The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-19
HOW HARRISON BATTLES.
A Plain, Unvarnislled Tale
of the Presidents Sport
in the Surf.
SHY OF PHOTOGRAPHERS.
The Chief Magistrate Vets His Head
Before He Piunges ln-Lost
His Watchchain.
Special to the Sunday Morning Mems

Special to the Sunday Morning Mems.
CAPE MAY PoTsT, July IS, 1891. -Presi-
den5 Harrison in bathing. What kind
of a bathing suit does he wear? Does he
wet his head before plunging under the
breakersa Does he float and dive and
swim. or simply let the big combers
swash over him, after the manner Of the
average, every day middle-aged bathera
These and score OK similar qneries
have suggested themselves ito thousands
of patriotic Americans and salt water en-
thusiasts since it became known recently
chat the Chief Executive OF the land had
wooed the briny pillows Of the Point.
Here is the plain nnvarnished rale:-
President Harrison has been in bathing
just twice. the second time yesterday,
buG very few people knew about It until
afterward. On the FIRST eveutfui day he
finished debating letters to Miss Sanger
by ten o'clock, and then she accompanied
Mrs. DimnicE and Baby Mckee toward
the Carlton bath houses. Many saw
them walking along the promenade To-
ward the pavilion, but nobody thought
much about it. However, hardly had
! they left The front door OF the Presidents
cottage, when a small boy departed
| from the rear entrance. He is q native
Jerseymau, fifteen years old, red
| cheeks, dark hair, blue eyes. He wears
n hat, a shirt, and pair Of trousers made
| fast 70 hfru by single ''gallus" that runs
up over one shoulder and down his back.
He left the cottage with dark blue bath
| ing suit in his arms, and his barred feet
scurrled along the back street until he
came nearly to the Carlton, when he
! turned toward the beach and soon after
! placed the suit la a nice large bath house.
/ This boy's name iH John Ferries. and ne
Tr.r4s
the houses. to wiring the brine out of
suits after people have bathed in them.
THE WHITE HOUSE PooH-BAH.
| While John was carrying the Presi-
| dents suit with all the diplomacy he
could command. another person left the
rear door of the cottage and walked ont
upon the promenade. This man Is
smooth shaver, dignified. reserved
| William, che butler, factotum aud Pooh
| bah In general of the Presidents house-
hold. William has officiated at the White
House so long that he Is authority on al
NEST any subject. His speciality is in
| serving State Dinners, and he even knows
| Just how rare day In June should be.
! But this time he is bent upon new
| scheme.
When William Is on duty you couldn't
force smile on his face with hydraulic
ram. So those VINO saw his grave express
| sion as he sfepped upon the promenade
! knew that something was about to hap
pan. Slowly he paced down the board
walk for several blocks, carefully look ing
at those he met. and turning to glance ut
| them after they had passed. Keenly VIII
liam scIutinfzed every man, woman nd
child, and then retracing his steps he
strobe toward the lighthouses and the
bathing grounds. A number of people
were there, Iolling on the sands, chatting
In the little pavilion. strolling along the
| beach, Each aud every one became the
FOR Df.,fa 10 n "a ryfr
all the persons in sight had been inspect
ed. aud then the butler sighed and wiped
the peEspiration from his mobile brow,
i and allowed The shadow of smile to
flicker about his grave face; thai IS, pro-
vided q shadow can flicker.
Not Kodak was in sight; there fore
| the President could bathe without Tea rim g
l that Democratic comic papers would be
| out next day with horrible caricatures of
him in bis bathing suit.
William glanced around. once more TO
1 make sure. He saw that Mrs Dimmfclz
| and Miss Sanger and Baby McKee. at
tired In sart costume, were o n the sand.
! Knowing that they would 10 ok out for
| kodaks aud newspaper men in his ab-
| sence, the butler tripped gaily back to the
cottage, where he disappeared.
THE PRESIDENT SCENTS THE BREEZE.
Shortly aiterward President Harrison
stepped from the hallway upon the
| veranda. There he waited q moment or
! two, looking at the bright new American
flag which has just been flung to the
| breeze from the balcony above. He
| walked to the gate. and, turning. saw
men at work shingiing the roof. A couple
of hammocks swayed In the breeze, and
ON the railing stood fierce little wooden
soldier that spun around aud swung a
sword when the wind pulled hard enough.
The morning was delightful and the
| President paced the promenade ava y
| from the cottage toward the bathing
grounds. As usual, he wore dark blue
| Cigarette" hat carelessiy placed on his
head, with the forward brim turned
down, a barrier TO the bright light re-
| fected from the glistening sand. A black
| frock coat, unbuttoned, and grayish
| trousers formed the principal part Of his
costume One hand was thrust in his
trousers pocket and the other swung by
| his side. The salt water looked delight
fal. and President Harrison must shave
been charmed at the prospect of dip
| therein. Yon know it is said on good
| authority that he RETAINED from going in
| the surf for nearly a week because people
| with cameras had loitered around during
| bathing hours. hoping to catch picture
Of the Chief Magistrate In the act Of tax
| ing header. But as week passed with
out any signs, the camera barbarians evil
! IDENTITY tired Of their task, supposing that
| the object of their hopes had decided not
| to bathe this year.
John Ferries adjusted smile OF vel
come on bis face as he saw President
! Harrison and took off his hat and dueked
! his head The President smiled and in-
/ quired how the water was.
'.Bull---; that is. it's Jest elegant,
| mean, sir said John. Then he led the
way TO the particular bathhouse already
| alluded tU and the president entered.
HIS SALT WATER TOILET
| Not many minutes elapsed before he re-
appeared, clad 10 dark blue suit The
| rope that he wore about his waist last
| year was absent. and in its place was
bit of white cord, such as almost every
one uses in lieu OF girdle. The sleeves
reached nearly half way TO the elbow.
and the trousers stopped short just below
the knee. He stepped upon the sand. and
| Baby Mckee, catching sight OF
him, uttered cry Of delight and
rushed toward him as fast as the
| little feet could patter. A number of
cottagers aud hotel guests had been
observing Ben Mckee and Mrs. Dimmick
aud Miss Sanger. So when the youngster
yelled "Hoorayl'' and tore over the sand.
they naturally saw the President The
latter took his grandson's hand and
walked toward his daughter and Miss
Sanger. The ladies bad been looking ont
for cameras and journalists, but the only
one they Rad spotted was Mr. Howard
Campbell, agent Of the Associated Press.