The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-26
DRINKING IN HIGH PLACES.
Especially at the Table of the CHIEF
Executive.
From the Chicago Chronicle.

From the Chicago Chronicle
The triumphant announcement by the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
that President Mckinley will permit moth
ing stronger than water to be drunk at
the white house is possibly a little pre-
mature. The President-elect has never
been total abstainer. While temperate
at all times he takes a drink occasion
ally. At the same time, in most respects,
he might pass for puritan of the old
school.
Card games have no seduction for him,
and he does not even play billiards. 1t Is
likely that during the next four years
the billiard table in the basement of the
white house will be retired from service.
Mr.. Cleveland is very fond of an occa-
sional game of billiards and handles a
cue with some dexterity. He is said 10
play stiff game of poker, though never
beyond a limit of 81. All his life he has
been a moderate drinker. He would rath.
err have glass of good whisky than the
hest port or Madeira, and jug of hot
STUFF is always companion of his hunt
ing and fishing excursions. President
Harrison, while not teetotaller, INDUCED
very sparingly in stimulants-a fact which
did not prevent him from shooting pig
one day in Maryland by mistake for
deer. Some people said that the wines
served at the white house under his re-
gime were not up to the mark,
Gen. Arthur was connoisseur in wines.
He spent a lot of money on drinkabes
while in the white house. His favorite
amusement was giving dinner parties, for
which the guests were selected without
regard to politics, and simply for then
qualities as jolly companions. The nat
ural sympathy between the large colo
bottle and the small hot. bird was thor
oughly understood by this Presidential
epicure. Not a few old-timers. still lin
gering in Washington, smack their lips
when memory is recalled to those little
banquets in the private dining room OF
the executive mansion during the reign
of Mr.. Arthur
Poor Garfield was fond enough of high
things Of this World, but he suffered much
from dyspepsia, and no stimulants of any
sort were served on his private table at
wines at state dinners, and 50 escaped the
criticism which was bestowed so freely
upon Mr.. Hayes on account of his refusal
to provide them. In this matter Mr..
Though himself an abstainer,. he would
hardly have made such a ruling IL she
had not insisted on It, His enemies accus-
was obviously unjust, inasmuch as he
spent great sums on refreshments for his
public receptions, the caterers bill for
one such occasion being 5000. No Presi-
dent since Hayes has offered so much as
bite of cake or a glass Of lemonade to
guests at receptions.
One remembers the witticism of Mr..
Evarts. Secretary of State under Hayes,
who remarked. that water flowed like
champagne" at the white house banquets.
He did not hesitate TO express his disap-
prevail OF the prohibition system at the
executive mansion, saying that the Presl-
dent had no right TO impose his eccentric
notions upon people who we're being en-
tertaiued as guests of the nation. When
the time arrived for the first diplomatic
dinner of the administration, Mr.. Evarts
had discussion on the subject with Mrs.
HAYES He represented 70 her that the
foreign ministers had been brought up TO
drink wine instead OF water; IL was a ne
cesslty to them. The lady replied firmly: