The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-22
ARIcE FIVE CENTS

WBT6s&S3L6 10 lCDK nb8uUu 1ulIH aAlHphNAAUlT4ss
3atoly; they would be either Tor him or
against him, and their report Of him would
be coiorcd accordingly. but had no pro-
possessions In the matter; the only service
Mr.. Harrison could render me WAS to lot
mo SEQ him and hear him talk, the only
full impression Of my experience. And y
struck me that 1t could do President Harri-
son no harm IL an unbiased limner painted,
for the benefit OF a few million spectators,
more or less, as faithful a portrait Of him
as the limner's ability and opportunity al
lowed. IS z
Nevertheless. provided myself with what
credentials could command. Mr.. George
w. Childs, Of Philadelphia, was active in
my behalf, and Mr.. John Wnnamaker and
his private secretary, Mr.: Gushing, wers
The porter at the door Of the White
house aaid that the president was IN, but
TINT he could receive no ono before 10
O'Clock. On my replying that I had m APP
pOintment at haif-pnst nine, however, h0
admitted mo and directed me to m upper
floor. The house WAS in process Of being
got ready for the winter campaign; the car
pets were mp and the furniture generally
WAS in state Of insurrection. Mrs. Harri-
son, as is we'll known, isa housekeeper Of
tho model sort, and when she entered tho
would leave it III better condition than she
found it. Three distinct geologic strata Of
dirt, mingled with rats, mice and cock
reaches were removed from the cellars, and
the good work proceeded upwards to th0
$attics, so that to-day the White house is %
immaculate within US without; and, what
ever other dangers may menace future adj
administrations, insalubrity Of the domestic
precincts will not be among them.
Arrived at the head Of the stairs and
picking my way amidst the pnraphernalia
Of some workmen, was confronted BY .
grave parsonage to whom I delivered my
card. He passed me on to Mr.. ibbett
with whom | had u few moments conyer-
sation in the secretary's room; and then I
was ushered through door on the opposite
eide of the spacious hall. III
The room entered was large and finely
proportioned, lighted by broad windows
and hung with pale buff paper. The fur
niture was simple and rather scanty than
otherwise: between the windows at tho
further side was desk table OF carved oak.
or unfolded, but al disposed in an orderly
fashion. At the table, with his face in my
direction, sat a man, the sole occupant Of
the great room.
He Was q man, should Judge. .of over so,
hair was gray, and SO was his full beard,
especially at the sides; in front some trace
of its original light brown color remained.
The nose was rather long, and showed
sagacity and business capacity; the re-
not hidden by the beard. The shoulders
powerful; pc he w was stout stout and nd sturdy it1
OF body and limb. He was dressed in
black frock coat, unbuttoned, and gray
trousers. So far as outward appearance
was concerned, at least he was the ideal5of
republican simplicity. ''Mr. Harrison is a
plain man,".I had been told by those who
knew him when was inquiring as to tho
extent of ceremonial that obtained at the
social functions, And plain man I found
him. $S&
When ] entered he was jotting down
some memoranda on small wriJinR pnd;
but as approached he looked up, cot tos
his feet, said How dp yen do, Mr.. HaW-
thorne?n and gave mo lIis hand His man
ner was neither cordial nor cold; it was
something Of mn effort, from pressing af-
fairs, and adjusting himself to an inter
ruption. And as looked in his face, and
met his eyes, was struck by the Weariness
OF his expression. It was the weariness of
very strong man; a man of great natural
vitality, and indomitable energy, worn by
unremitting effort, and tried nearly to the
utmost. Exceptional power at grips with
almost insurmountable difficulties, was
what seemed to see. The square, COM
pact forehead was furrowed with wrinkles;
and finer lines in and about the eyes told
the limit of physical endurance.
Mr.. Harrison, in response to some remark
of mine, began to talk almost Immediately.
He talksin rather n low voice. sliding his
words and sentences into groups OF masses,
and looking down, or aside, while speaking;
but, when approaching the upshot OF what
he has to say he always opens his eyes and
fixes them upon his inlerlocutor. Probably
his mind, and habit of thought, are sympa-
thetic rather than analytic; he sees and
conceives things in the large. and in their
more general relations. and has a distaste
for detail-of which. nevertheless, an intol-
erable amount must fall to his share.
"The presidents business goes on all the
time" he said; land the more the popula-
tion of the country, the more will he have
to do" | suggested that the enlargement
of the nation would b. practically indeti-
mite. whereas tho capacity Of man was
limited, and must come to m
end sooner Or later. Mr.. Harrison looked
down and intimated that the situation was
nevertheless as be had put il; there seemed
to be no provision to enable the chief mag
istrate to delegate OF otherwise escape from
his duties. He must do it I'LL himself. IT
can't sign papers submitted to me quite
blindly: ! must look into them enough to
get some idea of their quality. Ii the at
torney general wants me to at1ix my sigma
ture must look through the brief.
IF the hours for different branches of
work could be fxed.o he went on, "the
despatch of business would be promoted.
II knew that, for q certain length of time.
could pursue one line of thought or labor
without interruption-bu no such thing ia
possible. If sat myself to pursue GER
ain line of thought, there comes a knock
it the door and must break off and give
ny attention for ton minutes or half an