St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-12-22
STORY OF STATESMEN
Presidents as Pedestrians
Harrison Compared With
His Predecessors.
Yarns About Grant, Pierce,
John quincy and Harrison's
Grandfather.
George Bancroft at Eighty
Nipe--Statesmen in the
Street Cars.
cOekrell and George on
Washington Weather--Ben
Buffers Hat.

fcellaI CorceSpondenee OF the Globe.
WASHINGTON. Dec. CO. saw Presi-
lent Harrison walking with friend on
Connecticut avenue last Sunday. He
EOra 8 plain black oVercOat, buttOned
signify around his rather Totund form,
pair Of brown kid gloves, which fitted
remarkably we'll, and new and shining
black silk tile. He ehatted with his
friend as he walked, and there was
B0thing about his appearance or the no.
ice taken of him by other promenaders
30 show that he was president of the
greatest republic on the face OF the
kobe. President Harrison, in his
Everyday habits, is showing himself
more democratic than any of his prede-
eeSsoCS Of the past decade. Arthur was
seldom seen on the streets save In his
carriage OF on horseback; AMI all of the
wSiking shat President Cleveland did
S3S n the back yard of the White
house Garfield was 4 great walker
while ia congress, but he had no chance
10 get ont during the few stormy
days Of his administration; and
President Hayes took his out
trgS ia carriage. President
Harrison : grandfather was one of
the most noted walkers Of all the pTeSi-
dents. lie did his own marketing, and
got 40 and trOtted out. often without an
DYercoat to protect his slender old frame,
to get his chops and steaks for his White
house breakfast. OF late years the eti-
Quette u presidential life has rapidly
changed. The president grows bigger
As his Office grows older, and his frame
is nov wrapped round with red tape
from big toe to crown. Buchanan and
Pierce often called upon their congress
sioHal friends, and one day. an old Stager
pf Washington tells me, he remembers
Pierce coming Tito a room where
group Of senators were playing poker.
DE8 of the senators had his coat OFF. and
he rose 10 put it on, whereupon PEeSi-
dent Pierce said:
"DOn't bother, gentlemen, and go on
with your game, for | can only stay q
moment with you" John Quincy Adj
agns took q walk of four miles before
breakfast while he was president. He
would get up at daylight, prance down
the avenue, take turn around the cap
tt0l and ike as not swim in the POtO-
mac- lie took these Potomac baths
bTen ia the coolest weather, and he was
hOrrified one day to see c0lOred va
grant running off with his clothes. Old
gohu Adams was another great walker;
and George Washington, while he was
president. took walk with his secre-
LaEy, Tobias Lear. every afternoon in
the streets Of Philadelphia. EyeWit-
nesseS have stated that these walks
were very sober affairs, and that during
tlem neither Washington nor his Secre-
taTy spoke to each other. jackson was
g gOod walker, and Van Buren, visited
his friends while he was president.
Gen. Grant was often seen on the
street during his term in the White
house, and a neWSbOy one day, noting
that his cigar was nearly smoked out
and not knowing who he was, stepped
up TO him and said:
please jedge, give me a stump?'
President Grant looked at the urchin
v th & smile, and handed him the re-
M1inder Of his cigar after he had lit
another from it. There is no reason
Why the president of the United States
should not act as ordinary mOrtals. He
Is only man up TO the time of his en-
teriug the White house, and hen he
leaves it he finds that he is reduced TO
tlte ordinary standard OF manhood
again. Had President Cleveland stTolled
al0ug Pennsylvania avenue during bis
administration, his act would have been
been an item of news for all the papers.
To-day he can promenade Broadway
from morn until night and he will not
make o paragraph.