Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-17
Mr.. CLEvELANO'S MANNER.
Republican Observer in the Reception
Room at til" White House.
phlladrlphia Press


sat fnI half an hour the other day in
the Presidents recrptiun-ru"n, an oval
apartment, paneled with DARK red velvet
paper, and hung with portraits of his pre-
deceSSurS. Gracefully arranged baskets of
flowers filled the room with perfume. and
through the open windows came the twit-
tenmg Uf the spaTrowS. The agreeable col
nring of the room, the bright sunlight which
fell upon the walls, ard the warmth ot the
atmosphere. gave one the impression of
summer. The president receives his
visitors standing in the center of
the room, his feet firmly planted, his
arms akimbO. and supported by his wrists.
while his white, short hands tiapped i'm
patiently behind him. He stood directly
in the sunlight, and was surprised To no
tce that his eyes were Of pnSitiv" blue.
his complexion more pink-and-wlnte than
Sallow, aS generally described. and 10y the
fact that his face proper, Notwithstanding
the high forehead. is really 4 short one.
The surplus flesh beginning below the ears
increases rapidly a. ir approaches the chin.
where il bulge> Ia such az extent that il
adds fully 0ne-third more % the absolute
length of his face. His hair, brushed
! smoothly and fatty back and distributed
over the large bald space, suggests one OF
! Colonel McClure'S treblt-leaded editorials.
/ His expression indicated wearineSS. but al
] the same time a determination 10 endure
/ with eqnanimity these demands upon his
time. which, IN his own language, are part
of the hard work of his position.
/ As | listened to the conversation | was
struck with his utter want of tact, which
must cost him many friends and make him
many foes. For example. his secretary
/ MT. Lamont. presented To him strong and
well known political supporter from tht
west. deiCately intimating, OF course. ht
would remember the gentleman, a. he had
/ had interviews with him on important top
les before. The president replied: We'll
really, | see 50 many people that It impnS
Sible for me TO remember everybody. Ii
fact, I'm not apt To remember anybody un
less they make an impression on me" Thi'
remark 20 discounted the western support
er that he evidently forgot what he wa.
about 10 say. and when one of Cleveland
fiattererS remarked, You are noted fol
your marvellous memory, Mr. President,
he replied
That's all nonsense: my memory is Verl
capriciOus. | constantly lind that som,
trifling detail, such as regards pOstuffc,
in little town, or the pardon of S0m'
poor fellow, is stamped upon my mind
while more Important matters escape me
Indeed, my memory is entirely question
of the mood | happen Ia be in when tn
facts are presented. or whether the mod
of presentation interests me. Consequent
ly, my recollection of small events fire
quently gives the impression that | hav
4 remarkable memory, which, i'll fact, i
just what hav2 not, though | do believ
that if had no other distractions | cOul
cultivate the bowers of remembering people
names and things 10 perfection. In fact
all the persons | have known who wer
noted for their ability in THIS line hav
simply made business of it"