Evening star., 1897-03-20

1t was the quickest work the President has
yet done in that line. He was greatly as
sisted that day by one Of the White House
policemen. This officer kept the crowd
moving and did not allow any tarrying.
Another official of the White House pre-
vented people from stopping for an extend
ed conversation with the President. These
receptions are much appreciated by home
people and visitors, but they do not know
at what sacrifice the President gives them,
especially at this time.
Hard Work.
President Mckinley frequently works un
til midnight, looking over the papers of
Office seekers ed for him by Secretary
Porter He arises early and has his break
fast by O'Clock each morning. BY 10
O clock he has attended to hundred things
and is ready to receive the numerous callers
of the day. On Wednesday, the day men,
toned he was closeted with members of
his cabinet for nearly two hours. The
balance of the day until o'clock, with a
short interval for lunch, was taken up in
receiving all kinds of callers, from United
states senators down to the persistent old
women who want to ask that some relative
be appointed to cheap Office
Persistent Women.
1t is noticeable that these aged females
cannot be turned down by any rebuff from
doorkeepers or secretaries. The fact is that
they are not given rebuffs, but are politely
informed that the President is busy and
will be unable TO see them That doesn't
send them away. They remain around and
try every means possible to attain their
ends Sometimes they succeed. The old
story that woman is not to be deferred
when she once makes up, her mind is forci-
bly, brought to the attention of White
House officials every day. One day this
week an Old lady of Irish extraction wanted
to see the President on some trivial er-
rand She was eignty-seven years old and
hard of hearing. She stated that her eyes
were good. if her ears were bad, and this
was strictly true. Her sharp little eyes
singled out every official who passed. and
she tackled each one of them. all of them
giving her the same kind of shake, but she
took everything good naturedly.
The numberless aEeempts to see the
President each day, byrai} classes OF p"o-
pie, would take columns ito describe. Presi-
dent Mckinley. of course. knows nothing
of these things, which arSehandled by door
keepers and secretaries. 1t Is good thing
he doesn't have all this worry. Those he
does see give him enouEhitrouble 1t is not
his fault that he doesn't see every person
who calls Secretary Porter has his hands
full with cases of this kind of people.
Secretary Porter and the COlOred
DclesatiSn.
One of the funniest experiences the new
secretary has had was with delegation of
colored citizens of Maryland. Having lived
in Connecticut, where the "colored brother
is not numerous, Mr.. Porter is not familiar
with their habits when calling upon great
personagcs He didn't know until recently
that they like to make speeches on such oc-
casions. He didn't %kH6w that they could
make these speeches as long as a summer
sermon, when the congregation goes to
sleep before the pastor gets TO secondly.
In his blissfu ignorance. Mr.. Porter was
trapped He ushered delegation Of color
ed politicians into the Presidents presence,
and thought they would be through in
few minutes. The head of the party start
ed upon a formal speech, when he had
faced the President. He couldn't he pulled
off. He was going to say the words he had
been rehearsing for days. Mr.. Porter grew
redder in the face the Grafton proceed
ed. He rushed out to the room occupied by
the reporters and said something about 1t
being a shame. Still the Colored orator
held on. His meodious voice could be
heard all over the second floor ot the build
ing. When the final words were spoken
Mr. Porter was almost In stupor. The
President understood the colored brother
better, and when the orator started he
knew what to expect When delegations OF
colored politicians call now. Mr.. Porter
coaches them some before they enter. He
automatically tells them that the Presi-
dents room is not a school of elocution ard
that time is short
seeking errands are cordially received. and
their stories patiently listened to- President
Mckinley gives the closest attention to all
that is said to him, and looks his visitor
squarely in the eyes while the conversation
is going on.
The Public Reception.
After hearing Office seekers for hours an
ordinary man would be in little humor to
receive a large body Of people and to ap-
pear pleasant to all of them. But this is
what President Mckinley does. He is gem
orally in the east room at few minutes
past o'clock. The crowd is lined up and
begins passing. The President has learned
the art OF handling a big crowd quickly.
While he bestows cordial handshake upon
each visitor in line, the arm gently pulls
the visitor on. 1t Is an intimation that
there is not time for tarrying, but lots Of
people do not SO regard it, Half of the
crowd, especially the male portion, has
some compliment to bestow some remark
to make.
Why, l saw you up in Boston the last
time you were there" begins an old gentle
man with Short crisp side whiskers, land
l want TO say that l was then satisfied you
would some day be President" He wants
to say more, but the attendant who stands
opposite the President pushes him on and
Il remember seeing you at Canton" says
another or course you remember me-"
The President bows. This man also would
like to talk more. but is cut short.
1t is generally the old men who take
these liberties. They are certain that the
President has heard of them and will al
low the whole procession to stop while they
The Women ~, Line.
The women rarely say anything. They
wear their sweetest smtbe for eight or ten
feet before they get to qaim and when the
chief executive is reachsd these smiles
are firmly fixed. President Mckinley gives
a quick. graceful bow to each, but he ad-
mires a pretty woman, and often some of
these carry away Remembrance of an
unusually graceful bowa and charming
smile from the Presideiits;
A good many women take their babies
with them. Some of thAHsthink the Presi-
dent might kiss the youngsters. He has
not started this. however. He knows where
1t would lead. That isia trait, too, of the
southern politician. Senator Zeb Vance
used to kiss all the babies in his state
brought near him and bestowed resound-
ing whack upon the wives II they did not
object.
Smiles and Bows.
But the way some Of the people bow and
smile as they get near president Mckinley.
There's the man with the excessive bow.
He barely gets the Presidents hand in his