Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-03


Gen. Grant Debating During His Last
Hours.
give competency to his family One Ct
the remarkable things that Mr. Dawson
told me during an interview which / had
with him some years ago was as to a mine
IN Mexico. of which Gen. Grant was offered
the presidency. In Dawson's presence the
owners OF this mine told Grant that they
would make him a present of sl.OOOeU If
ne would accept the presidency of the COM
pany operating IL. This was when Grant
Vas IN Mexico, and he refused this offer.
have ever been offered a like sum-
Garfield's Steward.
There are number of men about Wash
irgton who have been connected with the
astronomy Of the White House. and there
is an old lady here who has furnished the
ice cream and pastry which have helped
ruin the stomachs of half dozen Presi-
dents. Arthur's chief cook has a restau-
rant and catering establishment here.
and the steward who presided over
the White House kitchens during the DAYS
of Hayes and Garfield has, during the past
summer. had a boarding house down on
the Potomac. 1 talked with this man about
the tastes Of the Presidents he had served
shortly after he had left the White House
ana his stories were interesting He told
me that Garfield came into the White
mouse with dyspepsia, and that he could
eat nothing but the plainest OF food One
OF his favorite dishes was baked potatoes
and he would have these broken open as
soon as they came on the table He would
press the meaiy mass out of the skins with
MS handS and pour cream over it and he
thought that potatoes and cream were more
digestible than potatoes and butter He
told me that Garfield always had baked
potatoes Tor breakfast and that he ate beef
steak Tor breakfast and dinner.
President Hayes Sweet Tooth,
asked this man about the tastes of
President Hayes. He told me that HAYES
always had candy on his table and that
Mrs. Hayes dotted on angel and fruit cake
President Hayes would not eat pork. but
he liked good steak and mutton chops for
breakfast and his breakfast was always
big one. Said the steward to me: when
PRESIDENT Hayes was in the White House
we had our meals something like this
Breakfast was ready at 8 O'Clock and we
began with fruit, and followed this up with
oatmeal or gritS. We always had cake and
President Hayes especially liked cakes
made Of corn meal. The whole family drank
coffee, and We used Mocha and Java mixed.
AT l o'clock We had lunch, and at this we
had salad, cold meats. bread and butter
with coffee and tea. The big meal was at
O'Clock, and IL was served in courses
We usually began with oysters. and then
had fillet or roast, with vegetables We
had after this, game and dessert and we
never omitted the after dinner coffee We
never had wine on the table, and Garfield
Gid not drink wine with his meals"
Flow about President Arthur? You were
with him for a while?''
President Arthur always had wine and
he spent great deal in this way. He ate
light breakfasts, but his dinners were al
ways late and we had to wash the dishes
I'm the early morning. He kept good table,
but he was a hard man to work for"
Presidents Watch Dogs.
One of the biggest men who has ever
been employed about the White House was
the late Sergt. Densmore, who acted so long
as the watch dog of presidents. He stood
at the door Of the White House ami kept
off the cranks. He was over six feet IN size.
His arm was as big around as an ordinary
mans leg. but his bright blue eye could tell
crank at a glance. While he was in
office he told me many stories about his ex-
periences with crazy people wLo wanted to
get at the President. He would not let me
use the matter at that line, as he said be
did not think IL right for an emplove TO
talk about his employers. Now he is dead
and the men for whom he worked have
passed away. and / see no harm in raer-
tioning one or two of them. One case
which he spoke of was that OF man who
thought he was prophet. lie told him
that his name was mentioned in the book
of revelations, and that he made and un-
made Presidents. He said he controlled des-
tiny, and that Washington, Jefferson, Jack
son and Lincoln were made by him. He
wanted to get at President Hayes and
when he was opposed he made many
threats against the President and had TO
be carried off to jail Nearly every day
Densmore had to send some one to the asy-
lum or the police station, and ne often had
men to claim that they were the President
themselves and try to take possession of the
White House. Only a short time ago
man called with new religion to present
to President Harrison, and in 1890 a man
in woman's clothes was discovered moving
about among our fashiouable crowds here.
He was taken to the station house and
seven pocketbooks were found concealed
about the womans garments which he
wore Densmore took to a large extent the
place of detectives at the Whit" House
During Cleveand's last administration
rearly all Of his receptions were attended
by policemen I'm citizens clothes. and he
had the same place now held by Sergt-
Decker FRANK g. CARPENTER.