Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-12-10
GOSSIP ABOUT MIR. ARTHUR
HIS, MANHOOD AS A PRESIDENT.
HIS WHITE HOUSE DINNERS.
How High Living Killed Him-His Dig
nifty Upon Leaving the White House.
How He and Garfield Played Marbles
Together-President Arthur's Children.
Especial cofre.pondenee.y

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Nov. 90 THE memory of
President Arthur will long continue as green
as the ivy which climbs about the White
House. He showed himself to be a man
while he acted as president, and during the
latter part of his administration both parties
delighted to do him honor. AS far as Wash
ington and its society is concerned he was
one of tho most popular presidents we have
ever had. He felt the dignity of his position,
and appreciated the honor of the presidency
as much as did Gen. Washington himself.
He aetel like q president. He entertained
royalty, and still democratically. The White
House was open to all corners; the poor
est and m~ost-ignorant were not snubbed. He
gave elegant dinners, and was in his element
at a White House reception. Still he posed as
a friend to the negro, and was always ready
to raise his voice for the colored man. He
was by no means niggardly in spending his
salary. He came into the White House, I am
told, worth more than 500, 900, and he left it
worth much less.
Shortly after President Arthur took office
~ ouS'SS "a WHY itSIdSIctul v ulHl.
Tho newspapers were full Of uncomeliment-
ary notices, the sky of prophecy was black,
and the perplexities of the presidency were
never greater. Arthur was overrun with
Office seekers both day and night, and he told
ex-Postmaster General Tyner that il the
presidency were offered him again by the
unanimous vote OF the people he would not
take it. AS time wore on, however, his work
l Orau cuSfapnofi1aI IJa l;1,,J tt,o Io.,a,, o.l
dattery which came with the position, and
during the last year of his term he strove
with all his might to secure his reelection.
He failed, but after his retirement he still
kept sight of the dignity of his office, refused
to go into the practice OF the law, and lived
quietly until he died.
President Arthur worked very hard while he
was in the White House, and he ruined his
health by working irregularly. He sat up
late and rose late. He ate his dinners at
midnight, and 1t was often ! or Q o'clock be-
fore he got away from the table. He usually
rose at $50, took a light breakfast of coffee
and a roll and then went into his Office to
receive callers From 10 to IL o'clock he had
a continual siege OF office seekers. First, the
ordinary Office seeker came, then the con-
gresham, and after that the cabinet minis
ter. Sometimes he received his callers in the
afternoon, and he vent through the hand
shaking regularly. He did not begin his din
ner, as a rule, until after z o'clock, and often
later. He liked high living, and tickled his
stomach with terrapin and champagne.
Toward the latter part of his administration
the richness Of his food began to tell upon
his system and he strove to remedy the evil.
He did not, however, cut down upo his
diet, but tried to work Off the surplus by
exercise. He took horseback rides and walked
considerably. Very fond of fishing, and the
killer, ] believe, of the largest salmon ever
killed In this country, he took many a little
fishing junket, and il was at the advice of
his physician that, with his cabinet. he went
to iFfiipritia- The Florida health trip was not
n great success. He had q severe attack of
stomach trouble during it and the papers
were full OF alarming reports. The excite
ment of the latter days OF his administration
had much to do with keeping him up, and he
began to fail as soon as Cleveland was in
augurated. There is no doubt that White
House winning and dining had much to do
with his death, and he is only one Of a great
number of public men who have been killed
by this element of Washington life. During
the last year OF his administration President
Arthur made it a rule to dine all the con-
gressmen and senators and their wives. HIS
spent more than 5000 q year on his dinners,
and $40 a plate is a low estimate of their cost.
Arthur paid his cook 81, 800 a year, and it is
said that his private dinners often cost as
high as SIS a plate. He kept up his dinners
until the last, and be closed his administra-
ton by an elegant lunch to President Cleve-
land Immediately after the review Of the
procession on Inauguration day.
President Arthur's leaving the White
House was as diguified as his conduct in it.
Neither of the two Adamses would attend
the inaugurations of their Successors. John
Quincy Adams was out hunting, tits said, at
the time Andrew jackson was inaugurated,
and his father, John Adams, packed up his
traps the night before Jefferson came in, and
galloped away from Washington in a car
riage. President Arthur gave this royal
lunch to President Cleveland, and the dining
table was as handsomely arranged as at any
Of his state dinners. He escorted Miss Rose
Cleveland to the table, and President Cleve.
land took in Mrs. McElroy on his arm. The
party remained seated at the table for nearly
two hours, and after the dinner was over Mr..
Arthur left the White House and went to
stay with Secretary Frelinghuysen.
/ came across a curious story to-day. in
which a man&named Clapp claims to have
played marbles with Presidents Garfield and
Arthur. The three men were boys, and Clam
was living at Ballston, N. Y, when President
Arthur's father and President Garfield's
uncle came there, bringing Chester A. Arthur
and James A.. Garfield with them. Clapp
says he slept with young Arthur, and that he
was having a game Of marbles with little
Chef In his front door yard the next day
when the Rev, Mr.. Garfield drove UP. He
stopped at the gate and lifted. out of his