The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-06
THE HEAD OF THE NATION.
President Cleveland's Social Oualities-His
Manner Toward Women.

grave question, will the new chief executive
prove a worthy successor, socially, of the ele-
CANT Arthur9 Those who have attended the
White House receptions since last March are gen
orally inclined to a negative opinion, though
hopes are expressed that the coming season will
bring out social qualities which were not per-
ceptlblei In the President during the hard-working
months Immediately following mis- inauguration.
In a certain measure these hopes will be real
lied. for Mr.. Cleveland has all the generous hos
pltailty of his predecessor; but anyone who
expects In the present occupant of the White
House the exquisite grace and courtly ease of
manner which distinguished Mr.. Arthur will
certainly be disappointed. A more marked con-
trast. physical and mental. than that existing
between Arthur and Cleveland could hardly be
pointed out. The former performed his work as
an onerous duty, governed by sentiment, and
drew most of his pleasures from the elegances
and luxuries of high life. Handsome of person,
he spent more time in adjoining his body than in
storing his mind with information appertaining
| to the duties of his Office. He could deal out
pleasant nothings to ladies better than ideas on
economic questions; he was a standard authority
in matters of etiquette, and not even the most
6rainless of the giltedged youth could find
fault with his bow or his artistic manner of
raising the hat. In a word, he was the most
perfect lady's man that ever occupied
the White House. President Cleveland,
on the other hand, loves work for its
own sake. Not an atom of sentiment enters
into his actions regarding public affairs. His
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! ures of society have never had great charms for
him. Though possessing a dignified manner, he
utterly lacks the dancing masters grace. His
movements are heavy, his gestures awkward, his
smile anything but attractive. He can stand fire
for ten or fifteen minutes, with smiling face and
apparent interest, but if the talk is prolonged
his features relax; he becomes restless and his
eyes take on that stony expression which is gen.
orally reserved for Kentucky and Indiana Office
seekers. The fact is that the President, like
many other men who are distinguished in their
generation, can find nothing thrilling in the in
ane feminine conversation Of the day, and has
not the power to conceal altogether his lack of
appreciation. Especially Ms he a horror of
gushing young misses, whose bright smiles are
to most men an ample compensation for their
chartered nonsense, but are entirely wasted on
the desert air when the President is in question.
A recent incident, illustrative of this charac-
teristic of the President, afforded great amuse-
ment to those who witnessed it. A vivacious
young lady from central New York, who was
visiting Secretary Manning and his wife, called
at the White House with them one evening and
it so happened that in the divisions of talk
which occur in company Mr.. Cleveland fell to
the lot of the New York girl. She at once set to
work to amuse him after the usual feminine
fashion and succeeded for a while. After a
quarter of an hour symptoms of WEAKNESS be-
coming manifest in the face of the President she
hesitated, but not long enough to allow her
listener to escape. She merely stopped to
change the subject Of conversation, which had
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thought would be more interesting. And what
do you think the innocent creature hit uponq
Nothing less than the tariff.
"Oh, Mr.. Cleveland" said she, edo tell me
about that delightful tariff question. I am just
dying to know all about it,
The tariff" exclaimed the President blankly.
Gall about the tariff! Why Miss -, it would
occupy me till Congress meets to go over this
matter"
Eyes; but 1 don't want to hear about all those
tiresome ad valorem things and raw material,
and pig-iron and-that. l only want to know
why the great statesmen differ so much on the
question"
Here the President cast an appealing glance
at Mr.. Manning, who had turned his head
quickly on hearing the word tariff in a sweet
feminine voice. The Secretary of the Treasury
only smiled maliciously. however, and nodded
encouragingly to the victim.
NOW. l can't understand why they won't
agree in the matter" continued this bright girl.
1T seems so simple. Some favor free trade be-
cause it would make everything cheaper for the
people, ana others favor a protective tariff be-
cause it keeps wages high. Now. 1 think we
ought to have a tariff that would make things
cheaper and raise wages higher, too. That's
what | told papa when we were talking about
the matter last week. Wasn't 1 right2" and the
fair face flushed in expectation of approval.
Perfectly right" said the President. with
deep solemnity. "That is just the kind of a
tariff that legislators have been trying to con-
struct for centuries" Then, why don't they do
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interest. 1T would be so nice if everybody
were prosperous and there would be no more
suffering. Doesn't all the trouble arise from the
quarrels between those men who are always
talking about horizontal reduction and those tire
some things in the newspapers27
The President gazed appealingly once more at
the Secretary, but receiving only a smile which
betoKened immense enjoyment of the scene he
answered feebly: "Yes, the leaders Of the party
are somewhat to blame because they can't
agree"
II knew it," was the triumphant reply.
They leave the poor people suffering rather
than give in to each other. l don't think Mr..
Morrison and Mr.. Randall and those men that
make the tariff bills have a bit of feeling; and
if 1 we're President I would remove them from
Office immediately'-this with q pretty show of
indignant anger.
'They certainly must co." replied the Presi-
dent in sepulchral tones and with such q pitiful
look at Mr.. Manning that the latter could nc
longer resist. Joining in the conversation, he
soon engaged the young lady's attention, so as
to allow the sufferer to turn to Mrs. Hoyt,
which he did with a long-drawn sigh of relief.
To see the President at his best, socially, you
must take a look at him in his Office, surrounded
by intimate personal and political friends. His
countenance then bears no trace either of the
stoniness that repels ofice-seekers or the apathy
that discourages women. Reclining in an i'm
mense velvet-covered armchair, and putting at
his cigar with vigorous enjoyment, he jokes and
tells stories in a manner which would astonish
those who have seen him only in official harness.
His favorite companions are Dan Lockwood,
Bissell, his former law partner, and a few Buf-
falo men who have adhered to him throughout
his political life. When they are in Washing
ton there is a jolly time at the White House,
and the President is altogether more approach
able than at other times. In their absence
his favorite is Attorney-general Garland.
No other member of the Cabinet is on
such familiar terms with the chief executive.
He places great reliance on Secretary Bayard,
regards Mr.. Manning as his chief political coun-
selor, admires the vigorous young Secretary of
the Navy, and is very friendly with Mr.. Villas and
Mr.. Endicott; but for an after-dinner chat, with
its accomplishments of smoky joviality and just
a little of the 'rosy," the Attorney general is
the chosen one. No one on familiar terms with
Dir. Garland is surprised at this partially, for he
is one of the most entertaining of men. His
very position while smoking an after-dinner
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