Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-10-04
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 a 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
oughlv democratic nature of our institu-
tons 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 bewhiskered 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 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
trihe large. but that the liberties of the
people were in no wise endangered. 1t
appeared, finally, that WEIGH had procur-
ed the bags and the lettering without any
body's consent or authorization. There
by he had subjected his august master
to open ridicule upon the thoroughfares
of the capital city. And there was none
to chide him, none to plunge him into a
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 900 of their comrades
in 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 ex-
ecutive mansion was military as well as
civil headquarters. Now there are two
messengers-Private WEIGH, of the new
saddle bags, and Edgar R. 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 postoffice, it being one of the tradi
tons 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 KEEP
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
to the homes of the invited guests. Score
tary WINDOWS office is but couple OF
hundred yards from the executive man
sion, but to invite Secretary Window t.
dinner at the White House the messen
ger must mount and ride a mile to tn,
secretary's residence.
Every winter the president gives {
series of card receptions to the senator
and representatives in congress, the ju
dietary and the army and navy. Fo
these events hundreds of invitations ar,
sent out, and it is interesting to note how
the White House staff strike a happ,
medium between strict observance o
official etiquette and careless method o
transacting the states social business