The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-12
ADay In Mrs. CIeveIand's Life.

So large is the volume OF matertal
which comes with each mail from north.
south, east and west addressed TO Mrs.
Cleveland. that 1t has been found neces-
sary 10 divide into classes those letters
which appear deserving OF any notice
whatever. First In this category come
the requests for charity, In numberless
forms. Appeals for money are abundant,
of coarse. Next come calls for food and
clothing. Then come demands that she
will make an apron for fair In Podunk.
or dress a doll tor a church exhibition at
Smithville. Perhaps the funniest OF tho
begging letters are those which crave the
gift Of a baby-carriage; they are usually
accompanied by clipping or COPIED quo
taton from an obscure local newspaper, in
which an imaginative contributor de-
scribes the Clevelands as receiving car
load OF little carr'ges as presents frou
inventors and manufacturers all over The
country directly alter the birth OF each
child. AS a matter of fact no such pres
ents have ever come to them; but the
fancy Of the average Washington letter
writer runs riot on occasion. and repre-
sents as a real happening what might
have occurred IL the whole guild of Amer
ican carriage makers had let themselves
loose in search OF a great advertisement.
A second class of letters are those in
which Mrs. Cleveland Is besought Jtoliuse
her influence with no President topro-
cure Offices or other political favors for
somebody in whom the writer's are in
terested. Even tine wives OF prominent
Congressman have been. known TO bespeas
In this way the interference Of the presi-
dent to obtain coveted COMMITTEES assign
mepts for their husbands in one or the
other legislative chamber.
To the third class belong letters asking
the use of Mrs. Ileveland's name as q
patroness for some enterprise, as sub
scriber for book, or as subject OF ded-
icai ory paragraph.
In fourth class are grouped the con-
ventional engraved invitations 10 take
par in some festivity--a wedding, re-
ception, a christening, birthday psrty,
the anniversary OF q society, the laying OF
a corner stone.
The almost unhroken rule in all these
cases IL for ore Of the executive clerks 10
write n stereotpyed form Of answer, con-
sisting of polite acknowledge ent and
declination. Here and there missive
will have some distinctive feature which
causes IL to he set apart from the rest and
brought to Mrs. Cleyeland's notice when
she retires from the break last room ana
seats herselt at ner desk. A.request that
she will allow herself to be named as god
mother for some budding genius OF new
generation j. ra ely refused, an autograph
is given where the circumstances warrant
the belief that the courtesy will not tie
abused. and on rgrc--ve'y rare occasions
"
long intervals, one OF The, other requests
receives a favorab BILE response; nut wien
the recipient is uDgraclous enough TO
share the nows OF his success with tho
public, the result is such n deluge OF
appeals and demands from chronic mcDdi-
cants that, the kindly feeling which
prompted the experiment IL turned TO dis
gust, and the lesson costs the next thou
sand supplicants prompt denial of
their prayers.
AS an example of the use 10 wNich
even the decination OF an invitation
may be put, a single instance may e cit
et. From a social elm her of lie uit st 80 T.
obtrusive aud offensive type, who nad
been eagerly bent for year on obtaining
some personal recognition from tie Pres
ident's family, came ore cay card FOR
tho wedding rece option or his daughter.
The ster1 otyped response was sent by ono
of the clerks, exercising the regret OF tho
President and Mrs. Cleveland that thev
would be unable to attend. The morning
newspapers on the day following the
affair contained q full account OF all thot
took place, ending with list of dis
tinguished guests; and the recorded pro-
cession OF generals and commodores and
judges wound up with the announcement
that "presidcnt and Mrs Cleveland were
to have honored the occasion with their
presence, but at the last moment were
unavoidably prevented and Obliged T.
send their regrets -Harper's Bazar.