Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-30
AN OFFICIAL PROMENADE
The President Takes His First
Walk Abroad T his Term.
ALL HIS CABINET WENT WITH HIM.

southern Luncheon Was Given In Honor
of Mr.. Bisseli. Who Is About to Retire.
WASHINGTON, March so 49, President
Cleveland made his only public appear
ancc on the streets of Washington on Fri
day rs u pedestrian since his first term
when he occasionally was seen walking
around the grounds in the vicinity of the
White House. He not only surprised a
great many when HI passed in his stroll of
six squares, accompanied by his entire
ca|'inr:. hut the patrol of six policemen
who stand guard around the entrance
gazed hrrathlrSS at the sight of the prCsi-
dent heading the party and marching it by
twoS across TO the state, war and navy
departments, and thence under one of the
great arches. through the building and on
to the street, where he continued his
course due wrist until Secretary Herbert s
house the objective point Of the excursion,
was reached.
The Friday meeting of the cabinet was
purp"s"ly adjourned an hour early III or
der 10 start the expedition on time. The
occasion leading to the outdoor appearance
was luncheon given 10y Mr.. Herbert in
honor of Postmaster General Biss,ll, who
rCtircS from the cabinet next week.
Southern Lunch.
FAIRY this week the secretary told the
president and his brother cabinet officers
of ~ little treat i'll store for them in tho
form of typical southern lunch cooked
by the Srcrutary's old Alabama cook and
consisting of dishes which Honc but ne
gro could prepare to II turn. The invita-
tion WAS promptly accepted, and Friday,
INN ruiatctN after the cabinet session, was
fixed for the Time Private Secretary
Thurhrr WAS taken into confidence and
told tn keep mum as to tho destination of
the distinguished party when it left the
White House
Mrs Cleveland at the Same time deter
mined to honor Mrs. Bisscl by a lunch
con, when she might say goodby to the la
dies of the cabinet
Secretary Herbert made elaborate prop
arations for his guests, and the party was
to bo without ladies. Shortly after /
O'Clock, just tho hour whrn hundreds of
government clerks and officials of the
state, war and navy building and of the
treasury department. only n square away,
had returned TO their desks from q half
hours breathing spell, tho strange thing
happened that has started tho town discus
sing the sudden depart !ro of the president
in taking tn walking. The hour had been
carefully selected when There would he
hut a few p"nple to Curiously observe the
pedestrians.
With much ceremony tho great swing
ing doors of the White House were thrown
open hy tw" stalwart policemen, who
could Not account for the president &C
ti"n In starting out when it was known
no carriage WAS waiting under the porto
c"rhrrr. They asked no questions and ST
lcntly watched the party
The president came first dressed in n
long fr"ck coat. silk hat and tan gloves
He walked along ut the head of a single
file of twuS, composed Of his cabinet. If
they had been formed 10y military man.
the line could not have been moro accu-
rate Instead of falling in by height the
cabinet brought up the presidents rear
in the order Of their rank, Secretary Nor
ton and retiring Postmaster General his
sci In the rear lilies, With locked arms the
part! proceeded ON course heading due
west for the navy department, distant one
square.
Three policemen along the asphalt pave
mrnt stood at attention and lifted their
hats rs the president and cabinet passed
along. Not 50 feet had been covered how
ever. when some clerk in the department
spied the strange sight and instantly com
lnunicatcd the fact to hundreds near hy
that the president was approaching Hun
drUds of faces We're at the windows at once
NA''' N'NTN' - h~PSN VA INC passing SuO"
Government Clerks Interested.
The direction at first taken indicated
that it WAS possible that the state depart
mrnt WAS tho objective point and num-
her of reporters at once concluded that
some important conference was TO be hold
in the secretary Of states office This soon
proved TO be erroneous, for tho party held
its course and entered the long court which
divides the great building and proceeded
ON to Seventeenth stroct, executed a flank
movement to G street, and thence on the
president led the way 10 Twenty first and
Il streets, whore the secretary : house was
reached.
Along the route were "a few curious pass
ers by. who looked on In aStonishmont
They had never before seen the president
walk except from tho door OF she White
House Ia his carriage. His step was no.
tiCvN To bo vigorous and without effort
He apparently enjoyed the novelty OF the
experience and Mt 5 O'Clock, when the
luncheon was over, returned by the same
route and accompanied by his full official
staff
During the entire Journey tho party was
unarct'npaiIird by n single policeman.
Th" president marShalcd his forces and
kept the party VOL in line The luncheon
WAS the first attended by she president out
side of the White House since he came into
office