Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-08-25
CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT.
The Experience of an Aunt and Niece
Hum. Tously Told by the Latter.

1t was pouring rain Wien INV aunt
and | started to the Presidents rccep-
ton, says "A Kansas CITY Girl" in the
KANSAS City Star. But what mattrrs
Il chilly downpour when two women
have resolved upon going To recep-
ton? The rain Strengthened our bangs
and came through our umbrellas, but
failed to danmpen our spirits. a cable
car carried us to the White House gate.
We stopped to collect our thoughts and
numerous skirts and then sailed UP the
wet walk to the porte cochcre Here
we gave each other a good shake and
each received the cheerful information
| that She looked awful" At the door
Il stately person, in response to our
dit1idcnt inquiring as to when the PrcSi-
dent received, said, It's time now"
| and waved us to the left. Passing
through Il small hall we entered the
famous east room. AS il was not
time now" the majestic door keeper
to The contrary. Notwithstanding. we
had an opportunity to inspect The
room. 1t is very long and somewhat
narrow, is furnished in white and gold
and is altogether a very handsome Il
partmcnt, but rather on the hotel
draWing-room order. The chairs were
all planted against the wall and i'm the
| middle of the room was one Of those
cicrcular seats that have no regard for
ones neck. On an easel. in one corner,
was Il portrait of Dolly Madison OPP
positc the door were portraits of Lin
coin and Martha Washington. while
George and Jefferson are near the
north end. An deliberately decorated
white ceiling, long mirrors, fine man
tells and large chandeliers added to the
impreSSivencSS of the rcccption-roOm
AS everybody there being 300 or SO OF
us walked in without removing his
OverShoes. and as the rain had rather
stirred up the fine Washington soil. the
east room carpet soon looked as If Mrs.
Cleveland lad forgotten the usual
weekly sweeping.
| For twenty minutes we waited. Then
u door opened and Il man appeared
J who advanced to the middle of the
room and said. Ladies' and gentlemen.
l,
beginning here" He grabbed the near
est available patriot and planted him
firmly at the head Of the line, and we
all fell in line behind him. There was
considerable pushing and elbowng, and
every face was serious. ! could not i'm
agine why seeing the President should
be such IL solemn affair Another ten
minutes rolled nearly by counted
the small boys present and wondered
how many were named Grover ClcvC-
land Then ] looked ut the window
and wondered if anybody would be
| mean enough TO take my place if
went over to enjoy the view. ! looked
at my fellow countrymen and decided
that they would, so ] stayed where |
was Meanwhile the IIShcrS Straighten-
ed the line necessarily by catching hold
of an unfortunate elbow here or there,
and pushing. 1t may not have been
polite, but it was effcctual.
At length the one door that no one
had been looking at opened and the
President was before us. The line be
gan to move We were near the head,
and before / knew it the man in front
of me was shaking the hand Of the
President. AS he did 50 he straighten-
ed UP and fired off this speech:
81 hope we will see you at Cape Cod
this summer"
Mr.. Cleveland smiled and said he
chopped to be there"
When the Cape Cod man spoke I
knew why they all looked so serious;
they were thinking of something to say
to the President.
Then my turn came. My hand was
cordially grasped, Mr.. Cleveland said,
How do you do tO-day?' the usher
passed me on and all was over Gradu-
ally my breath returned. Afterward I
remembered how Mr.. Cleveland look
| ed, but not then. / felt glad that had
no important question to ask him, as
every thought slipped from me and
Darkness filled my BRAIN Mr. Cleve-
land looked as if he enjoyed it. His
face was pleasant and his grip cordial.
He was less awesome than the ushers.
One thing / like about him-he does
not push you on as he shakes hands, as
seems to be the custom here. AS I
passed out and past the "unshaken"
with their solemn faces and stiffened
forms / grinned. 1t was only small
grin, but everyone that saw it frowned.
SO / passed On, by the awe-inspiring
doOrkeeper and out into the rain. had
shaken hands with the President and
[ had caught cold, enough for one day.