The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-14
WHY GREAT MEN LAUGH
Recreation of the President and
Other Distinguished Gentle
men of the Land.
The Diverse Avocations of the
Several Members of Mr..
Harrison's Cabinet.
The Chief Executive Himself a Great Per-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Hamlin's
Laugh May Still BE Heard.

Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT.
WASHINGTON, June 1O.-No president fol
many years, not one since the days of Gar
field. has walked 80 much as Mr.. Harrison
does. He goes out alone everywhere, not
only on the busy avenues, but picking his
way through back streets and courts
where few go. Being demonstrated
with lately on recklessly exposing
himself. he laughed and said: II have
no dangerous enemies. And even il
l had | would rather get one bullet than ba
e~ternally afraid of moving" So he goes
where and as he pleases, and is as familiar
with the city ns the 'oldest inhabitant. .
1t is etiquette in Washington, by the way,
to bow to the president whenever he ap-
pears in public. The habit originated
think, in Mr.. Lincoln's time, when his
friends and his admirers, even though
strangers, thus saluted him on the streets
and sidewalks as n vague method of saying
to him, $50 it! Stick to it! Don't get
blue. You are among friends.' The prac-
tice has continued and persisted till it is
considered good form for strangers to bow
to the president, and he is always on the
qui vive to acknowledge such a greeting.
DuS AS ASS W
1t il difficult to bow to the president with
out knowing which he is and comparatively
few know. Cleveland had a striking not tc
say imposing personality, and thousands
who never saw him before identified him as
soon as he came within the optical focus;
but Harrison walks all tn ough the depart
ments without being recognized by more
than half a dozen out of Il hundred. This
semi incognito makes it easier and pleas
nnter to walk about the city alone than i,
would otherwise be. President Harrison
prefers walking to driving, though he gets
up the buggy and drives frequently, gsner-
ally holding tho reins himself. In the
evening he likes a family game Of whist
and often Halford and sometimes another
nsighbor drops in and takes a hand. Once
in a while he plays a game of billiards on
the White house table. but his hand il not
very def with the cue. Once in a fortnight
or three weeks no drops in at the theater-
preferring some dialect, rustic or genre
d Cranes favorites. The president has a
wholesome laugh, buoyant spirits and good
digestion.
GARFIELD was a great base ball player, even
while in congress-, and it Ia a part OF the
unwritten history Of his time that. under a
call of the house. during \ busy week, the
sergennt-Rt' arms arrested him and six other
members out at the base ball game, and
carried them before tho bar of Y esa az
d%elinquents. Even after no became presi-
dent, though those 1rst months were
crowded with exacting oaros, he found time
to hunt mp Col. A.. +. Rockwell, his college
ehum, and drive down and watch the
diamond. He and Rockwell played bill
lizards sometimes, but base bnll was his
great reliance and solace. During his last
year in congress he became much addicted
10 solitaire, aud when afflicted with insom-