Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-05-26
A WHITE HOUSE GUIDE.
Entertaining Conversation CT an Executive
Employee Of q Few Months ego.

Entertaining Conversation CT an Executive
Employee Of Few Months ego.
| Not to be too personal, this account Of
White House visiting is taken from an
experience in the past. It is on a day
when the president is in tho big east
room. shaking hands with any Tom,
Dick or Augustus who wishes To in1Iict
himself Oh the head of the nation. There
are Numerous faniharly polite men
fOunging IN the veshbule Of the mansion.
Their dress consists Of indifferent busi-
ness suits, very ready made IN appear
ance, black, brown, blue and gray. IL
fitting and often shabby. These are the
servants Of the place, whose duties are
to show the guest5 through the public
rooms and 81 tines through the private
ones. Their appeilation 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
fee. It is not exacted. is forbidden. but
try it!
Through with the president, a group0f
people are invited by guide toSo into
the other rooms.
''These rooms has all been newly dec
Grated" he says, land after designs by
Miss Harrison. and 'tain't necessary for
me to say that she's artist" AGTeep
of his hand takes in floor, wall, ceiling
and furniture
''T1i3," he goes on, SIS the famous blue
room, where the president receives with
his lady beside him. You have all heard
Of going behind theline Well, the pres
ident stands here with his lady on his
right and the ladies Of the cabinet.
That makes the line. After they shake
hands the eight go behind the line where
al the dignat2rio8 is.
'>Thats right, In2'am. Sit right down.
This to a woman who has rested against
the arm Of a chair. ''All sit down and
make yourself comfortable. Pe0ple
seem to think this house belongs to Miss
Harrison, bus it DON'T. It belongs u all
of you. etriss Harrison wants everybody
to feel GG holne. Now, in this room
hiss Cleveland was married. GA8 stood
right there where that ladv'8 feet is"
The modest appearing little woman
on whose feet al eyes We're ce2teraJ
looked inclined 70 PIT them II her poc11-
ct, but the guide went on renorselessly,
"Whore that lady's feet is placed"
''Thi8 clock" said the guile later,
pausing before an elaborate mantel
clock, land them side ornaments w2s
presented to George Washington, our
first president, by Layfavette and pre-
sented by he to the White House. And
it has ben going ever sence. Them lights
arc electric and just put in. You turn
them on and off this way" illustrating.
Seeing as you look interested, sir, you
can turn them On once if you like"
The man to whom this kind pornis-
sion was granted bears a name synOny-
NOUS with electricity. bat tie famous
electrician, as courteous as the guide,
gravely manipulated the button.
Leaving after a quarter of an hour
more Of this talk, and a visit to tho con
and peep at the private
dining room, Selma expressed herself in
lhis fashions
''An applicants for such work in the
White House should pass a civil service
examination before being accepted. Sec
ondly, they should be obliged to wear q
distinctive dress. Call it a uniform if
the word livery is Objectionable. But
these men should look as neat and trio /
rs postIneE, 1notOrmen andcar conduct /
ors. Thirdly, they must be as willing
and oblig1ng as they are at present.
would ike to leave our presidents house
once without feeling hall amused and |
nd olfnfno4Io~