Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-17
PRESIDENTIAL HAND.SHAKING,
An Old Mans Reminisccnces-How the
Habit Originated.

From the Boston Transcript
Can any one give the name Of the President
Of the United States who introduced the Gus
tom OF Misunderstanding on the occasion of letting
in the sovereigns to pay their respects to the
presiding sovereign of the nation? That neither
of the first two Presidents introduced this Gus
tom is statement which no ono is likely to
contest, but that it was fully in keeping with
the public manners of Mr.. Jefferson during his
presidential terms Of Office no one qualified to
give an opinion would be likely to dispute /
happen to have it in my power to illustrate
this point: Frankford, once a borough but now
an integral part of Philadelphia, is situated on
creek, whence it takes its name, ut about
four miles from Independence hall. The first
thing that takes the eye of the traveller after
having crossed the creek and entered upon
Frankfords main street is a venerable man
sion on the left, deeply recessed from the
street, from which it is approached by wind
ing avenue OF stately elms; this noble subur-
ban residence was standing at the time of the
revolution, and, according to popular legend,
its extensive and romantic grounds were the
scene of the first public celebration of the
Declaration OF Independence which took place
in the United States. Early in. the present
century this aristocratic home was in the occu-
pancy Of an English gentleman of literary and
musical culture, afterward known as the in
ventor of the ever-pointed lead pencil and
other useful mechanical contrivances.
In the year 1845, or Whereabouts l met the
gentleman at Frankfort, then octogenarian,
and on visit to the scenes of his early life. In
the course of conversation that held with
him he related to me the following anecdote
of Mr.. jefferson: One day he heard knock at
the front door, and no servant being at hand,
he undertook to respond to the summons in
person. On opening the door, great was his
astonishment at finding himself standing in the
presence of Thomas jefferson, then President
OF the United States. On his very earnest in
curry as to the disposition which the President
had made OF his horse, Mr.. jefferson replied
that he had put him up in the stable. On ar
irving at his destination he had ridden around
to the rear of the mansion ard installed his
horse in the stable The gentleman informed
me that he never told this anecdote in England
without exciting the indignation of his auditors
that the President of the United States should
be so unmndful of his exalted Office as to stable
his horse with his own hands. | may add that
| the object of the Presidents call was to make
arrangements for the importation of piano
| for the drawing room of the presidential man
sion. Notwithstanding this and many other
| similar specimens OF the public manners prac-
tced, affected, some would say. by Mr.. Jeffer-
son, am inclined to attribute the fashion of
the Misunderstanding i'll question to the hero of
New Orleans rather than to tine philosopher of
Monticello. OF the practical working OF this
| custom, so far at least as the hand-shakes are
concerned. two instances have fallen under my
observation which will take the liberty to
relate:
In the year 1910 was residing on the Hud-
son river and cast my vote in favor of Gen.
Harrison. the WING candidate for the presi-
dency. and 1 hope that shall not be deemed
intrusive in adding that on the 9th of last No.
vcmber l did the same thing in favor of his
grandson.
In the next spring after the Inauguration of
Gen. Harrison visited New York city and met
at the house of a friend gentleman from the
west, who was nephew OF the President He
informed us that on his way to New York he
stopped III Washington and called at the White
house In order to see his uncle, the President
When introduced into the room where the
PRESIDENT was, he was rushing forward to seize
his uncle by the hand when he drew it back
and requested his nephew to take it gently. for
II was very sore ana his arm was quite lame
need not dwell upon the injurious effects of
Misunderstanding upon the health of Gen. Harrison,
nor the fatal event to which it is believed to
have largely contributed.
happened to be i'll Lancaster, Penn at the
time when President Taylor, in the next sum-
mer after his inauguration, visited that city.
On the day after his arrival he gave at the hotel
where he was entertained a reception, which |
attended. AT about o'clock in the afternoon
OF that day l was on the sidewalk in front of
the hotel, and in a column which was advance
ing step by step into the presidential presence,
"hcH ououeuiy tue iTesluent appeared at an
open window which was directly. above our
heads and addressed us. He Announced that
his physician had prohibited further pro-
ceeding or the reception. He expressed his
regrets; he said that he should be glad to como
doWn and shake every one of US by the hand
until the tears came into our eyes, but as the
tears were now all on one side he should be
obliged to retire.
Good manners are tie blossoms of good
sense" the poet sings, and it is most devoutly
to be wished that the good sense of this great
nation may, when it undertakes to pay its re-
spects to the chief magistrate, bloom out in
manners which are appropriate. that is, duly
respectful, genial, and nicely regardful of self
respect. And here am reminded of the man
ner in which President Washington was wont
TO conduct his receptions, as described to me
by the late LudOvic Updke, ESQ.,, of East
Greenwich, RI He was secretary of the
Rhode Island state convention which adopted
the Federal Constitution and was deputed to 90
to Philadelphia and announce the important
event to the general government. Precisely at
O'Clock in the evening Gen. Washington en-
tered the presidential drawing room where the
company was assembled to receive him. and
TOOK his place ON the hearth rug He was in
1uIl evening dress. an elegant sword by his
side, and tri-cornered hat in his hand The
visitors were then individually presented to
him; each one was received with a stately bow
but without any Misunderstanding The President
then began at one end of the row of visitors
and passing along the line addressed each ono
and then resumed his proper place on the
hearth rug After standing there a short time
ne mace his bow to the company and retired;
the reception was over.
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