The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-07-04
A DAY IN MRS. CLEVELAND'S
LIFE.

So large is the volume of material which
comes with each mail from north, south.
east and west addressed to Mrs Cleveland,
that it has been found necessary to divide
into classes those letters which appear de-
serving of any notice whatever. First in
this category comes the request for charity,
in numberess forms Appeals for money
are abundant, of course. Next come calls
for food and clothing Then come demands
that she will make an apron for a fair in
Podunk, or dress doll for church cxhibi-
ton at Smithville. Perhaps the funniest
OF the begging letters are those which crave
the gift of a baby carriage; they are usually
accompanied by clipping or copied quo
tation from an obscure local newspaper, in
which an imaginative contributor describes
the Clevelands as receiving a car load Of
little carriages as presents from inventors
and manufacturers all over the country
directly after the birth OF each child As
a matter Of fact no such presents have ever
come to them; but the fancy OF the average
Washington etter-writer runs riot on oc-
clsion, and represents as a real happening
what might have occurred if the whole
guild of American carriage makes, had let
themselves loose in search of a great adver-
tisement
4 second class of letters are those in
which Mrs. Cleveland is besought to use
her influence with the President to pro-
cure offices or other political favors for
somebody in whom the writers are inter
ested. Even the wives of prominent Con-
gressmcn have been known to bespeak in
this way the interference OF the President
to obtain coveted committee assignments
for their husbands in one or the other legis-
lative chambers.
To the third class belong letters asking
the use Of Mrs. Clcveland's name as Il pat
roness for some enterprise, as subscriber
for Il book, oras the subject of dedicatory
paragraph
in Il fourth class are grouped the conven-
tional engraved invitations to take part in
som" festiyity-a wedding, Il reception, ii
christening, a birthday party, tine anniyer-
sary OF a society, the laying Of corner
stone.
The almost Uub.oaen rule in all these
cases is tor one Of the executive clerks to
write a stc.eotypcd form OF answer. consist
ing o! polite acknowledgement and Il
missivc win Lave some distinctive feature
which CAUSES it to bt ST apart from the
rest ana brought to Mrs. Cleveland !, notice
when she rctlrra from the hrcukfast-room
and seats hriscif At her desk 4 request
that she will allow herself to be named as
gU..mUthcr for SOME hulldin4 genius OF Il
graph is given where the circumstances
warrant the belief that the courtesy will
not he abused, and on rarr--yery rare
occasions a photograph is added Now and
then III lonL intervals, one o. the other re-
quests receive a favorable response: but
when the recipient is ungrarlons enough to
Sll"ic t'I' "C"S vi MS SUCCESS NItl lile pun
lie, the result l. such a deluge Of appeals
and demands from chronic me,licants that
the kindly feeling which prompted the
experiment is turned to disgust, and the
lesson costs the next thousand supplicants
Il prompt denial of their prayers.
As an example o. the use to which even
the declnation Of an invitation may he
PUT, single instance may be cited From
Il social climber OF the most srli-obtrusivc
and offensive type, who had heen eagerly
bent !ur years on obtaining some personal
recognition from the Presidents family,
came one day Il card for the wedding re-
ception of his daughter. The sterotyped
response was sent by one of the clerks, eN-
Mrs Cleveland that they would be unable
to attend. The morning newspapers on
the day following the affair contained a
full account of all that took place. ending
with Il list cf distinguished guests; and the
recorded procession of generals and com
modores and Judges wound up with the
announcement that President and
Mrs. Cleveland were TO nave honored the
occasion with their presence, but at the
last moment were unavoidably prevented
and obliged to send their regrets. - Har-
per's Bazaar.