Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-11-18
A WHITE HOUSE GUIDE.
Entertaining Conversation of an Executive
Employee of a Few Months Ago.

Entertaining Conversation of an Executive
Employee of a Few Months Ago.
Not to be too personal, this account of
White House visiting is taken from an
experience in the past. 1t is on n day
when the president is in the big east
room, shaking hands with any Tom,
Dick or Augustus who wishes to infict
himself on the head of the nation. There
are numerous Familiarity polite men
lounging in the vestibule of the mansion.
Their dress consists of indifferent bust
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 are
TO show the guests through the public
rooms and at times through the private
ones. Their appellation 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 q
fee. 1t is not exacted, is forbidden, but
try it,
Through with the president, Il group of
people are invited by guide to go into
the other rnoms.
These rooms has all been newly DEE
Grated he says, and after designs by
Miss Harrison, and faint necessary for
me 10 say that she's artist \ sweep
Of his hand takes N aoor wall ceiling
ana furniture
This, he goss o.. 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 his
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. 1t belongs TO all
| of you. Miss Harrison wants everybody
to feel at home. Now. 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 centered
looked inclined to put them in her peck
ct, but the guide went on remorselessly
Where that lady's feet is placed"
This clock said the guide later
pausing before an elaborate mante
clock land them side ornaments wa.
presented to George Washington, oul
first president, by Lafayette and pre-
sented by he to the White House. AND
it has ben going ever sence. Them light:
are electric and just put in. You turn
them ON and off this way" illustrating
Seeing as You look interested, sir, yor
can turn them on once if you like"
The man to whom this kind permits
sion was granted bears name synony
nous with electricity, but the famous
electrician, as courteous as the guide
gravely manipulated the button.
Leaving after quarter of an houl
more of this talk, and a visit to the con
servatories. and a peep at the privat,
dining room. Selma expressed herself il
| this fashion:
'All applicants for such work in tht
| White House should pass civil service
examination before being accepted. Sec
ondlv. they should be obliged to wear 1
| distinctive dress. Call it uniform i
the word livery is objectionable. Blu
these men should look as neat and trie
as postmen. motormen and car conduct
ors. Thirdly. they must he as willing
and obliging as they are at present.
would like to leave our presidents houst
once without feeling half amused and
half vexed and altogether ashamed. as
am today. Newport News.
The woman's Way.
Miss NewcoIne enthusiastically)-On
Miss Antiquity, how l envy you the
knowledge you possessl But didn't il
take years and years to acquire it?
An awkward silence.-Spokane Out.
burst.