Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-02-29
CRANKs AT THE CAPITAL
Government Officials Beset by
Crazy Claimants
An Annoying Glass OF People Who Seem
to BE Attracted Toward Tho6e
Who Hold Political

remind me OF our experiences IN WASH
ington," said a lady whose husband has,
through two administrations, held a
high Office in the government. why
men in official places" she continued.
ARE not one and all victims CT crazy
malevolence is a wonder. Cranl;s ant?
lunetics Of all kinds seem to be part -
ularly attracted toward those who holI
political places. AS rule. their mania
chiefly consists in writing letters innu-
merable on every subject under the
sun TO the heads OF the departments.
This, of course, is simply annoying, but
sometimes it takes most serious form.
Insane claimants come to Washington
by the hundreds with preposterous de-
nnands of every kind. OF course, at the
and in their houses the pres
ident and his cabinet are guarded as far
as may be from these intruders; but
they sometimes gain access to the peo-
pie they desire to see. and give great
deal of trouble.
Owing, probably, to my name hav-
ing been more or less in the newspapers,
l had not little annoyance from these
people myself, and women as we'll as
men used to deluge me with the most
absurd applications. One very funny
incident, which, however, was most an.
noying at the time, occurred after we
had been in Washington only a short
time and before l had warned my serv-
ants against these eccentric gentry.
We had had big dinner, and ! was
alone in the drawing-room about el>ven
o'clock, just after our guests had de-
| parted. heard little hustle in the
hall. but, fancying it was some one GO
| ing away, did not disturb myself about
| it. Presently the door opened and the
| footman announced Miss Clark and,
quite as if she was an expected
| guest, in walked very lady-like look
ing woman, who calmly informed me
that she had a claim against the treas
ury department for one million dollars,
and that she had come to stay with us
| until she had arranged matters salts
| factorily. 4 have brought my trunk
| she explained, very composedly, as
| suppose I may have to stop with you
| for some time And to my consterna-
ton found that the cabmln (for she
had arrived in q carriage) had brought
her box into the hall and that she had
paid and dismissed him. Her whole de-
mennor was SO quiet and assured that
| the servant who opened the door never
dreamed but that she was expected.
To have q crazy woman in your
house at midnight is not q pleasant
position, assure you; / felt that she
must be humorcd, and, making
snme excuse, hastily sought my hus-
band and acquainted him with the stu
alton. Fortunately DR.. -. our good
neighbor, lived within few doors, and,
! L. D. l. z,
assistance, we entertained our strange
visitor until he arrived with carriage
to take the poor lady to safe shelter
for the night. With great tact he per-
suaded her to go with him, and she
took leave Of us with many apologies
for her'short stay and abru departure.
my next experience was more Sc
! rious. My daughter was to be married,
and on the afternoon before the we'd
ding / had gone up to my room for q
little rest when was disturbed by one
of the servants, who informed me that
gentleman was downstairs who in
sisted upon seeing Miss Mary (my
daughter) or myself. He wouldn't give
his message, mu'am,' exclaimed the
man, although told him that you did
not wish to be disturbed Thinking
that it might be something of impor-
lance went down to the reception room,
where 1 found a tall, very good-lookiIg
man, who in an agitated manner told
inc that he had long loved my Mary,
had seen her marriage spoken of in the
papers, and had travelled night and day
from his home in the west to be in time
to prevent such sacrifice. He insisted
upon seeing my daughter at once. He
was so excited that was terribly
frightened, but kept my presence OF
, mind and contrived to ring for the foot
man. Show this gentleman OUT
; said, and fairly flew upstairs. Some
way or other they got rid of him, but
that evening he returned, and again the
= next taOrning. OF course he was not
Gduittcd, but was mado so thoroughly
nervous that my husband sent for {
connie OF t,Oii,,ctunp Ia piti.,ey,s "a Cipt no.