The Clifton clarion., 1886-01-20
Guarding the Back Doors.

| grOuQQS 1fOLu Iuo SOu1u duu ooud ter ever so carelesly toward the rear door of the mansion he would be confronted, as if by the merest chance, by two plainly dressed and quiet-appearing men. Should the curious visitor persist in nov ing closer to the unguarded door the two men would be more watchful and alert, and should the visitor stroll into the doorway he would find himself quietly asked to leave.
 The attention of a Post reporter was called yesterday by Navy Department official to two men sitting on a bench in the grounds of the mansion. There was noth ing in their general appearance to awaken especial interest. "Watch them for few moments" said the | official. The reporter complied with the request. All that could be seen in the grounds were two inoffensive looking individuals, lolling on a bench, seemingly caring nothing for their surround ings, and enjoying in calm peace fulness the winter sun which poured down its mild rays upon them through the leafess trees. The scene soon changed. It was evident that the men on the settee had some other object in life than basking in the sun. Several men entered the grounds. They looked around them in what seemed suspicious manner, but all strang- CTS in a great city might be ar rested on suspicion, their anxious and searching eyes being the only evidence against them. The list less men on the settee assumed a watchful attitude. The newcom- CTS approached the rear entrance of the White House. The men on the settee arose. The visitors came nearer and nearer to the manson, and as they did so the men whom the reporter had taken for two idlers walked briskly to- ward them, and upon reaching the rear portico of the house stood still and awaited results. The strangers proved to be strangers indeed, their only purpose being to catch a glimpse of the rear windows of the Executive Man sion. The gentlemen of the set tee slowly returned to their places of rest, and again became almost inanimate.
 "That looks strange to you, does | it not?" said the official, after the men had retaken their seats. "Well, that same farce has been enacted several times a day for several weeks. We have all watched these two men, and have come to the conclusion that they are detectives appointed for the purpose of experimenting cranks or dynamlters who might attempt to effect an entrance to the White House through its rear and un- guarded entrance. l understand that one of them is Collins, the old watchman about the grounds, and the other is ex-Detectlve Coomes. I think the dynamite conspiracies have had some effect upon the mind of the President or his subordinates, and the actions of these two men are in obedience to orders"
 The reporter, after he left the Navy Department official, called on an officer of the Government who has some connection in his official capacity with the public grounds in the city, and requested l information relative to the duties of the two men whose strange conduct he just witnessed.
 70, they are nothing but ordi- nary watchmen," he replied. ''Col- lins was all riddled with bullets during the War, and is not very strong. We thought it advisable to employ another watchman to assist in handling drunkards and other disreputable people who often wander into the grounds"
 But you know," added the off cial, after a moments pause, "an ounce of prevention Is worth a pound of cure. We do not know what may happen. We have been told to trust to the honor of the American people. We have done so heretofore, and what has been the result? The deaths of Lincoln and Garfield by the hand of assas- ms. The Americans are a good people, but there are cranks among them, and we must prepare for the