Connecticut western news., 1890-04-30
cRANKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

aAssueipnia LcuSef. CRANKS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. Means Adopted to Protect the President
 and His Family from Assault.
 "Why should not any person who happened to be so disposed attempt to assassinate the president at one of his receptions2" queried representative.
 Simply for the reason that it would be very difficult for any individual so inclined to reach the presence of the president" replied the White House usher addressed. ''You don't see why, but that is because you have never looked about you when you have at tended reception at the executive mansion. How many officers do you suppose surveyed you critically while you were passing into the cloak room. Six in all. Not one of these men but has had years of experience in the pc lice service. They are so trained every man of them-that they can tell at glance just what sort of person each guest who enters is. Two classes of people are chiefly to be looked out for-cranks and crooks. The crooks are readily discernible by the educated eye-their aspect always betrays them. Asfor the cranks, they are distinguish able with equal readiness. The task of making them out is rendered easier to begin with by consideration of the fact that three-fourths of all mild lu- natics are crazy on religious topics. Of course once in while visitor gets m here who is not entirely sane-that IS unavoidable necessarily. But it is very exceptional case. As an almost invariable rule I can tell crank at the first glance, and if I do not an other of the guards will.
 And you can tell bad crank every time7"
 ''The crank typical is almost un- mistakable. He, supposing him male -or female, for that matter-has little chance to pass the sentries at the door or beyond. Each of these sentries, apart from his acuteness of percep- ton, Is, man of great muscular strength. Come here, Jim"
 The guard called ID one of his fel- lows and bade him double his arm. It was as hard as rock and as big as an ordinary mans thigh.
 '"This is the sentry who stands at the beginning of the reception line in the doorway" he continued Suppose that you are crank, how far do you think you would get in an assault upon the president before you are grabbed and disarmed and thrown out into the street to be carried off to the nearest police station2 Not very far, l guess. l tell you the president is as closely fortified in the White House as if 1t were the strongest castle that ever ex- isted. Lincoln was not murdered in the executive mansion 1t was at the theatre hew attacked Garfield was assassinated at the railway station. Oh, no, believe me, the president Is safe enough in his own dwelling.
 The minute we see a person whose appearance does not satisfy us entirely we ask him what his business is. Un- less his reply is satisfactory we pursue the inquiry. A man called here the other day to see the president, with a tin box under his arm. pressed him closely about his errand and he finally said he had new kind of religion in the box to show to President Harrison. That settled him.
 ''1 had very funny experience once with crook at a party, though it was not here.
 's1t was at one of the great houses in Washington. l noticed in the cloak room person of suspicious demeanor. Some time I spent in watching her, until she perceived that she was excit- ing my attention and then very promptly took her departure fol lowed her into the street and, laying my hand upon her shoulder, said: I want you
 You wouldn't arrest lady2' she said.
 '' In this case will venture, re- piled, and led her off to the station house. When we got there I said:
 "'Now, please undress.'
 ''She looked at me appealingly, but would not relent. Finally she dis posed of her apparel, with some assist ance, and l found in her trousers pocket seven pocketbooks. She was, az l had expected, a man. Of course, we have to take some chances about such things now and then, but in that case felt reasonably sure of my ground A man must get himself up pretty cleverly in women's garments to de ceive the experienced eye of police officer Perhaps the funniest of all queer people who come to the White House are those who demand permis sion to visit the most private rooms o1 the president on the ground that they as representatives of the public, owr the establishment. ."-The Washington Star