sight His abdominal rotundity is some
thing immense. Any idea of it is not gained
from his portraits He is thicker and apparently
heavier than Dorsheimer or Nick Muller While
he dresses decently in black broadcloth, it
is plainly. Like true gentleman he does not
attract attention by the lovely fit of his clothes,
and the exquisite quality and tone of his gloves
and neck-wear. In this respect the change of
administration will be severely felt by our swell
society.
There is quite as great a contrast between the
manners of Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Arthur. The
latter believes, lives and has his daily being in
good form. He IS not only obServant of good
form in dress, but in manners. To be in good
form man must cultivate an expression of
counteuance like Cincinnati ham, Impulsive-
ness of all sorts must be kept down out of sight
and crushed. You must not smile, and to laugh
get excited or interested is vulgar and not
tolerated am no good and wish I-waS-deadD
sort of an expression is the proper caper. Ar
thur has reduced it to science. Mr.. Cleveland,
the contrary, is as fat and jolly as any stock
broker, and laughs and looks as if he thought
the world very good thing and was glad he was
in it. His sister and the rest of his family are
plain people. They look as if they had just
come down from some country village where
they lived over a store and sang in choir. Miss
Cleveland is smart, however AS they were com
ing from the train Cleveland got tangled up be-
tween his gripsack and cigar, and, burning his
fingers, dropped the former.
"Groyer," cried his sister, II hope you are
not losing your grip as soon as you get in Wash
ington."
Mr.. Cleveland laughed hearty ha! hal at this
feminine witticism, all OF which was in bad form
and what society might expect from people from
the country. From the indications we may ex-
pect from the new incumbent of the presidential
chair plain, old-fashioned, vigorous admins
traton. The social exclusiveness somewhat
prematurely planned by Mrs Blaine will be un-
known at the White Hause. OF course we are
too far from the horse and hitching-post of the
great Jefferson, but in pinch we could get
little nearer Jeffersonian simplicity with credit
to our institutions. Grant had around him only
rich men, but Grant often went to dinner parties
as private citizen. Hayes had a kitchen cab
met of fanatics and fools. Garfield had bosom
friend in Swain and Colonel Corbin. Arthur
associated only with foreign dudes and ladies.
Arthur had good many chums of the Barney
Biglin, Tom Murphy stripe when he came into
Office, but he soon shook these bummers and
took to society swelle and clothes. 1t will be an
absorbing speculation for our dude society to
figure Mr.. Cleveland up From the Democratic