Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1886-12-12
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fore he got away from the table DE usually
rose az $50, took light breakfast Of coffee
and a roll and then went into his office 10
receive callers. From ID to y 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. lie 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 terrapLn and champagne.
Toward the latter part Of his administration
the richness Of his food began 70 tell upon
his system and he strOve 10 remedy the evil
He did not. however, cut down upon his
diet, but tried 10 work of the surplus by
exercise he took horseback rides and walked
considerably. Very fond OF fishing, and the
killer. l believe, Of the largest salmon ever
killed in this country, he took many a little
fishing junket, and il was at the advice Of
his physician that, with his cabinet, be went
70 Florida. The Florida health trip was not
a great success. He had a severe attack Of
stomach trouble during it and the papers
were full Of alarming reports. The excite
nent Of the latter days of his administration
had much 10 do with keeping him up, and he
began To fail as soon as Cleveland was in
auEllrated There is no doubt that White
H0usa winning and dining had much 70 do
with his death. and ne 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 a rule 70 dine all the con
grrSSmen and senators and their wives He
spent more than 5,nO a year on his dinners,
and $40 n plate is low estimate Of their cost.
Arthur paid his cook $3.50 a year, and it is
said that his private dinners often cost as
high rs - u plate he kept up his dinners
until the last. and he closed his administra-
ton by an elegant lunch 70 President Cleve-
land Immediately after the review OF the
procession on inauguration day.
President ATthur's leaving the White
House was rs dignifed rs his conduct in il.
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
galIoped away from Washington in car
riase. President Arthur gave this royal
lunch 10 President Cleveland, and the dining
table was as handsomely arranged as at any
Of lis state dinners. Re escorted Miss Rose
Cleveland 70 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 Frelinghuysen.
l came across a curious story to-day, in
which a man named Clapp claims 10 have
played marbles with Presidents Garfield and
Arthur. The three men were boys, and Clapp
was living at Bal!StOn, v. Y. when President
Arthurs father and President Garfeld'S
uncle CAME there, bringing Chester \. Arthur
and JAMES \ Garfield with them Clapp
says be slept with young Arthur, and that he
was having game OF marbles with little
Cbet in his front door yard the next dav
when the Rev Mr.. Garfield drove up. He
stopped at the gate and lifted out Of his
wagon a little fellow about , years old, say
ing: Here, my lads, is my nephew Jimmy.
Let HIM play with you while l attend 70 some
business" As the story goes, little Jimmy
Garfield sat down on a 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 it has had dozen or
more presidents among its Pewbolders. l
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 If the presidents Sundays there: While
in the quaint old town Of St Augustine, the
president nj Secretary Chandler arranged to
attend service at the colored church. When
the deacons OF the church became aware that
such distinguished people were 10 be present,
the front row OF seats vas reserved for them,
to which they were escorted with due form
and ceremony The minister threw all Of his
available muscular eloqIence and earneStneSs
into the prayer with witch he opened ths scr
vice. and then arose and announced that d dis
,ongre-ashun viii jiae in singin de gud ole
hymn, Bring forth dat rysl diadem-' The
congregation arose, led by the presidents
party, and the gray-topped preacher, after
aervously adjusting his spectacles, repeated
from the hymn book IN a clear voice:
Bring forth that royal diadem-
And crown Him Lord Of all
Each couplet was repeated by the divine
and then sung by the congregation until the
entire hymn had been completed and those
who were present declared that President
Arthur's voice was heard above all the con-
Eregation. ringing out the inspiring words OF
de gud ole hymn
President Arthur leaves two children, son
and daughter. The boy has been attending
school at Princeton, and he Is said 70 be q
very bright young man His name Is Chester
Alan Arthur, and he was supposed 70 be en-
gagged TO one Of the most accomplished society
girls In Washington during his fathers presl-
dency. For some reason or other this engage
ment WIS dropped, and we now hear no more
Of IL Nellie Arthur, the presidents daughter,
IS a bright eyed brunette, not far along in the
teens. She acted as her fathers hostess .
number of times while be was president, and
she did the honOrs Of The White House very
well She was thorough gii at the sane
time, and she delighted in rumping about tie
White House grounds. She had ht-2e play
house built not far from the executive man
ZION, and this was furnished ss 9 miniature
parlor. Il had little lace curtains, fancy little
tables and chairs, beautiful doll baby and .
crib for the doll Il was the wonder OF the