The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25
coLoRED WHITE HOUSE DooRMAN.
Career of Arthur simmons, Who Was
Born n Slave in North Carolina.

Born n Slave in North Carolina.
From the New York Evening Post
Washington, April 19.-Perhaps there is
no colored man in the United States known
to more people than Arthur Simmons the
white house doorkeeper. This is certainly
true of the Washington public. Senators.
representatives. office-seekers, and every
body who on business bent goes to the
white house comes to know Simmons. And
1t may be added that his acquaintance has
been growing with unwonted rapidity dur
ing the last six weeks. The March Cen
tury' contained a very good likeness of
him in standing posture and glancing out
over his sombre spectacles. Whenever in
farccal entertainments in Washington it
is desired to represent a messenger or
doorkeeper of a king, the actor of this part
is designated Arthur Simmons, and no ex-
PLANTATION is needed Among the colored peo-
pie of the city, Simmons is looked upon as
a shining light, and only the more aristo-
cratic members Of the race, claim his
friendship. Simmons is a born politician
and diplomatist, and his career is not with
out its interesting features.
He was born a slave in North Carolina
about the year 1910. In the division of la
Dor on the old plantation, he was assigned
to duty in the house, TO run on errands,
who managed the estate. That he might
be a more efficient helper, an exception
was made in that he was taught to read
and write. When the war broke out Sim
mons was not long in finding out what it
meant, and when he determined that the
people of the north were the friends of his
race in the struggle, he decided to leave
North Carolina and become an ally of the
union forces. He made a flying trip north
ward, having his first ride on the cars af
ter he had passed inside the union lines.
Hardly knowing where he was going, he
drifted into Washington and presented
himself to President Lincoln.
Simmons had been for some days think
ing up an appropriate speech to make to
so great a man as he believed the Presl-
dent TO be. when he should offer to dedi-
cate his services to the cause of liberty
and union. 1t was the fervid eloquence
of this speech which won the attention of
MIR. Lincoln and as they were looking for
an extra colored servant at the white
house just then, MIR. Simmons was set 10
work there This was about 1868, and
from that time till the assassination of
Lincoln Simmons life went on without
striking incident. When Andrew john
son became President, heavy chill pass
ed over Simmons, for he feared that the
| new executive would gather around him
a new retinue. Here again a carefully
prepared speech saved him. In search
ing the life of the new President for some
analogy to his own. Simmons found
| that they were both born in North Caro-
lima. Accordingly, when the new Presl-
dent was looking over the white house
employees and came to Simmons, saying:
"And who are you, captain" the colored
man drew a deep breath and replied with
ponderous solemnity: Mr.. President, /
was born in the state of North Carolina"
THAT settles you" said President john
son; you stay right where you are
Simmons became a loyal supporter of
the much-assailed President after that.
With President Grant, Simmons had
only one important colloquy. He had
| watched his chances, and was found by
| the President at an early hour one NORM
| ing very industriously setting the cabi-
net room to rights. II just want to say
one word to you, Mr.. President" said
Simmons, and on being told to go ahead,
| he spoke as follows: IT have been want
| ing for some time to get my salary raised.
| You see, because I'm up here at the white
house, the colored people look to me ana
| my family to set them a good example
| in everything. / want my children at
| school to be dressed so that they may be
an example of neatness and propriety to
| the other children. All the children know
that / am up here, and they expect that
| of my children" This speech, too, was
successful, and the first thing President
! Grant did that morning when his private
secretary came in was to have Simmons
! name transferred to another pay roll.
A great shock came to Simmons when
Mr.. Cleveland was elected to the presi-
| dency in 1884. Simmons as a lifelong
republican, had acquired a very poor opin-
| ion of democrats. So earnest had he been
| for Blaines election that he devised the
project of having a string of banners ex-
tened from near the south end of the
| treasury building to the foot of the capitol.
Il he afh o. De-. slKH,. IL,
! avenue TO be respondent with republican
| insignia. With this record of partisan
| shin. he naturally expected little from the
! democrats when the sad news of their
| election was heralded over the land. He
was about reconciled to his fate of giving
up the 81, 200 position at the door OF the
/ nrivate secretary of the President
! when Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Lamont en-
/ tered the white house. To his great sur
/ nr.ise the new democratic administration
| decided 70 retain his services. Col La
mont went even further, and got a place
| FOR Arthur simmons, Jr., In the govern
ment printing office. The expressions OF
/ gratitude which this treatment called forth
| fronn the sagacious doorkeeper were most
/ nrofuse He thought he had never found
| two men quite so good as the new masters
| of the white house. His children at school
| challenged 10 fstic combat any defamer
| of the democratic President.
when Gen. Harrison came in In 1859 his
private secretary, Mai Halford, decided
| mat simmons was not Just the man he
/ wanted az the door, and so transferred
him TO a place In the treasury department
| M the reduced salary OF 500. This nearlv
i broke the old mans heart. lie was set
/ 10 work In the basement, IN rooms known
popuiar,y In Washington as Botany Raw"
| Here Ia simmons own account OF the
/ transition.
"when they got me over there they nut
/ n great leather apron on meme. who
mao b'th N..n ~ aH.e'ihills win an these
/ statesmen. the dnest Ia the land. who Visit