Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-04-03
CLEyBLANB'S PECULIARITIEs.
lie Is Modest and Charitable, and De ciines All
GIFTS, Except Canes.

Ike Is Modest ana SbhTiApie' nuo DsN''"e' 's'
GIFTS, Except Canes.
Washington Special to indianapolis Journal
"Do YOU know" said friend OF the
president to me, the other day, "that Grover
Cleveland ~ the strongest man in America In
regard To receiving presents? Ever since l
have known him, and 1t has been long
time, dating back to the time when he was a
young man, unknown even In Buffalo,
where he lived, he seemed to have dread
OF having to accept giit Even when bis
clients paid him his Tee he sometimes re-
marked that he was afraid he had not earned
It This Is one OF the reasons, think, no Is
working 40 hard now, because he is afraid
some one will say he is not earning his
salary. lie believes in the Bible teaching
that 1t Is more blessed to give than to
receive Have you noticed how often he
has declined gifts?"
az could tell you numerous little instances
where he has practiced what the Bible
teaches. Cleveland Il such a modest man in
regard to his own doiugs that he hates any
one to tell about his deeds of charity, yet he
ia charitable. You have no idea of the mum.
Der of letters he gets from beggars-yes,
call them by that name because they are no
better than those we meet on the street,
except that they use pen and paper rather
than sit on the curbstone with tears and an
outstretched hand. Mr.. Cleveland often,
when he IL tired of his days work, goes
into Col. Lannon'S room aud picks up pie
of assorted letters. He reads them for re-
creation. The letters are usually peculiar
ones, selected either for future use or tor
the presidents perusal. He often comes
across a begging letter, and l have known
him 10 sit down, after reading touching ap-
peal, and dash oil a few words OF sympathy
and slips bank-note between the leaves ol
the paper, fold 1t, and direct the envelope.
Il. he often fooled? Yes, l expect he Is
imposed upon as much by beggars as he Is
by politicians, and you know that Is often.
"iralking about his refusing gifts, / re
member at Albany, just after his election
what time he had. lie refused everything
Why, he actually had to employ man espe
cially TO work In repacking the gins sen
him from all over the country. You will
hardly believe il, but from November 4
March he had eighty-nine dogs sent him
Cleveland Is fond of dogs, but he made 1t
rule never to see one OF the gifts. As sool
as they arrived they were sent to the stable
the executive mansion, and the professions
packer reshipped them. One day Mr.. CleVt
land happened to he In the yard when a
express wagon arrived with dog. II was
splendid Newfoundland, ] can tell yo,
When Cleveland saw him he looked loni
say How would like to keep you, b,
he passed on, and the dog was sent bsc
whence he came. During that time he r.
ceived no less than six eagles, splendid bird
but they were all sent back. Mr.. Clevelan
always sent everything back that could
returned, but there WAS one thing he coul
not return-tbey were embroidered hs
bands Why, do not exagr crate in II
least when / say he received as many as
bushel basket full in day. ! have cftt
seen, at evening time, during November
December, 1884, a bushel basket full OF the
things in the library of the executive ma
sion at Albany. What did no do with then
He never saw them they we're carried o
by the servants aud sold for waste paper
rsgA ] often used TO think how many hou