Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-09-28
EXECUTIVE MANSION


This was in bad taste, the people said
They did not like it. How did Mr.. Hal
ford happen to consent to having the
identity of the mounted carrier thus pro-
claimed in circus poster type? Why
should the White House messenger go
about advertising himself like dairy
man or butcher
They heard of these unpleasant whis-
pers at the White House. They heard
the populace was displeased with the
saddle bags of the presidents mounted
messenger. They made excuses, and
thus gave us fine example of the thor
oughly democratic nature Of our institu-
tions. Here was the buzz of the boule-
ward about the gilt lettering on pair of
saddle bags making the immediate sat
elites of the king hang their jaws. Po-
lite and bcwhiskered Col Crook protest
ed that he had never heard of the saddle
bags. Urbane Maj Pruden who will go
down to history as the man through
whom a dozen presidents have hurled
their communications At congress, said
the saddle bags were a topic which he
must respectfully decline to discuss.
Private Secretary Halford, first lord of
the White House during the absence of
the president, thought the letters were a
triie large, but that the liberties of the
people were in no wise endangered. II
appeared, finally, that Welch had procur-
cd the bags and the lettering without any
body's consent or authorization. There
by he had subjected his august master
IN ril ha -l,f fn
of the capital city. And there was none
To chide him, none to plunge him into
dungeon cell for unhappy presumption;
and no soldiery to go forth with sabers
and cooked hats to discipline the multi
tude that dared make sport of the presi-
dents courier upon the highway. A
democracy this, for sure!
Messenger Welch is brave enough to
face public ridicule. He was one of the
men of the First Maine regiment of vol
unteers who made the gallant assault on
Petersburg, losing coo of their comrades
in a few minutes--the regiment which
Gen. Walker says lost more men in one
battle than any other regiment of the
armies. The custom of keeping mount
ed messenger at the White House had
its origin in the war time, when the cx-
ecutive mansion was military as well as
civil headquarters, Now there are two
messengers-Private Welch, of the new
saddle bags, and Edgar X. Beckley, col
ored. There is work enough for them
both, particularly in winter. Etiquette
requires the president to send all of his
communications within the capital by
hand. The rule is not rigidly enforced,
but the exceptions are rare. One mes
senger goes several times day for the
White House mail, and carries letters to
the postoifice, it being one of the tradi-
tions that no mail carrier must set foot
within the mansion. Then there are
many letters and documents to be car
ried to the departments and bureaux.
During the season one messenger is kept
fairly busy carrying social communica-
tions, none of which should be intrust.
ed To the mails.
Invitations TO state dinners are always
sent out by messengers, and, of course,
10 the homes of the invited guests. Secre-
tary WINDOWS office is but couple of
hundred yards from the executive man
sion, but to invite Secretary Window 10
dinner at the White House the messen-
ger must mount and ride a mile to the
secretary's residence.
Every winter the president gives
series of card receptions to the senators
and representatives in congress, the ju-
dietary and the army and navy. For
these events hundreds of invitations are
sent out, and il is interesting to note how
the White House staff strike a happy
medium between strict observance Of
official etiquette and careless method Of
transacting the states social business.
Invitations to supreme justices, army
and navy officers and newspaper men
are delivered by mounted courier at their
residences, while the cards of senators
and representatives are deposited in the
house and senate postotfices, 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.
"Oh, 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 secretary's room and stood for few
minutes in front of the mantel gazing at
an array Of photographs. lie gazed long
and earnestly at one after another, and
finally turned away with the remark:
"'"ny is not the only pretty baby
u tpI. 'pun,r.
The uautel was fairly covered with