Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-05
BENJAMIN IN rHE BArH.


in newspapers of different political pro-
clivities as to how President HARRISON
conducts himself in the surf, that he
has graciously permitted representa-
tive Of the Washington Star to describe
the interesting process.
The tale-a thrilling one - begins
with the start of the President and
Baby MCKEE for the bath house.
The administration chronicler signif-
cantly remarks, "Many saw them walk
ing along the promenade toward the
pavilion, but nobody thought much
about it," The promenaders then had
not the slightest suspicion of what was
to take place. But suddenly a small
boy appeared, coming from the rear en-
trance of the ''ex-gift cottage" and he
arried on his arm "dark-blue bathing
suit"
The administration chronicler says:
''His bare feet scurried along the back
street until he came nearly to the Carl
ton, when he turned toward the beach
and soon after placed the suit in a nice,
large bath house." And still the prom
enaders suspected nothing. Then came
WILLIAM, of the presidential cottage.
Like Monsieur LEcoQ, he paced the
board walk for several blocks, scrutin-
izing each person he met to see II there
was any suspicion Of the thrilling event
about to take place. Observe the san
sational touch given by the administra-
ton official chronicler: FINALLY all the
persons in sight had been inspected, and
then the butler sighed and wiped the
perspiration from his mobile brow, and
allowed the shadow of smile to flicker
about his grave face"
The President next asked the mys-
terious boy, who wore "a hat, shirt and
pair of trousers made fast to him by
single galluS," how the water was. The
boy blithely replied, "Bull-that is, it's
jest elegant" Soon after, the Presi-
dent appeared in the bathing suit, and
instead Of the rope he wore about his
waist, last year, there was "a bit Of
white cord" All eyes were anxiously
strained to detect the presence Of
Nihilist, with his deadly Kodak; but,
happily, no such wretch was in sight.
Then, says the official narrator, "As
soon as the chief magistrate came near,
Of course all the bathers gazed at him,
and waited eagerly to see him go into
the water" Had the faithful WANA-
MAKER been present, he would doubt
less have chanted hymn composed es-
pecially for the occasion. Now comes
the climax. 1t can only be told to ad-
vantage in the chronicler's own words:
The President carefully stepped into the
water, and then bending forward, thor
oughly wet his head by splashing with his
hands AS he took step after step the rip
pies and young waves hurried toward him,
leaping, smashing, tumbling over each |
other in this race to see which would be |
first to reach him. Further out and further |
ne went. Suddenly a great comber came |
rushing shoreward, Kissing, suffering, |
swishing along, determined to show the |
President what good, independent wave |
could do when it tried. A second later it |
struck him, leaping over his shoulders, |
then merr1Iy cndSeu 'Juo IrUtIo fIPpIcS Iaf /
up the beach.
The President, says the narrator, then
determined to keep nearer the shore.
He has had experience of deep water
and ''combers" in other respects before.
When the presidential bath was over,
the mysterious boy led the way to the
bath houses, and, taking hitch in
that lone suspender," he unlocked the
doors. He afterwards fished out the
presidential watch chain, which had
dropped through a crack in the floor,
and was rewarded by unlimited silver
coinage. 1t was most thrilling event,
and the faithful chronicler should be re-
warded with fat office.
THE reports made by the experts ex-
amininO RARDsIFY'S books to see what