The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-26

the CIevelands themselves are concerned.
Miss Esther Is said TO be the very image
OF her father in looks as well as dispO-
sition-stroug Of will, firm and determined.
If she is shut ID in the closet for DISC
bedience she never makeS a fuss She
should have been a son. and, indeed, was
actually so announced BY mistake which
recalls a good joke involving a practical
joke on Gen Fitzhugh Lee, the distin-
guished soldier and statesman.
About the time OF Miss Esther's birth,
the Virginia state democratic state con-
ventiOn was in session. The delegates
wanted Gen. Lee to make speech, but for
political reasons, he politely but firmly de-
clined TO go upon the rOstrum. Then
someone perpetrated the joke on the gen.
eral which brought forth the speech, but
which made him the target for no end of
fun. A Virginia member telegraphed a
friend in Washington asking that he send
a fictitious telegram to Gen. Lee, SAYING
there had been new arrival in the Cleve-
land family at Gray Gables. The Wash
ingtOn man took the hint, and did as re-
quested- Within an hour, therefore, Gen.
Lee received dispatch saying that Gro
yer Cleveland was happy father, and that
his offspring was a boy. Such an aus
picious event could not go by a Virginia
convention unnOticed-at least, so thought
Gen. Leland he accordingly made the
speech Of his life in the democratic con-
vention. Il appeared in print something
like this: Ladies and Gentlemen, l am
happy to inform you that the democratic
party has candidate this day for future
presidential honors. He is the illustrious
MASSACHUSETTS, and Cleveland is his
name"
It is needless to add that the convention
went wild; but the next day Gen. Lee went
wild when he found out the hoax that had
been perpetrated on him.
A short time after this, happened to
nave the general as my neighbor at a big
banquet at Old Point Comfort The oc-
caslon was the opening Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio transatlantic line of steamers
from Newport News to Liverpool. Gen.
Lee was telling me the above story and
enjoying the joke hugely, although he said
Mr.. Cleveland had not answered his letter
of explanation. Just as the ex-governor
had finished. a dispatch was handed him.
He thereupon excused himself, and opened
IT,. Then there was a roar of laughter, in
which ali the table subsequently Joined,
when they knew the contents of the tele-
gram. Il was from the late Frank Hat
ton, editor of the Washington Post, and
former Postmaster General, and read as
follows:
mo mistake this time Your much her
aided Cleveland boy is a girl
ThereupOn we all drank TO the health
of Gen. Lee. attended one of the popular
white houses receptions at Washington
recently. In the crowd that came into
the east room were a number of children.
l stood near the President as the line of
visitors filed by. and every time a little
child reached Mr.. Cleveland. his eyes
beamed with delight, and he stopped the
procession of hand-shakers until he could
ask the tot question or two. His interro-
cation was generally, How are you, my
little MANI" And if the child answered
the President would volunteer another
question. Many time has Mr.. Cleveland
turned from the cares of office to play
with his children. Old care has a mort
gage upon every estate, but especially
upon an incumbent of the white house
So that the oasis in the desert of office
| seekers, among the patriots" and politi-
clans, is a roicking, romping youngster
Everybody recalls the stories of how Pres
ident Harrison used TO shy pillows at his
little grandson, Ben Mckee. And in pref
ty much the same way to-day, President
Cleveland casts off the cares of state.
The tots of the white house lots God bless
them May they live long and be happy.
Certainly they are now the sunshine or
| the executive mansion.
Francis Leon Chrisman.