New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-04
them where they should begin or when they should

Those persons whose duties or inclination have called
them to the White House frequently that they have
hccome familiar with the faces OF the doorkccpcrs,
usbcrs and other attendants have for the past year
missed The well known form OF Thomas Pcndle, one
Of the oldest employees of the Mansion. II is the
General belief that the advent OF the Cleveland Admin
stration caused the Major, he IS called by every
body hand In his resignation. This is not the case
however, the great eXpOunder OF the Bible IS still
nm the payroll although he longer usheIs visitors
through the great and points out their historical
and social features IN his peculiar singsong tones
Major Pendlo has simply been Transferred TO other
duties ard this is how the change came about:
The Major, as is well known to all his acquan-
tances IS a church deacon and intensely religious
that he carries Bible In his coat-ta pocket and spends
all his leisure moments in perlslng It. He Is never
50 happy as when holding theological discussion,
and as Christianity and the truths of the Bible have
been lifelong study with him, he generally defeats
his opponent. About year ago Colonel Lamont sent
for Major Pcndle and told him that his callers were
growing too numerous in the latter part of the day
and that hereafter they must not be allowed to come
upstairs '
"you must tell them that am not in' said the
dIplomatc Lamont and tho Major with sigh said he
would.
For two or three days all wont well and Mt Pendie
told all the unwelcome callers that Colonel Lamont was
not in and with a grave face expressed entire igno-
rance as to his whereabouts Then tho church deacon
conscience began TO prick him and he hcsitated ana
wore guilty smile when making his statements ABOUT
tho Colonel After each breach OF truth no would
have recourse to his pocket Bible, but only to ma
himself moro than ever sinner flnaily NO couiu
stand it no longer and going to Colonel Lamont ne
told him that he could not consistently with MS
standing and character as Chr san continue 10 oh
white Hes and that unless no could DO relieved oil MS
new and disagreeablc duties he would resign. Colo
atod tba
scentous Major and transferred him to another place
He Is on the night force now and as he begins his
vigil at midnight and ends early in the morning nc
is rarely by any of his old friends "he'her
he works nj night or makes cqnivocal statements TO
callers in tho day time Thomas Pendle will no doubt
be an employe of the White House until he dies lie
is one OF the oldest attaches OF the hansion, having
seen moro than thirty years service. He was
specal favorte OF Abraham Lincon's and knows
morn OF the old history and tradition Of the White
House than any man I'm It. He opened the door iof
Mr. Lincoln the night he went TO his death at ford's
Theatre and has in his possession the dress coat na
the nartyred President wore when he fell undef
Booths shot Major Pcndle will cheerfully talk by
the hour of the good old days in the Executive Man
sion or about the blessings Of the Christian religion,
but he cannot be made to tell visitors that Colonel
| Lamont is out when he Is in.
Senator Palmer IS writing novel and his desire
ing year IS one of the chief that led him to
announce to his constituents recently that he would not
he candidate for celcctlon. Mr. Palmer has always
been fond of literary pursuits and has repeatedly said
TO his intimate friends that the ideal life Is that OF
| the newspaper correspondent Both In Detroit anu
| Washington the Senator has often amused himself by
furnishing suggestions for newspaper articles and has
frequently tried his hand at writing himself and with
good success His vast business interests prevent him
bfc I'm
paper work, however and so he Intends to see "ha'
he can do in the way Of writing book He began
his labor Of love last spring and during the dun days
of the long of Congress when all the rooms In
his big house except his bedroom and office were dis
| mantled and closed he put in many hours OF good'
solid work with the pen. He frequently burned the
midnight oil over his task and dscardng the assist
of his secretary and friends ne mas Worheo away
| with great industry.
The Senator has yet chosen title for his book
nor has he fully arranged the details of his plot In
fact this part of the task giving him considerable an
noyance as the ambitious author has as yet been totally
unable dispose of his characters properly or to make
the different parts of the story which he has perfectly
outlined fit together The hero of the Senator's book Is
| a sad-faccd young who is engaged In constant
war with fate and who is DIES tined for an unmey and
| unnatural death. The only source of spraton pos
sessed by the Senator in preparing his story Is hug'
white cat named sam,' who has great intelligence
When the writer is In doubt about the wording OF
passage or the correctness OF statement he addresses
himself to SAM II the answer Is Yes,' up goes
felne's tall in the air as stiff as rod II No.
drops to the floor with dull thud When Congress
adjourned Mr. Palmer had come TO question ina
even SAM could not answer This is what 10 az
with the hero 2" He is dead weight on the author
hands and things have come to that point where IN
sad faced young man must be disposed OF or TIT
writing Of the book suspended. The senator
colleagues and other friends have been called upon 10
advice on this point and Senator Henderson advise
that the sadfaced young be arrested and locked
up until some way can be discovered to finally ant
ogoctuaIIv dlspose of him. Senator Palmer is a
present stumplng Michigan for Harrison and Morto
and bopes TO think up way Of getting rid OF hi
hero during his travels When he does he VIII rus
his book to completion.