The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-09-17
WHITE HOUSE BABY WEIGHED.
How the Interesting Ceremony
Was Performed.
Good Guessing by President Cleveland,
But Secretary Thurber Was Way on
Miss Ruth. DR.. Bryant and ARE. Pcr-
rine Render Valuable Assistance Upon
tho Occasion.

Baby Ruth's sister was weighed Mon
day morning. The ceremony was inter
esting, though not particularly impos-
ing. All of the family were present,
together with DR.. Bryant, the nurse,
Mrs. Cleveland's mother and Private
Secretary Thurber. The time set was
s o'clock, but the infant was asleep. and
so the distinguished party waited
around till she should wake. Every
once and while, so says Correspondent
Cornelius Gardner in the Chicago Even
ing Post, the President would look ut
his watch, walk over to the cradle. peep
in with an eager look and finding his
youngest still in the land of Nod would
go to the window, press his nose against
the pane and gaze out on the Potomac.
He was standing there lost in thought
when suddenly an ear-splitting, unoon-
ditional-repeal yell came from the
cradle. The President jumped like
man in dream.
"My"' he exclaimed. Then spying
Ruth he added, solmenly: my daugh-
ter, what is the matter? You shouldn't
make such noise when your little sis
ter is asleep"
Ruth walked up to her distinguished
parent, pulled the skirt of his coat and
whispered:
"'Tain't Oofie, papa; it's little sister"
A nod from DIR. Bryant assured the
President, and a moment later the
youngest WAS in the nurses arms The
President observed that it would be
more honest to weigh her before she
had her breakfast. But another veil
told him that it would be we'll to grant
compromise in this matter This en-
tailed another wait, but all was ready
at last.
BRYANT HOLDS THE SCALES.
The doctor held the scales, which had
been brought up from the storeroom. 1t
was an ordinary brass affair, capable
OF weighing anything up to twenty
pounds.
"Guess thatll do" the President re-
marked, with wink at Thurber, which
so tickled Thurber that he broke out
into regular Midway Plaisance laugh.
The basket to hold the baby was first
weighed. In it were a soft feather
pillow and delicate little comfort.
The basket and it's contents weighed
four pounds. The nurse placed the un-
dressed infant in the basket, and DR..
Bryant slowly lifted the precious weight,
but he sat it down at sign from the
President, who said:
wait a minute. Let's guess her
weight"
Ten pounds" said Mrs Cleveland.
Eleven" Mrs. Perrine said.
DR.. Bryant looked at the youngste
critically and said: mine and half"
81 should say" Thurber remarked,
with the air Of connoisseur, ~ should
say, we'll, now"
"Oh, guess, Thurber." the President
interrupted. "It's not q matter of life
or death"
Twenty pounds" Thurber said,
somewhat ratified, and he blushed like
girl who has just been kissed and
caught ut it.
Then the President, who had insisted
on having the last guess, put on his
glasses and bent over the basket. He
took hold of one of his infants hands,
touched her gently in the ribs to test
the solidity of her flesh, gazed reflec-
lively at Ruth, who stood by looking
curiously on, then looked once NOR at
the youngster and Strengthening up
said, with the air Of man who hasn't
been catching and weighing bass all
summer for nothing:
THAT'S nine and-a.Quarter FOUNDER
or there's something wrong with the
scales"
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's INTEREST.
The doctor then lifted the basket
once more The President stood directly
in front of it, his hands on his knees, his
glasses on his nose and his eyes fixed on
the indicator. The nurse stood bv his
side with hands outstretched to catch
the baby in case of an accident. Mrs.
Cleveland looked smilingly on from the
bed on the other side of the President,
while Thurber and Mrs. Perrine stood
just behind. AS the basket rose the in.
dlcator went down. 1t stopped short at
the figure 8.
claimed, in q frightened tone. "Onlv
four pounds. Why, Doctor"
Its all right" the doctor said. 1.-The
basket got caught on my arm"
He freed it and the indicator shot
down to twenty with Il thud.
well, I be-" the President be-
gan. just then he saw that Baby Ruth
had hold OF the basket. go away from
there, Ruth," he said, gently pushing
her off.
The basket rose as he did so and set
tied at thirteen and @ half.
"Gee whillillens!" ThurSer exclaimed,
that's bouncer-thirteen and half"
Hold your horses, my boy" the Pres
ident observed, "you must allow for the
basket. Let's see; four from thirteen
and half leaves nine and half"
Just my guess. DIR. Bryant observed.
"Yes," the President replied, but
you haven't allowed for her breakfast.
That weighs quarter OF pound, so
you see that / take the prize"
And with the proud step of con-
queror he strobe from the room and
went into his office to begin his weeks
work.
Misc Jennie Dunn.
Much Of Mr.. Kendalls success is Justly
credited to the clever assistance of his