The Washington critic., 1886-04-27

y
ed that If the President would cause
his barber to forward to her all the
hair cut from his head, she would
manufacture IL into Cleveland charms
and sell them TO gentlemen o wear on
their watch chains. THIS, she ex-
planned, would add greatly to her in
come rs well as to the Presidents
popularity. A young lady of Syracuse,
N. Y, wanted lock of Presidential
hair to entwine with q lock of her own
in locket, which was worn by her
grandmother forty years ago. She
described herself as vivacious blonde,
eighteen years of age, and still unmar-
ried. Several of the letters inclosed
locks of hair from the heads of the
writers in exchange for Presidential
locks, and the missives in some cases
are written in very romantic style.
The most novel request of all was re-
ceived soon after the Presidents in
auguration. 1t was addressed to the
White House steward by an old lady
of Richmond, Va, who asked that
enough of the Presidents cast off
hair" be sent by the barber to stuff q
old United States flag. 1t was her pur-
pose to rattle the cushion at church
fair for the benefit of poor Methodist
congregation.
~
Hon. William Walter Phelps was
indulging in bowl of brown bread
and milk in the House restaurant the
other day when the correspondent of
the Chicago journal asked him about
his trip to Maine to consult with Mr..
Blaine upon politics. 81 did go to
Maine" he replied, with smile, as he
pulled slice of brown bread into bits
and dropped 1t into the rich milk
which filled the bowl to the brim; II
did 60 to Maine, that is true, and went
TO see Mr.. Blaine, for whom have a
great personal regard; but the trip was
not political one; indeed, politics was
not talked Of" "lIow did you find
Mr.. Blaine personality "Well and
cheerful. / never saw him in better
health or looking better. He Is per-
| feet picture of health and content
mcnt." "11e does not seem to be wor
rying, then, over the result of the
| last Presidential election?" "Not at
all. On the contrary, he is cheerful
and ,buoyant in his disposition and
manner. He is giving his attention now
to cottage at Bar Harbor which is being
built for him. and as he Is man who
does whatever he un dertakes with his
whole soul, he finds the cottage to
take his time and attention, and the
subject is thoroughly enjoyable one
to him." "He has finished his work
upon his book, has he?' Yes That
is finished, and he is now turning his
time to perusal of his vast CORE
spondence which accumulated during
the last campaign. There were about
fifteen thousand letters accumulated
during that time, to which of course
he was unable to give his personal at
tcntion. He is now going through
these and answering those which have
not been answered by the lapse of time.
About four thousand of the fifteen
thousand he will answer in person. +"
"This must be rather strange sort of
employment from this distance from
the campaign in which they were writ
ten?" Zone would think so. II
would be to me n most melancholy
task, but to him 1t does not appear to
be so at all. He is so much
philosopher anu man vi
such cheerful disposition that
this sort of thing does not
affect him as it would others. He is
a man who has no resentment, not even
against his bitterest enemies. often
think it would be better for him If he
had more of that element" Does ht
take any personal interest in the Con
gressional campaign about to open2'
"The matter was not referred to dur
ing my visit there. There was ne
talk of politics of any sort" GLOW
do you see the situation with refer
ence to the coming Presidential cam
paign?" II think it is in about thu
same shape that it was four years ago
There are three candidates who seen
likely to claim their share of the sup
port for the nomination-Blaine, Logai
and Sherman. OF course we can no
tell what may transpire, but, so far,
don't see that any new element ha
come to the surface"
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