The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-01
A WHITE HOUSE GUIDE.
Entertaining Conversation of an Executive
Employee of n 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 a day
when the president is in the big east
room, shaking hands with any Tom,
Dick or Augustus who wishes to infiict
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, ill
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 Thorn with u
fee. 1t is not exacted, is forbidden, but
try it!
Through with the president, group of
people are invited by guide to go into
the other rooms.
"These rooms has all been newly dec
Grated" he says, land after designs by
Miss Harrison, and faint necessary for
me to say that she's artist" Asweep
of his hand takes i'll floor, wall, ceiling
and furniture.
"This," he goes on, sis 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 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 pock-
ct, but the 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
first president, by Lafayette 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 as you look interested, sir, you
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 hour
more of this talk, and visit to the con
servatorles, and peep at the private
dining room, Selma expressed herself in
this fashion:
Gall applicants for such work in the
White House should pass civil service
examination before being accepted. Sec.
ondly, they should be obliged to wear
distinctive dress. Call it a uniform if
the word livery is Objectionable. But
these men should look as neat and trig
as postmen, motormen and car conduct
ors. Thirdly, they must be as willing
and obliging as they are at present. l
would like to leave our presidents house
once without feeling half amused and
half vexed and altogether ashamed, as l
am today. Newport News