Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-05

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
grew systematized He liked the honor and
dattery which came with the position, and
during the last year of his term he stroys
with all his might 30 secure his reelection.
He failed, but after his retirement he still
kept sight Of the dignity Of his Office, refused
10 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, anu it was often | or 2 o'clock be-
fore he got away from the table He usually
rose at $50, took light breakfast Of coffee
and roll and then went into his Office to
receive callers. From 10 to II 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 went through the hand
shaking regularly. He did not begin his din
ner, as a rule, until after 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 upon his
diet, but tried TO work of 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 little
fishing junket and it was at the advice of
his physician that, with his cabinet. he went
to Florida. The Florida health trip was not
great success. He had severe attack OF
stomach trouble during it and the papers
were full OF alarming reports The excite
menr of the latter days of brs 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 rule to dine all the con-
greSsInen and senator's and their wives. He
spent more than s., 600 year on his dinners,
and $40 plate is low estimate of their cost
Arthur paid his cook 81 500 year and it is
said that his private dinners often cost as
high as S5 IA plate. He kept up his dinners
until the last and he closed his administra-
ton by an elegant lunch TO President Cleve-
land Immediately after the review Of the
procession on inaugUrati IN day.
President Arthur's leaving the White
House was as dignified as his conduct in it
Neither of the two AdamSes would attend
the inaugurations of their Successors John
Quincy Adams was out hunting, it is said, at
the time Andrew Jackson was inaugurated
AMI 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 handso9nely 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 FREEING huysen.
came across a curious story to-day, in
which man named ClaPp claims to have
played marbles with Presidents Garfield and
Arthur. The three men Were boys and Clapp
was living at Ballston, n Y, when President
Arthur's father and President Garfieid's
uncle came there, bringing Chester A Arthur
and james A. Garfield with them Clamp
says be slept with young Arthur and that he
was having a game of marbles with little
Chet 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
wagon little fellow about , years old, say
ing: Here. my lads, is my nephew Jimmy
Let him play with you Nhie attend to some
business As the story goes little Jimmy
Garfield sat down on mound and watched
the game, and then the two boys, Arthur
and Garfield, separated. Whether they met
again before their nomination as president
and vice president | do not know.
President Arthur was an Episcopalian. He
attended St Johns Episcopal church here
This is one of the most ariStOcratic churches
of Washington, and 1t has had a dozen or
more presidents among its pewholders.
imagine Arthur favored it because it was the
church his wife attended in her girlhood He
sat in the pew she used to occupy, and he
gave the church a memorial window in her
honor.
Speaking of President Arthur's Florida trip
the following incident described in The Wash
ington Critic is said to have occurred during
one Of the presidents Sundays there: While
in the quaint old town of st. Augustine, the
president and Secretary Chandler arranged 10
attend service at The colored church. When
the deacons of the church became aware that
such distinguished people were TO he present,
the front row of seats was reserved for them
to which they were escorted with due form
and ceremony. The minister threw all of his
available muscular eloquence and earnestness
into the prayer with which he opened the SER
rice. and then arose and announced that dis
viii jine in singin' de gud ole
hymn, Bring forth dat ryal diadem.'r The
arose, led by the presidents
party, and the gray-topped preacher, after
nervously adjusting his spectacles, repeated
from TIE hymn book in a clear voice:
Bring forth tina. royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.
Each couplet was repeated by the divine
an. then sung by the congregation until the (
entire hymn had been completed, and those
who were present declared that President /
Arthurs voice was heard above all tho con-
yresation, ringing out the inspiring words OF ,
de gId ole hymn"
President Arthur leaves two children, a son /
and n daughter. The boy has been attending
school at Princeton, and be is said to be q I
very bright young man. His name is Chester /