Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-04-15
10 The White House.
HARRISON WRITESs ABOUT THE
SOCIAL LIFE OF THE CHIEF
EXECUTIVE.
Ex-President's Answer to the Cues.
tion, what Shall We Do With
Our Ex-Presidents?'

Our Ex-Presidents?'
81 shall attempt.to answer the ques-
tion, how much of his salary does the
President expend?" writes ex-Presi-
dent Harrison in an article in the
April Ladies' Home journal, on "The
Social Life of the President" "But
those who think he can live at his
ease after his retirement on the in
come from his savings should take
account of several things: First, that
the net income from safe Investments
does not exceed 4 per cent; second,
that the amount invested in home
yields no income, and third, that he
must have private secretary, for his
mail will be 80 large that he can not
deal with it himself. A son of one of
our most eminent Presidents who had
lost all his means told me that it was
pathetic to see his father, who was in
ill health, laboring beyond his strength
to answer the letters that came to
him. But if a President retains fair
measure of health he will take care of
himself. If he was ever capable of
directing the, affairs of the nation he
may be trusted to administer his own
business; and if he has won the esteem
of his fellow citizens, and has rightly
valued it, he will not barter it for
riches. To any vocation from which
man may be suitably called to the
presidency he may suitably return.
''It seems that when the Executive
Mansion was again occupied by Mr..
Monroe, after its destruction, the
United States purchased at an ap-
praisement his private furniture, and
with it small service of plate,'"
writes the ex-President. "In 1888 the
most important purchase of silver
plate was made for the Executive
Mansion, and at secondhand. The
pieces constituted the outfit of a
Russian nobleman-M. le General
Baron de Tuyi, who had been the
Minister resident of Russia at the
Court of Portugal The total cost was
"a, ,30s.s2. The silver service consisted
of 33s pieces, and there was gold
plated dessert set of spoons, knives,
forks, ect., consisting of 140 pieces.
These gold spoons were perniciously
active in the campaign of 1s40. Much
of this old silver is still in use-and a
piece or two has been added now and
then; but the White House plate is
now meager compared with that to be
found in the home OF many a private
citizen who, at the time it was bought,
was playing in his bare feet about the
door of pioneer. The silver service
recently presented by the citizens of
Indiana to the battle ship of that
name cost 81, ,7S5. 5.10-much more than
the service used in the White House."
Ex-President Harrison asserts that
State dinners cannot be wholly divest-
ed of the repression and stiffness
which are the accompaniments of all
State affairs. "There is no opportun-
ity for general conversation, he
writes, 'sand the chef and your neigh
Dor at the table have your fatein their
hands. But there are many other din
ners and luncheons to which the elect
and the congruous come; and twenty
such, seated about the round table in
the private dining room, make a
goodly and q heartsome company.
These are dinners that endure the
supreme test think well of your
host and of the company when you
wake up."
Ex-President Harrison also tells of
the fatigues of handwriting, and, also
the benefits of being brought in con-
tact with the good, honest-hearted
people of the country. "In the first
two weeks of an administration, he
says, "the President shakes hands
with from forty to sixty thousand per-
cons. The physical drain is very great,
and if the President is not an in
structed handshaker lame arm and
a swollen hand soon result. This may
be largely, or entirely avoided by
using President Hayes method-take
the hand extended to you and grip II
before your hand is gripped. 1t is the
passive hand that gets hurt. 1t has
been suggested that a nod or bow
| should be substituted for the hand
shake, but it would be quite as admiss-
ible to suggest revision of the Dec
laration of Independence. The inter.
est which multitudes attach to hand
shake with the President is SO grea
that the people will endure the great
est discomfort and not little peril II
life and limb to attain it. These ar
not the office-seekers, but the good
honest-hearted, patriotic people whose
God bless YOU is prayer and ben
ediction. They come to Washington
for the Inauguration, and later will
excursions, but they are mostly to b.
found near their own homes. The.
come out to meet the President whel
| he takes a journey, and his contac
with them and their unselfish AM
even affectionate interest in him re
yiye his courage and elevate his pur
poses. Mr.. Lincoln Is said to hav
called these popular receptions hi
public opinion baths.'"
A new gravel road will be built eas
from Columbia to the twin churche
in Boone county.