The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-06-05

by the way, what Is the fiat below
"AweeI," said the old scotchman.
scratching his head. If ye ask me for
IF We ask me for my opinion, think it's
private lunatic asylum"
The fat above is still vacant. tx
change.
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 neces-
sary to divide into classes those letters
which appear deserving Of any notice
whatever. First in this category come
the requests for charity, in numberlcss
forms. Appeals for money are abun-
dant, of course. Next come calls for
food and clothing. Then come demands
that she will make All apron for a fair
in Podunk, or dress doll for church
exhibition at Smithville. Perhaps the
funniest of the begging letters are those
they are usually accompanied by clip
ping or copied quotation from an Oh
scure local newspaper, in which an i'm
aglnative contributor describes the Cleve-
lands as receiving carload of little car
rlages as presents from inventors and
manufacturers all over the country d.
rectly after the birth of each child As
matter of fact 10 such presents have
ever come to them: but the fancy Of the
average Washington letter-writer runs
riot on occasion, and represents as
real happening what might have occurred
If the whole guild of American carriage
makers had let themselves loose in search
of great advertisement.
second class Of letters are those
III which Mrs. Cleveland is besought to
use her influence with the President to
procure Offices or other political favors
for somebody i'll whom the writer's are
interested. Even the wives of promi-
nent congressman have been known to
bespeak in this way the interference of
the President to obtain coveted commit
tee asst gnements for their husbands in
one or the other legislative chamber.
TO the third class belong letters ask
| ing the use of Mrs. Cleveland's name as
| a patroness for some enterprise, as a
subscriber for book, or as subject of Il
dedlcatOry paragraph.
In a fourth class are grouped the con-
ventlonal engraved invitations to take
part III some festivity-a wedding, a re-
ceptlon, a christening. birthday party,
the anniversary of a society, the laying
| of cornerstone.
The almost unbroken rule in all these
cases is for one of the executive clerks
to write stereotyped form of answer.
consisting of polite acknowledgment
and declination. Here and there q
missive will have some distinctive feature
which causes it to be set apart from, the
rest and brought to Mrs. Cleveland's no
tice when she retires from the breakfast
room and seats herself at her desk. 4
request that she will allow herself to be
named as godnother for some budding
genius OF new generation is rarely re-
fused, an autograph is given where the
| circumstances warrant the belief that the
courtesy will not be abused. and on rart
very rare-occasions a photograph is
added; Now and then. at long intervals
one OF the other requests receives ia.
vorable response; but when the recipien,
is ungraclous enough to share the news
OF his success with the public, the re-
suit is such deluge of appeals and de.
mands from chronic mendican ts that tht
kindly feeling which prompted the ex
pertinent is turned to disgust, and the les
son costs the next 1000 applicants ;
prompt denial of their prayers.
AS an example of the use to which
the defamation of an invitation may bt
From a social climber of the most self
obtrusive and offensive type. who haG
been eagerly bent for years Oh obtaining
some personal recognition from the Pres
ident's family. came one day a card fol-
the wedding reception of his daughter
The stereotyped response was sent by
one of the clerks, expressing the regre,
OF the President and, Mrs. Cleveland that
they would be unable to attend The
morning newspapers. ON the day follow
ing the affair contained a full accoun,
OF all that took place. ending with o lis,
of distinguished guests: and the recorded
procession of generals and commodore,
and judges wound up with the announces
ment that president and Mrs. Cleye
land were to have honored the occasion
with their presence. but at the last mo
obliged to send their regrets. "-Harnar'
Bazaar.