Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-10-04

residences. while the cards of senators
and representatives are deposited in the
house and senate postoffices, though with
the understanding that they are not to be
delivered in the Capitol, but at the resi-
dences of the addresses.
| asked one of the old timers about the
White House if they had mounted mes
sengers a half century ago.
ooh, no." he replied; "in those days
there was no need for mounted messen-
ger or any other sort of a messenger.
The president used to get lonesome and
go out on the street corners and talk to
the people, and invite them to come up
to the White House and see him. Now
we employ seventeen doorkeepers and
watchmen to keep the people out"
The last time the president was at the
White House he stepped into the assist
ant secretarys room and stood for few
minutes in front of the mantel gazing at
an array of photographs. He gazed long
and earnestly at one after another, and
finally turned away with the remark:
MY Benny is not the only pretty baby
in this country"
The mantel was fairly covered with
pictures of little Benjamins, Harrisons,
Benjamin Harrisons and Harrison Nor
tons, with all sorts of surnames. Ever
since March photographs of babies
named after the president have poured
in upon the White House. a score of
these are displayed upon the mantle in
Mrs. Pruden's room. There is Harrison
Meyer, of Brooklyn, n. Y, a little
chap sitting in a chair about fifty
times bigger than himself. Benja-
min Harrison Weygant, of Ada, Mimi,
looks like Buck Ewing, the baseball
player. Benjamin Harrison Pullins, of
Ohio, greatly resembles Andrew Jack
son. The proud father of Benjamin
Harrison McCracken, of Paxton, Ills,
drops into poetry on the back of his
babys photograph, and in the same
place advertises his business as a bre ed
er Of Poland. China, Victoria and other
first class swine. Benjamin Harrison
Bigbee, of Templeton, Mass, is very
pretty boy, and SO is Harrison Hussey,
of Cameron Mo-, and Benjamin Harrison
Mason, of Marietta, Mo. Other bright
boys who were given the benefit of COM
parison with Benny Mckee in the mind
of the president are Benjamin Morton
Morris, of Murphysboro, Ills; Benjamin
Harrison Wright, of Williamsville, n.
Y; Harrison Carter, of Petersburg, Ills.
Harrison Bencky, of Hamilton, o.; Har.
rison Manner, of Milwaukee; Harrison
Watershed, of San Francisco; Harrison
Hawkins, of San Bernardino; Harrison
Morton Rowley, of Claridon, O., and
Ben amin Harrison Bull and Binger
Herman Bull, twins, of Milwaukee.
1t is estimated that 300 photographs OF
babies named after the president have
been received at the White House since
March 4, and while the president very
much appreciates the compliment paid
him thereby, his secretaries, who mus
make formal acknowledgment Of the
receipt of each and every photograph
think the White House picture gallery
already sufficiently stocked with infantilt
Benjamin Harrisons.
At the executive mansion there is 6
keen appreciation Of the fact that very
small incidents often have very great eff
feet upon public opinion. Naturally
there is no little timidity among the EN-
ployes of the White House in the matter
of talking about what they see and hear
The rule is that no man but the private
secretary shall open his mouth, and this
individual is not given to loquacity
Why. the Jealous clerical assistants Of
the president We're even bent upon re
fusing me look at the sweet faces Of
the two score little Benjamins. They
were afraid something unpleasant might
be said about them, or that the president
might not like to have the public gossip
ing about his collection of namesakes.
Sometimes l think public men greatly
underestimate the good sense of the
people. A case in point came under my
observation not long ago. One of Mrs
Harrison's nieces, on returning from 6
Journey abroad, called at the White
House to pay her respects to her aunt
the mistress of the mansion. She sem
up her card from the blue room, ant
presently Mrs. Harrison came dowr
with big kitchen apron tied round hel
waist and towel wound around hel
head. Mrs. Harrison was houseclean
ing. The niece professed to be great
ly shocked by being thus received
by the first lady, and hearing of her &C
count of the call, and of her having
described the incident to a newspape
correspondent certain high officer o
the government, not employed at thu
White House, sent for the correspondent
and begged him not to print the story.
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