The Portland daily press., 1892-03-09

tHcFo lot many years. Il MS HILL ID
Sergeant Loeffler, an ex-union soldier,
who has been for wcll-nigh o score Of
years the special messenger of the
president. He knows all public men,
either declines to permit them to sec
the president under any pretext, or else
carries the cards of the most noted
visitors in order to ascertain whether
or not an audience can be granted to
the callers.
This guardian of the presidents door
very seldom has to deal with cranlss,
because it is almost impossible for any
person OF that character to pass the
main front door, which is guarded by
Capt. Dinsmore, 81 handsome giant who
has been on duty there for many years.
Very few people in Washington, not
even the cabinet ministers, realize the
condition of the business offices. They
are always in wcll-kept condition,
and the supcrduous files for which
there is no room are stored away either
in the cellar or garnet. With adequate
room all these valuable papers, extend
ing for many years back, should be
kept within easy access Of the officials
in whose charge they are.
It is generally conceded that the east
room, on the ground floor, belongs to
the dear people of the republic. Hence
it is always open during the day and
every respectable visitor has permission
to enter it. It takes exactly four hun
bred and forty-two yards of Brussels
carpet to cover the floor of this room,
and from this fact you can gain an idea
of the sense of vastness which over
comes person upon his first entrance
into it. The ceiling is about three
times as high as that in any drawing
room in this country, and it is elabor-
ately painted in silver and gold. It is
singular fact that some people who
come to Washington and enter this
room, instead of having that respect for
it which they should have, instead of
having that feeling of personal pride
which we might naturally expect of our
own citizens, look upon it as a curiosity
shop, from which they should carry
home some memento. In consequence
of this kleptomaniac idea which perme-
ates so many minds, it is not uncommon
to find pieces Of furniture Clipped off
with penknives, and an occasional slice
has been taken from the corners of the
carpet. 1t is said that upon one occa-
sion during the war q lady was caught
in the act Of cutting a piece out of one
of the costly lace curtains, and was
taken directly before President Lin
coin. The president said that as q mat
ter of strict legal duty she should be ar
rested and put in prison, but on account
of her husband, who was then in the
army at the front, President Lincoln
permitted her to depart, with the in
junction that it would be wise for her
to leave the city, and she did so.
Mr.. Hemphill, of South Carolina,
chairman of the house committee on the
District of Columbia, is interested in the
white house extension and all other
matters pertaining to the improvement
and adornment of the national capitol.
1t was his intention to prepare bill Tor
the improvement of the executive man
sion; but he has been advised that Mr.
Holman, chairman Of the committee on
appropriation, would not permit the
passage OF such bill Therefore moth
ing is likely to be done during this ses-
sion of congress, unless an appropria-
ton is made by the senate and attached
to one of the deficiency appropriation
bills. The outlook, however, for this
Improvement in the immediate future
is not hopeful. SMITH D. Fry.