Griggs courier., 1893-06-16
A WHITE HOUSE GUIDE.


A WHITE HOUSE GUIDE.
Entertaining Conversation CT .n Executive
employee Of q Few Months Ago.
Not to bo too personal, this account q
White House visiting is taken from a.,
experience in the past. It is on a day
when the president is in the big cast
room, shaking hands with any Tom.
Dick or Augustus who wishes to inlict
himself on the head of the nation. There
are numerous faniliarly polite men
lounging in the vestibule of the mansion
Their dress consists of Indifferent buG;-
ness suits, very ready made in appear
ance, black, brown, blue and gray. i'll
fitting and often shabby. These are the
servants of the place, whose duties ;>ry
to show the guests through tho public
rooms and at times through the private
ones. Their appellatioa in this house OF
the people is guide" They are partic-
ularly the persons from whom the visitor
to Washington gets the tone of the
White House. If any one claims that
these are gentlemen in Office and not
serving men, let him try them with i
fee. It is not ezacted. is forbidden, but
try it!
Through with the president, a group Of
people are invited by u guide to go into
the other rooms.
"These rooms has all been newly dec
Grated" he says. "and after designs By
Miss Harrison. and faint necessary for
me to say that she's artist" Asweep
of his hand takes in floor. wall. ceiling
and furniture.
''This." he goes on, "is the famous blue
room, where the president receives with
his lady beside him. You have all heard
of going behind the line. Well, the pres
ident stands here with his lady on lis
right and the ladies of the cabinet.
That makes the line. After they shake
hands the eight go behind the line where
all the dignataries is.
''That's right. ma'am. Sit right down" :"
This to a woman who has rested against
the arm of chair. "All sit down and
make yourself comfortable. People
seem to think this house belongs to Miss
Harrison, but it don't. It belongs to all
of you. Miss Harrison wants everybody
to feel at homo. Nov, in this room
Miss Cleveland was married. She stood
right there where that lady's feet is"
The modest appearing little woman
on whose feet all eyes were centere1
looked inclined to put them in her pock-
ct, but tho guide went on remorselessly.
Where that lady's feet is placed"
"This clock" said the guide later.
pausing before an elaborate mantel
clock. "and them side ornaments WAS
presented to George Washington. our
6rst president. by Layfayette and pre-
sented by he to the White House. And
it has ben going ever sence. Them lights
are electric and just put in. You turn
them on and off this way" illustrating.
Seeing az you look interested, sir, you
can turn them on once it you like"
The man to whom this kind permis-
sion was granted bears q nams synony-
nous with electricity. but the famous
electrician. as courteous as the guide.
grayely manipulated the button.
Leaving after quarter Of On hou1
more of this talk. and visit to tho con
servatories, and peep at the private
dining room. Selma expressed herself in
| this fashion:
"All applicants for such work in the
| White House should pass civil service
examination before being accepted. Sec
ondly, thcy should be obliged to wear .
distinctive dress. Call it uniform Il
the word livery is Objectionable. Blu
these men should look as neat and trit
az postmen, motormen and car conduct
ors. Thirdly, they must be a. willing
and obliging as they are at present.
would like to leave our presidents hous
once without feeling half amused AM
half vexed and altogether ashamed. as
am day."-Newport News.