Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-14
Harrison as a Man.

/
portrait is from an indianapolis letter
in the Chicago News:
All his friends agree that Harrison's
most prominent characteristic is on
the religious side. He is Presbyter-
ian of the severest school, and he is in
tensely interested in questions of doc
trine. The only books that he reads
for pleasure are those concerned with
the development of the Calvinistic sys-
tenn, and others touching upon the
Cromwellian period. He is said to
fancy that his own character is like
| General Harrison of the English revo-
luton, and he knows more about the
life and time OF that round-headed
trooper than he does OF his grandfather,
| the President But he reads few books
and has little sympathy with book cul-
ture. The only novel lie has ever been
heard to praise is Lew Wallace's Ben
Hur." He reads the newspapers rs
part of his days work, but for pleasure
he takes the Presbyterian Herald. He
prefers, however, neither to read nor
talk OF reading, but in the evening he
sits around generally, and like Walt
Whitman's loafs and invites his soul. |
DosEN'T LAUGH.
He does not play cards, checkers,
chess, dominoes or anything of the
sort, and has horror of gambling and
of gamblers. Neither does he drink
and when in 1884 he gave formal
state dinner to Blaine and other nota-
bles wine was conspicuous by its alb
sence from his table. He has declared,
however, that he will not depart from
the usual state custom, and that wine |
will be served to those who wish it at
the White House. The Generals Dan
vile speech has often been quoted to
show that he had leanings toward pro- |
hibition. He is absolutely destitute of !
sense Of humOr, and, it is said, when |
in company where merry tales are
told, his laugh is rather a concession to
his idea of the demand which public |
opinion makes upon him than a symp-
tom of enjoyment. When men are
gathered together and IL story which
might be described as unfit for publ !
cation is told, the General does not
laugh, but he does not leave the room.
A DAINTY EATER
The President-elect is very fond of
the table, and he is dainty rather
than heavy eater. His favorite dish
is salad of lettuce or water-cresses,
or something of that sort, and recipe |
for the dressing, written in his own
hand, and running as follows is val
ued relic kept by an indianapolis
friend:
"For each person four tablespoons
fuls Of oil and little more, one and a
half of vinegar, saltspoOnful Of salt,
one of black pepper, two of dry mus
tard and pinch of red pepper. The
dry materials mix first, then put in the
oil. and last the vinegar. Add shred
of garlic and pinch of celery salt"
At his own table the General always
makes the salad, and usually he carves
although his carving is said to be
poor. After each meal he takes a
pinch of salt in glass of water, and
gargles his throat thoroughly, prac-
tice to which he ascribes his immunity |
from all sorts of sore throat and especi-
ally from hoarseness.
MERRY MRS. HARRISON.
Mrs. Harrison, on the other hand,
has fund of spirits which sometimes
find expression in practical jokes. For
instance, there is a DIR. Newcomer, a
great friend OF the Harrison family,
who is a practitioner of the old school,
and a deadly enemy OF all quacks and
all who advertise in any way. The
doctor is the owner of white dog
which he regards as the apple OF his
eye, and which, like Mary's little lamb,
followed him about wherever he may
go. The two are inseparable. One day,
Mrs. Harrison and a lady friend, not
having the peace and dignity of the
doctor before their eyes, decoyed this |
dog into secluded place and then and
there painted upon each of his sides,
in indelible aniline colors, the legend,
." Try Newcomers Pills." and the dog
trotted off to his master with this most |
unprofessional and unethical recon-
mendation where he who runs might
read. Nor was his decoration discov-
cred by his owner until after it had |
been displayed along the whole of the
doctors route. The doctor had to
have his canine friend shaved to get |
rid OF the request, and there was a
tension between the Newcomers and |
Harrisons for some time.
LADY OF CULTURE.
Mrs. Harrison is a most voracious |
reader. She is a lady of fine culture,
elegant in her tastes, and fitted by |
both character and education for the
honor which has come to her. She
is very fond of Browning, of company,
and amateur theatricals. They had
in indianapolis some time ago a coterie
OF friends who went in for mimic per-
formances, and Mrs. Harrison herself
adapted the plays that were used and
wrote the charades that were acted.
Some of the latter were very clever,
and one that excited much attention
was published in St. Nicholas some
years since. She keeps thoroughly
abreast of the literature OF the day,
and the only point where her hus-
bands character and her own touch is
in the deep and common religious con-