The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-23
PRESIDENTIAL HANDSPRING.
An Old Mans How
the Habit Originated.
Il n
From tie Boston Transcript.

Can any one give the name of the Presi
dent Of the United States who introduced
the custom of hand-shaking on the occasion
OF letting in the sovsreigns to pay theil
respects TO the presiding sovereign of the
nationF That neither of the first two
Presidents introduced this custom is state.
ment which no one is likely to contest. but
that it was fully in keeping with the public
manners of MIR. Jefferson during his presi.
dental terms Of office no one qualified tc
give an opinion would be likely to dispute.
happen to have it in my power TO illustrate
this point: frankfort, once a borough but
now an integral part of Philadelphia, is
situated on a creek. whence il takes its
name, at about four miles from indie.
pendence hall. The first thing that takes
the eye OF the traveller after having crossed
the creek and entered upon Frankford,s
main street is venerable mansion on the
left, deeply recessed from the street. from
which it is approached by winding ave
nue. OF stately elms; this noble suburban
residence was standing at the time of the
revolution. and, according to popular
legend, It's extensive and romantic grounds
were the scene of the first public celebra-
ton OF the declaration of Independence
which took place in the United States,
Early In the present century this aristo-
cratic home was in the occupancy of ar
English gentleman of literary and musical
culture, afterward known as the inventor
or the ever-pointed lead pencil and other
useful mechanical contrivances.
In the year 1S45. or Whereabouts. I met
the gentle an at frankfort, then an octo
genarian, and on visit to the scenes of hi:
early life In the course of a 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. Or
opening the door, great was his surprise al
finding himself standing in the pres
ence of Thomas Jefferson, then President
OF the United States. On his very earnest in
curry as to the disposition which the Presi
dent had made of his horse. Mr.. Jeffersor
replied that he had put him I'D in the stable
On arriving at his destination he had rid.
den around to the rear of the mansion and
installed his horse in the stable The gen
tleman informed me that he never told this
anecdote in England without exciting the
indignation of his auditors that the Presi
dent of the United States should be SO un
mindful of his exalted Office as to stable hi:
horse with bis own hands. l may add tn
the object of he Presidents call was to make
arrangements for the Importation of piano
for the drawing-room of the presidential
mansion. Notwithstanding this and many
other similar specimens of the public man
ners practiced, affected, some would say
by Mr.. Jefferson, am inclined to attribute
the fashion of the Misunderstanding in question
10 the hero of New Orleans rather than to
the philosopher of M )nticello. or the prac-
t1cal workings of this custom, so far al
least as the hand-shakes are concerned, two
lnsta ces have fallen under my observation
which l will take the liberty to relate:
In the year 1910 was residing on the
Hudson river, and cast my vote il favor of
Gen. Harrison, the wing candidate for the
presidency, and hope that l shall not be
deemed intrusive in adding that on Nov. 6
did the same thing in favor of his grand
SON..
In the next spring after the inauguration
OF Gen. Harrison I visited New York CITY
and met at the house of friend gentle
man from the west, who was nephew of
the President. He informed US that on his
way to New York he stopped in Washing
ton and called at the white house in order
to see his uncle, the President. When in
troduced into the room where the President
was, be was rushing forward to seize his
uncle by the hand when he drew it back
and requ ested his nephew to take it gently,
Tor 1t was very sore and his arm was quite
lame. / need not dwell upon the injurious
effects of Misunderstanding upon the health OF
Ten. Harrison, nor the fatal event to which
1t IS believed to have largely contributed.
happened to be in Lancaster. Pa. at the
time when President Taylor, in the next
summer after his Inauguration, visited that
city. On the day after his arrival he gave
at the hotel where he was entertained a re-
ception, which | attended. At about 2
o'clock in the afternoon of that day was
on the sidewalk 10 front of the hotel, and
in column which was advancing step by
step into the presidential presence, when
suddenly the President appeared at an
open window which was directly above our
heads aid addressed us. He announced
that his physician had prohibited further
proceeding of the reception. He expressed
his regrets; he said that he should be glad
to come 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 the blossoms of good
sense" the poet sings, and it is most de-
voutly to be wished that the good sense OF
this great nation may, when it undertakes
to pay its respects to the chief magistrate,
bloom out into manners which are appro-
pirate, that is, duly respectful, genial, and
nicely regardfui Of self-respect. And here
| am reminded of the manner in which
President Washington was wont to conduct
his receptions, as described to me by
the late Ludovic Updlke, Esq. of East
Greenwich, r. L He was secretary Of the
Rhode Island state convention which
adopted tho federal constitution and was
deputed TO go to Philadelphia and announce
the important eve & to the general govern
ment. Precisely at o'clock in the even
ing Gen. Washington entered the presiden-
tlal drawing-room, where the company was
assembled to receive him, and took
his place on the hearth rug. He was in
full evening dress, an elegant sword by his
side. and a tri-cornered hat in his hand.
The visitors were then individually pre-.
sented to him; each one was received with
stately bow, but without any hand-shak-
ing. The President then began at one i'd
OF the row Of visitors, and passing along
the line addressed each one and then re-
sumed his proper place on the hearth rug.
After standing there a short time he made
ms bow to tine company and retired; the
reception was over.