The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-05-17


as Washington there arise many opportuni-
ties for the indulgence of that sense of the
ludicrous, which, in greater or less degree
abounds among individuals of every commu-
nifty This quality is all the more marked in
those of the higher ranks of society, who enjoy
full scope for its encouragement upon all oc-
casions of large public receptions. Fortu-
nately or unfortunately, Mrs. Harrison in
herits this gift of keen wit that in her present
exalted position often proves most trying, es-
pecially when obliged to stand for hours at
the entrance Of the Blue Room, while hun
dreds Of human beings, gathered from every
state and condition of society, pass in un-
broken review before her.
In proof of this family trait crops up an
amusing anecdote in connection with little
joke perpetrated by her venerable father, the
Rev. DR.. Scott, who, though approaching the
advanced age of ninety, is o fine specimen of
the grit and sinew that rendered our fore
fathers SO strong to suffer and endure, and
who still possesses in undimmed enjoyment
all that fund of appreciation for good joke
that must ever prove an unfailing source OF
youth to the possessor 1t was during the
progress of crowded public reception at the
White House about year since that the Doc
tor, in accordance with his favorite custom,
was wandering at leisure among the throng OF
strangers who had assembled to pay their re-
spects to the President. Secure in his in
cognito, a fne-looking old gentleman ap-
preached, and, noticing the interested specta-
tor at his side, courteously turned and en-
tered into conversation By chance the
stranger remarked that the occasion marked
his first visit to the White House since the
early period in the history of the republic,
when he had enjoyed the honor of having
shaken hands with sold Tippecanoe," for
whose election to the Presidential chair he had
figured conspicuously as an elector. sit there
fore gives me much pleasure to enjoy the
present opportunity of meeting with his des
cendant and successor in Office" continued
the Doctors new acquaintance.
''rhis is a strange coincidence" remarked
DR.. Scott, ''as l also enjoyed the privilege,
and scarcely hoped to meet with one whose
vote had been cast in the same ballot" The
two contemporaries thus congenially thrown
together grew quite friendly, and in the en-
thusiasm Of the moment the stranger pro-
posed that his companion permit him to pre-
sent him to the President. Approaching the
situation, DR.. Scott promptly consented, and
the two elbowed their way through the crowd
until at length they stood before Mr.. Harri-
son, who, absorbed in the more weghty af-
fairs of office, paid little or no heed to the
hundreds passing before him, merely grasp
ing the hand of each in turn as they were pre-
sented and passing on to the next, until the
action became almost mechanical. The two
presented themselves, and the stranger, as
suming the initiative, approached and
said "Mr. President, wish to introduce to
you one who, like myself, enjoyed the honor
OF having cast a vote for your illustrious
grandfather" Mr.. Harrison promptly re-
sponded by warm handclasp, and, looking
up, to his no small amusement, suddenly
found himself face to face with his respected
father-in-law.
This story the old gentleman never fails to
repeat with eVer-increasing enjoyment at the
memory and the double edge of the trick
played. 1t viii thus be seen that Mrs. Harri-
son comes truly by her inheritance, and her
fondness for playing practical jokes often in
her early youth led her into many narrow es-
capes from punishment. Even after her mar
riage Mrs. Harrison seldom lost an oppor-
tunity OF indulging her weakness, one illus
tration of which l will here quote, and, as 1t
was told me by member OF the White House
circle, will be willing to youch for Its truth
MRS. HARRIsoN's ADVERTISEMENT.
Some twenty years ago, during the child
hood Of Mrs. Mckee, the family, as was their
won't went one summer to visit an uncle of
Mrs Harrison, one DIR. Newcomer, promi-
nent practitioner, who lived a retired village
of Indiana. The surgeon, like many another
man possessed of brains and genius was
notedly averse to publicity of any kind, and
quietly pursued the even tenor of his way,
undisturbed by the outward rush of science In
the world around him, and, Notwithstanding
the fact that he had given to medical science
a valuable addition In the shape of some