Evening star., 1896-07-18
THE PRESIDENTS CLERKS
They Are Enjoying Deserved Respite From
Hard Work.
Pleasant Personal Gossip About Men
Who Hold Positions In the
White House.

No clerical force In Washington Is more
benefited by the coming of summer than
the corps of White House clerks and as
sistants. As soon as the President and
private secretary go to their summer homes
in Massachusetts the volume of Executive
Mansion business falls to almost nothing,
and the duty of the clerical force is like
that of a fire engine-to be on guard in
case anything happens. Maj. Octayius l..
Pruden. the efficient assistant secretary to
the President. is still finding a few papers
to enter OH the books. and a little business
to close for the season. Whether he will
pass his vacation in Europe. where his
son is now sojournng, or on the shores
of New Jersey has not been decided, but
in any event he will be we'll refreshed
for the duties of the closing year of this
administration.
Executive Clerk Crooks duties 60 OH
about the same in summer as In winter,
and lose little of their arduous nature by
reason Of the absences from the city. The
clerical force still has to be paid semi
monthly. and the supplies of stationery
must occasionally be purchased. and the
papers scanned for searching editorial com
ment.
Mr.. Benjamin F. Montgomery. the eff
cient clerk whose service at the White
House dates from the early days of the
Hayes administration, will pass his va
cation at a country place in Virginia, where
rural scenes and picturesque hooks abound.
Mr.. Warren 8. Young, who entered the
White House with President Garfield, has
been unable to start on his vacation on ac-
count Of the Christian Endeavor conven-
ton. several delegates 10 which he enter
tained at his residence on l street. MIR.
Youngs vacation, as heretofore, will fol-
low musical lines. His singing at Chautau-
qua last summer was favorably commented
by the press. and 1t Is likely that he
will achieve added honOrs in that direction
this season. Mr.. Young will take no active
part in the presidential campaign. al
though his sympathies are said to be
strongly with Mckinley. Both are Ohio
men.
Mr.. George L. Cortelyou. who Is now
completing his first year as executive clerk
at the White House, has not formulated
mis- vacation plans. He will probably go to
the mountains with his family.
Mr.. George E. Marshall. formerly a spe-
cial messenger, has had added to his duties
that Of index clerk and telephone secre-
tary to the President.
MIR. Arthur Simmons. the sagacious col
ored gentleman who presides at the door of
entry to the private secretarys rOom and
thus becomes the first breakwater against
the tide Of would-be presidential visitors.
Is resting this summer in preparation for
the fall campaign. He will support Nc
ktnley and Bryan. Whichever is elected,
his general patriotic instinct will compel
him to give his most cordial support. and
no one who knows Mr.. Simmons will ques-
ton that his services will be equally eff
c;ent and painstaking, with either demo-
cratic a republican President. 1t is
country, and not party with him.
Mr. Charles Loeffier calls at the White
House daily to attend to the forwarding of
packages and papers to the President at
Buzzard's bay. Mr.. Beckley. the trust
worthy messenger. has not yet betaken
himself of a vacation. Mr.. Brown. the new
messenger. who is son of Bishop Brown,
will also take a few weeks recreation.
With the force of ushers down stairs
sc me changes have been made. Mr.. Du-
bois succeeded Capt Dexter as head usher
and he appointed Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.
PreHdel day men during the Christian En-
deayor convention, since they were better
able to give the visiting delegates the in
formation desired than the other members
of his staff.