Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-29

Washington. April 22.-Perhaps there
is no colored man in the United States
known to more people than Arthur
Simmons, the White House doorkeeper.
This is cot tainly true OF the Washing
ton public Senators, Representatives
4 Office seekers. and everybody who on
business bent goes to the White House
comes to know Simmons. And it may
be added that his acquaintance has
been growing with unwonted rapidity
during the last six weeks. The March
Century contained a very good likeness
of him in standing posture and CHANGING
out over his sombre spectaces. When
ever in faTcical entertainments 10
Washington it is desired to represent
messenger or doorkeeper of king,
Z the actor Of this part is designated
Arthur Simmons, and no explanation
is needed, Among the colorad people
of the city, Mr.. Simmons is looked
upon as a shining light. and only the
more aristoGratic members of the race
claim his friendship. Simmons is a
born politician and diplomatist, and
his career Ia not without it's interest.
ing features,
He was born a slave In North Caro-
lima about the year 1910. In the
division of labor on the old plantation,
he was assigned to duty in the house,
! to run on errands, and serve in other
ways the two sisters who managed the
estate. That he might be a more
efficient helper, an exception was made
in that be was taught to read and
write. When the war broke out Sim
mons was not long in finding out what
it meant, and when be 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
flying trip northward, having his first
ride on the cars after he had passed
inside the Union lines. Hardly know
ing where he was going, he drifted into
Washington and presented himself to
President Lincoln.
Simmons had been for some days
thinking up an appropriate speech to
make to SO great man as he believed
the President to be, when he should
4 offer to dedicate 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. Mr.. Simmons was set
10 work there. This was about 1868,
and from that time till the assassina-
tion OF Lincoln Simmons life went on
without striking incident. When An
drew johnson became President, a
heavy chill passed over Mr.. Simmons,
for he feared that the new executive
would gather around him new
retinue. Here again a carefully pre-.
moi L.,
the life of the new President for some
analogy to his own, Mr.. Simmons
found that they were both born in
North Carolina. Accordingly, when
tho new President was looking over
the White House employees and came to
Simmons saying, And who are you,
Captain" the colored man drew
deep breath and replied with ponderous
solemnity: Mr.. President, i was born
in the State of North Carolina. -
That settles you," said President
johnson; "you stay right where you
are.''
Simmons became 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
py the President at an early hour one
morning very industriously setting the
cabinet room to rights. II lust want
to say one word TO you, Mr.. Prssi-
dent. said Simmons, and on being
told to go ahead, he spoke as follows |:
nave been wanting for sc me time to
get my salary raised You see, because
I'm up here at the White House, the
colored people look to me and nv
family to set them good example in
everything. ] want my children al
school to be dressed SO that thew NAV
be an example of neatness and pro
priety TO the other children. Ali 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 sccretary
came in was to have Simmons name
transferred to another payroll.
A great shock came TO Simmons when
Mr.. Cleveland was elected to the Presi.
dency in 1884. Simmons, as lifelopn
Republican. had ACQUIRED q very pool
opinion of Democrats. So earnest hac
he been for Blaine's election that be
devised the project of having strinl
OF banners extend from near the soutf
end of the Treasury Building to tint
foot of the capitol. He wanted tht
length of Pennsylvania avenue to bt
resplendent with Republican insignia.
With his record of partisanship, ht
naturally expected little from thu
Democrats when the sad news Of thei
election was heralded over the land. Il,
was about recocciled to his fate of Civ
ing up the 81. 200 position at the doc
of the private secretary of tue presi
dent when Mr.. Cleveland and Mr., La
mont entered the White House, To hi
great surprise, tho new Democrati,
administration decided to retain hi
services. Col, Lamont went even further
and got place for Arthur Simmons
Jr., In the government printing office
The expressions Of gratitude which thi
treatment called forth from the saga
clous doorkeeper were most profuse
He thought he had never found tw
men quite SO good as the now master
OF the White House. His children a
school challenged to fistc combat an
defamer OF the Democratic President,
When Gen. Harrison came 10, in 1889
bis private secretary, Major HaIford
decided that Mr.. Simmons was M
just the man be waited at tho door
aud SO transferred him to a place in tn
Treasury Department at the reduce
salary of 500. This nearly broke ID
old mans heart. He was sect to wor
in the basement, in rooms know popu
larry 10 Washington as ''Eotany Bay.
Here is Simmons own ACCOUNT of ia
transition:
When they got me over there the
ppt grsat leather apron on me-me
M