New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-03
WHAT BECAME or THE PRESIDENTS
DRESS SUIT!

They were sitting alone in the dining-room OF tho
White House the President and his PilVa'e Hcclo
tary. fondly lingering over their Pie. Ihere was
mince. ample. pumpkin. lemon, custard aho-to 'no
credit Of the Administration I've it said-ther respect
tive undercrusts were well done -
sDan." said the President 4" I've been out poor
company ut dinner to-day
81 suspected that you had something on your
mind that was bothering you,' Dan asscntcd'
aYeaIdid haver the President went on, after
helping himself to quarter Of the nncc' an" II
there yet Dan. The fact Is, something happeHru
last evening which has annoyed ne exceedingly
ever since Ny personal comfort has been lnterlereu
with and my faith in human nature has recol'eu
severe shock"
"Tm very sorry TO hear this observed the sym
pathetic Private Secretary cutting lh'o a I'eSu
custard Us he spoke, would you mind teillng mo
the particulars "
"The particulars are these" explained the Piesi-
dent with voice suffused with emotion and ne
Last week ordered new dress suit on the dis
tinct understanding that it was to reach me at the
White House yesterday afternoon without fail
Counting on the tailor keeping his word two days
ago. initiating Mr. Lincoln, gave away my Old
dress suit to a disappointed applicant for foreign
mission. Well. last evening when the time came
for me to dress for a reception which particularly
desired to attend, | couldn't find my new CLONES.
| telcphoned TO my tailor an angry message OF IN
ouiry but promptly was informed that the clothes
had been delivered at Tho White House early that
afternoon. All the servants denied having seen
them You we're spending the evening down town
SO couldn't get the loan Of your dress suit, aud the
consequence wGs | hal to remain at home The
worst of 1t is Dan. that am compelled to believe
that some one of the servants is dishonest and has
made off with tho clothes
The Private Secretary listened 10 this tale OF woe
without word of comment, but with an amused
expression on his face and when the President lin
ished lie burst into = lit of laughing
"You may laugh" said the President in injured
tones CortIfying himself with n bumper OF lemon
Pie. "but I'm telling you. Dan, it's no laughing
matter TO me-
"Excuse me- Governor" said the Private secre-
tary &" but | cannot help laughing when think
that your failure to connect with your now dress
suit wa, entirely your own fault. That snit hasn't
been stolen
"Why, what 70 you mean, DAM"
Well. it's Just here" Dan continued. 4" | hap
peuod t. DO passing through the ball when your
dress suit arrived yesterday. and having inst read
Ian advanced copy of your message to the Senate /
gave my orders accordingly | remarked 10 the
messenger with the clptEos. Those garments. my
SON being unofficial and private, you h3n p't'eI
take them over to the Department OF Public Justice
aud have them hung up there That's where the
President keeps private and unofficial things |
presume tho boy obeyed my ORDER 80 doubtless
You'll obtain your clothes by addressing line to
the Attorney General. To quote from your
message l. consider them IN proper sense n cpon
the files of the Department. but as dcpo'tcd there
Tor the Presidents convenience, remaining com
plctely under bis CONTROL
"Dan" remarked the President. when the latter
having finished his explanation fell TO sampling y
vouptuous apple Pic, " of course you meant well IN
what yen did. but another time please allow un-
oicial and private raimcnt intended FOR my wear
ing 10 he placed IN my White House bouuoir.'
%To hear Is TO obey replied the Private Secrc-
tary bat permit me 10 state in defence Of nm act
which has caused you pain that il occurred to me
that il you Thought the Department OF Justice wa
a good place TO keep your unofficial and private
papers you would naturally select that department
as the custodian of your individual coat your
personal trousers, your private waistcoat
GHave another quarter of mincc Pie with me-
SAID the President. in soft conciatory tones and
we'll eat forgetfulness 10 the incident
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