The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-11-25
WHITE HOUSE GUARDS
Looking After the Safety OF
the President,
flow the Precautions that are Taken were
Tested One Night

One Of the most puzzlng of American
ways to the foreigner is tho simplicity Of
the highest official life and the ease of
approach to the home circle of the
President. When General Arthur was
President he was accustomed to take
long horseback rides about Washington
wholly unattended. The White House
stands back from the busiest street
in the capital with the gates always
open, and there is popular impression
to the effect that any free-born American
citizen can walk in and shoot the President
whenever the spirit moves him. That
is not quite the case, however. An off.
Ger who has a general oversight of the
Presidential mansion made an experiment
the other night to test the efficiency of
the guard. Being thoroughly familiar
with all the highways and byways of the
White House grounds, he climbed over q
back gate about half an hour after mid.
night, aud picked his way through the
shrubbery. Before he had gone a hun
drcd feet the sharp "Who goes there"
of Waterman brought him to a halt.
Upon recognition he was of course al
lowed to pass. Under the shadow of
the house he was again challenged. He
tried all the windows and found them
locked. Upon opening the front door as
noiselessly as possible he was greeted by
an usher. Before the door of the Presi-
dents study another usher babe him
good morning. Within he found the
Chief Magistrate in the traditional and
appropriate costume, his shirt sleeves,
immersed in papers and the cares of
state. Thus four lives stood between
the President and any crank who might
have sought the notoriety and the fate
of Guiteau.
The men who framed the White
House had about as inadequate an idea
of the strains to which their work was
to be subjected as did those who framed
the Constitution. When the army and
navy reception was held soon after the
installation of Mrs. Cleveland in her
new home, the crowd filled the pc oh,
packed the grand staircase and spread
all over the second floor. Those who
were familiar with the weak points of
the old structure were on pins and nee
dies. The next day an examination re-
vealed the justice of their fears. The
grand staircase had sagged seven inches
at some points and the floor from two to
five inches. 1t cost $3.50 to get the stair.
case into line again, and al examination
of the floor beams sho we'd that some of
them had been sawed half way through
by careless gasmen and plumbers.
The ways of people who go to these
public receptions form study in human
nature. Some lose their voices alto
gether and Others experience an access
sion of volubility that lasts them all the
way down the line and out of the door.
Sometimes carefully prepared speech is
.perpetrated. Thus at the reception men,
toned above, richly dressed woman
approached Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland evil
IDENTITY loaded and primcd with a great
idea. When within range she struck an
attitude and remarked in staccato ac-
cents: 'May your happiness be as great
as your position is exaltedm and
marched off with the air of one who has
said a good thing and knows it,-M y
Tribune.