The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-07-03

yesns Adopted 20 Protect the Prs~idsnx
and His Family fron Assault
why should not any person who
happened to be so disposed attempt TO
assassinats the president at one Of his
receptionsa" queried a 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 a 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 po-
lice service. They are SO trained
every man Of them-that they can tell
at a glance just what sort of person
each guest who enters Is. Two classes
of people are chiefly to be looked out
for-crapks and crooks. The crooks
are readily discerniblc by the educated
eye-their aspect always betrays them
As for the cranks, they are distinguish
able with equal readiness. The task
of making them out is rendered easier
70 begin with by consideration Of the
fact that three fodrths of all mild lu-
natics are crazy Oh religious topics
OF course once in a while a visitor gets
IN here who is not entirely sane that
is unavoidable necessarily But it is
a very exceptional case. As an almost
invariablc rule ! can tell crank at
the first glance, and if ! do not an
other Of the guards will"
And you can tell bad crank every
timer"
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 d man Of great muscular
strength. Come here, Jim"
The guard called Up one of his fell
lows and babe him double his arm.
1t was as hard as a 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 station? Not very far, I guess.
! tell you the president is as closely
fortified in the White House as if It
were the strongest castle that ever ex
listed. Lincoln was not murdered in
the executive mansion; it was at the
theatre he was 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 q 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 SEQ the president, with a
tin box under bis 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.
Il had very funny experience once
With a crook at party, though it was
not here.
1T was at one of the great houses ip
Washington. l noticed in the cloak
room a person of suspicious demeanor
Some time l spent in watching her,
until she perceived that she was excit-
ing my attention and then very
promptly took her departure I fol-
lowed her into the street and, laying
my hand upon her shoulder, said: 4
want you.
You wouldn't arrest ladyf she
said
3" III this case l 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 found in her trousers
pocket seven pocketbooks. She was, as
lhad expected, 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.
4 man must get himself up pretty
cleverfy 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 permits
sion to visit the most private rooms OF
the president OH the ground that they,
as representatives of the public, own
the establishment The Washington
| Star.