The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-01-28
The Presidents Letters.

Il
The President took up q package OF
letters on the table and said: "loften
think of publishing q book, which !
believe would be better than Peck's
Bad Boy. Some of the letters l re-
ceive from people all over the country
are the funniest things in the world"
Then he read little extracts from sew
eral letters, some of which were appli-
cations for money and advice, and
some giving advice to the President,
and letters on all subjects imaginable,
of no interest at all to the President
of the United States. One letter was
from a young lady who was about to
be married, and she wanted him to
send her 500 to procure bridal out
fit. saying she knew he was a chart
table, good man. and that she had no
doubt that he would send the
money at once. He remarked that
he did not believe that he would
send the money, but he said he did
do one thing in regard to wedding
that pleased him. A young lady
about to be married wrote to him
Just before Thanksgiving, and told
him she would like it if he would let
her know beforehand just what day
he was going to appoint for Thanks
giving, as she wanted to know the day
so that she could be married on it.
And she said that if he would give her
beforehand the date OF Thanksgiving,
so that she could be making prepare
tions, she would never tell it to a SIM
gle soul but her husband. The Presi-
dent wrote her the date he was going
to select for Thanksgiving, so that she
could make preparations and be mar
ried in good style. / spoke to him OF
the reception the day before in the
East Room, on which all OF the people
who desired to do so were free to 60
and shake hands with the President.
| said that l thought that it would be
bore to him. He replied that it was
the pleasantest part OF the day to him.
1t only took a few minutes, it rather
took business off his mind for the
time, and he was satisfied that it
pleased the people very much. hiHe
said there were visitors to Was ng-
ton who were pressed for time, and
We're anxious to see the president, and
if they had to 60 home and say that
they had not seen him it would make
them feel as though they had not got
their moneys worth, SO he made it
point to 60 down every day and shake
hands with them and answer any
questions they might ask. He said
that some remarks that people made
to him as they passed through the
room were what newspaper men
would call cold chestnuts. But he
said everybody who made theremark,
"This is the first president ever saw"
supposed that he was the first man
that ever thought of it. He said that
sometimes he had to be little cruel,
but he could hardly avoid it, and men,
toned one case in which a delegation
was evidently loaded for bear with a
speech The president said he knew
the fellow had speech before he got
within twenty yards OF him. He
was busy that day and he resolved
that he had to choke that fellow off
or die. When the fellow came up to
him with one hand on the buttons of
his coat, his MS. in his other hand,
and was just clearing his throat for
speech, the President said he reached
out, took him by the hand, shook it
warmly, urged the next man forward.
grasped his hand and passed the whole
delegation on quickly. He said he
felt actual sorrow as he looked back
at the fellow who had intended max
ing a speech He said he looked as
though this administration was a fail
ure and he knew it. There was an ex.
preston on his face as he went out OF
the White House door that plainly
said: "There may bepeople who think
that this administration is going to
give the people good, clean govern
ment, but l will be condemned if / be-
lieve it, The President said he knew
he would be accused of cruelty, but he
thought the fewer speeches there were
fired at President the better he was
off. Again he alluded TO call he had
from some colored jubilee singers.
They sent word thai they would like
to call upon the President, and hetold
the Secretary to let them come.
When they were in the East
Room the usher came up and
said that the jubilee singers were
there. The President asked how many
there were and the usher SAID fifteen.
The President said, "Show them right
up here to my room" They came up,
formed circle in front of him and
their leader congratulated the Presi-
dent on looking so well. and said that
the boys were glad to see him, and the
President congratulated the singers
on their fine appearance, and sup
posed that they would go directly
away. The leader drew from his
pocket q piece of music and said, "Mr.
President, we will now sing you a
song" The President said, "No. no,
not at all; there must be no singing in
this room. This. is a business place
and 1 cannot have any singing here.''
He said that the colored Jubilee sing
ers bade him goodbye and retired,
and he has his doubts whether they
were pleased with their interview with
the President Or not. He said he felt
sorry when the leader put his music
back into his pocket and marched out
with look that seemed to say: "The
colored race need not expect much
from this administration. "-Peck's