The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-08
WASHINGTON THURSDAY

Smith. OF course, according to Southern ideas
of honah, sah," a recourse to the code was con-
sidered inevitable, as the only proper thing to
be done under the circumstances. Smith
wanted TO fight or at least claimed that he did,
although in this particular case no great amount
of courage was necessary for such declaration,
Mr.. Wise having some time ago. after being
engaged in several affairs of honor" publicly
and forever renowned the duello " for the sake
of his wife and children The fact is, how
ever, that so rarely is anybody hurt in Vir-
ginia duel that considerations of this nature lose
much of their force. The ratio of mortality, or
in fact personal injury of any kind in these
affairs, is 80 slight that it need have no effect
upon the premium rate of a life-insurance
policy.
Seeing THE PRESIDENT.
Jumbo, in the heyday of his popularity in
the juvenile world before his late lamentcd
encounter with n railway train, was not
greater object Of interest pachyderm than
is . live President as a conspicuous representa-
tive of the human race to the average man or
woman. So it is that few who visit Washing
ton do not feel that their pilgrimage has been
failure il they are not permitted to look into
the face of His Excelleucy and shake the Presi-
Dental hand. To crafty the popular whim in
this respect, and appease the public appetite, IS
as much a duty that cannot safely be neglected
as are the weghtv matters appertaining to his
high office.
President Cleveland has resumed his in
formal receptions in the East Room, to the ex-
tent of three each week, on alternate days. On
Monday there were over q hundred in waiting
long before 1:45 p. NJ, the time appointed 3
There were old and young, from grandfather5
and grandmothers to babes in arms. There
were grooms aud blushing brides, who would
remember their visit to the White House as an
incident of the honeymoon. There were tour
ISIS with LITTLE prinSackS in their hands rpldv
to continue their sightseeing tour OF the Ma
tiOnal Capital as soon as the ceremony was over.
There were people from the city and people
from the country; people in all classes of life
"a thoroughly democratic gathering, the word
not being used in political sense.
There was a good deal of inpatient fidget-
ing and wishing he would come" as the
crowd moved about through the East Room and
the spacious vestibule, awaiting the appearance
of the Executive. At 1:30 very black man,
carrying upon his shoulder hod loaded with
wood passed up the front stairway.
Finally an electric bell ratified, setting every
body on the gui uice Pass into the East
Room, please" said the chief usher, and the
expectant guests were notslow to obey. After 10
minutes more of waiting the doors were thrown
open. The President crossed the threshold with
a slight bow and benlgnant smile. Advancing
two or three PAGES he took his position, fanked
by two of the ushers, and began the usual me-
chancal process of shaking hands, as the people
filed past him into the corridor. The 'levee"
was wholly informal, none being introduced
by name except few who gave their own
patronymics, knowing that the President would
feel an aching void in his life if they did not
do so.
1t wasn't very much of a "shake" that any
body got-only a feeble pressure OF the hand
and a slight movement of three or four inches.
Now and then some hearty fellow tried the old
ia Sh joue1 ba p1lp " bift his efforts
not reciprocated to any great extent. Very
little was said as the procession moved by;
few stopped to talk, but after sentence
or two the President would give his hand to
the next, as hint to the talkative patriot that
he was expected to move on. The smile re-
manned upon the Presidents face, and beamed
with equal etfulgence upon all. A lady leading
a three ear-old child approached. The Presi-
dent shook hands with the lady and then
glanced at the next in the line. But she
pointed to the little tOdder that was looking
up with its great, wondering eyes into the face
of the strange man. Then the President
reached down and took the little velvet hand
between his big thumb and finger and the lady
went her way rejoicing. man apparently
from the backwoods had in his hand sort of
coIkscrew cane, which he seemed to have whit
tied out. He presented it to the President
with broad grin and few unintelligible
words, the President thanking him and hand
ing the stick to one of the ushers.
Unless directly addressed the President said
nothing to any of his guests. As each looked
into his face at the moment of hand contact,
his lips moved as if to say, I'm glad to see
you," or "How dye dor" but no word was
audible. The whole ceremony was over in Is
minutes and the President went up stairs to
his room.
PERSONAL.
The President has notified Surgeon General
Hamilton, of the Marine Hospital Service, that
he has decided to make no change in the office
now held by DIR. Hamilton, and therefore de-
clines to accept his resignation, which was to
haye aken effect Oct 81