The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-17

She Receives All Sorts of Letters, but
Only Reads a Few.
Harper's Bazaar.

ftdrperS BaZar.
So large is the volume of material which
comes with each mail from north, south,
east and west addressed to Mrs. Cleveland
that 1t has been found necessary to divide
into classes those letters which appear de-
serving of any notice whatever. First In
this category come the requests for charity,
in numberless forms. Appeals for money
are abundant; OF course; Next come dn,e e ads
that she will make an apron for fair IN
Podunk. or dress a doll for church ex-
hibition at Smthville. Perhaps the funniest
of the begging letters are those which crave
the gift of baby carriage; they are usually
accompanied by a clipping or copied quota
ton from an obscure local newspaper; IN
the CleveiandS as receiving carload OF
little carriages as presents from inventors
rectly 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 letter-writer runs riot on oc-
casion, and represents as a real happening
what might have occurred il the whole guild
OF American carriagemakers had let them
selves loose In search OF great advertise
ment.
A second class of letters are those in which
Mrs. Cleveland is besought to use her in
fiuence with the President to procure offices
or other political favors for somebody in
whom the writers are interested. Even the
wives of prominent Congressman have been
known to bsspeak IN TINS way , the cov nserI
committee assignments for their husbands
in one or the other legislative chamber.
To the third class belong letters asking the
use of Mrs. ClevelandS name as patroness
for some enterprise, as subscriber for
book. or as subject of dedicatory para
In a fourth class are grouped the con-
ventionai engraved invitations to take part
in some festivity-a wedding, reception,
christening, birthday party, the anniver-
sary of society, the laying OF a corner
stone.
The almost unbroken rule in all these
cases is for one of the executive clerks 10
write a stereotyped form of answer, consist
ing of polite acknowledgment and decii-
nation. Here and there a misSive VIII have
some distinctive feature which causes 1t to
be set apart from the rest and brought To
Mrs. Cleveland's notice when she retires
from the breakfast room and seats herself al
her desk: A request that she Will allow her
self to be nance godmother for some
budding genius Of new generation Is rarely
refused, an autograph is given where the
circumstances warrant the belief that the
courtesy will not be abused, and on rare
very rare-occasions a photograph Is added
Now and then, at long intervals, one OF the
other requests receives a favorable response,
but when the recipient is ungracious enough
to share the news OF his success with the
public the result is such a deluge OF appears
and demands from chronic mendicants that
pertinent is turned to disgust. and the lesson
costs the next thousand supplicants a
prompt denial Of their prayers;
AS an example of the use 10 which ever
the deciination of the invitation may be put
a single instance may be cited. From 9
social climber of the most self-obtrusive and
offensive type, who had been eagerly bent
for years on obtaining some personal recog-
rition from the Presidents family came one
day card for the wedding reception of his
daughter The stereotyped response was
sent by one of the clerks, expressing the re-
greet of the President and Mrs. Cleveland thai
they would be unable to attend. The morn
ing newspapers on the day following the az
fair contained full account OF all that took
place, ending with list of distinguished
guests, and the recorded procession of gen
erals and commodores, and judges wound
ND with the announcement that President
and Mrs Cleveland were to have honorec
the occasion with their presence. but at the
last moment were unavoidably prevented
and Obliged to send their regrets