Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-09
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Crowds Waited for Hours About the
Executive Mansion.

BY $50 o'clock this morning the driveway
end walks in front OF the Executive Man.
sion were filed with patient and anx-
ious. but happy. crowd. The injunction to
Coxey's army to keep off the gass was not
given to or enforced CT the District people,
who filled all available space in the White
House grounds. Fond mothers, with their
focks of little oEes. sat on the grass under
the trees and otherwise acted as If on their
own premises. The biLe-coated policemen
Joined in the spirit of the day and We're
willing that no more rules than possible
should be enforced. They had their hardest
time in keeping patriotic Juveniles from
cir bling over everything in sight. They
wantd to sit on the iron pickets
climb the three inexplicable golden
balls which ornament the front por-
tico. and go up, monkey fashion.
the tall white columns under witch the
District heroes were to pass. Beyond these
youngsters, who still express intense regre.
at having been deprived of opportunity TO
XIII Spaniards the police had no trouble
Inc vast crowd was composed largely of
ladies', and they naturally did not violate
ponce regulations. They were too happy
To 40 SO. anyhow. Their minds were filled
with thoughts Of the returning soldier boys
These thoughts frightened the faces of the
Old ladies until they looked young again
while the joyous smiles and becoming faces
again for many days.
Scene of Expectancy.
The scene was one of great expectancy
and happy confusion. Every sound of
music or of marching bodies caused the
young people to bound away to the avenue
gates to ascertain the situation. Soon they
would return and chat away in merry ex-
pectancy of the coming of the parade
which all had assembled to see
In hundreds of fair hands We're flags and
flowers. Hours of waiting, much uncom-
Portable iostling and warm sun had no
terrors for these patriotic relatives friends
and admirers of the District soldier boys
Mrs. Mckinley looked out from the win
ooWs of her apartments and viewed with
pleasure his part of Washington's testi-
monial to heroism. When she went AWAY
Ior her morning drive she saw more of the
happy gathering, and pleasantly returned
the greetings bestowed upon her.
The President Kept Busy.
The President was too busy in his office
te make his appearance until the arrival
Of the regiment. He not only had import
ant callers, but had to be present at cabi-
net meeting.
The throng paid little attention to any
of the days callers. The people had not
come to see statesmen. They wanted to
see the fighting boys of the home regiment
Rumors that the regiment had been de-
lay ed made their way among the throng by
10 O'Clock, but they only had the effect of
making each person hold his place with
more care. Shortly after 10 o'clock many
of those on hand were told by persons in
authority that number of hours would
elapse before the regiment would arrive.
This, after some time, caused several hun
dred persons to go away, but the vast ma
jority remained in their places. and there
was constant arrival of recruits.
In Touch With the Train.
Col Montgomery, who has charge of the
W hite House telegraph Office, kept N touch
with the train dispatchers of the Ponnsyl-
vania road, and knew of the arrival of the
regiment at all points. He authorized the
policemen to say to the throng that the
regiment would hardly reach the White
House before o'clock. The policemen did
this, but they were no doubt suspected of.
wanting go ID places for friends Those who
lad positions on the steps of the portico
clIng tenaciously to their places, and did
rot bulge an inch.
Oats big joke de cops givin' u.s." said
one of the Juveniles " no had several times
attempted to climb to a commanding place
on the front of the Presidents horne, and
had been frustro ted in his game. II know
dem fellers frum DID," he continued IAN
els chicken prerposes to roost right on dis
pertickular locality until evening" His
sentiments were accepted by all the other
juveniles as eminently sagacious, while the
ioohtu SOuT llat INelr statements
were distrusted.
The White House itself was closed to WIS.,
itors, except those having business The
pcrtico where the President was to stand
was the only place kept free from the
crowd.
As the afternoon wore on the crowd stin
retained ITS patience. The Washington
Juvenile was not only in good humor but
full of philosophy. 1T 'ud be a good
scheme to have some of dem bareback dey
been kickin' about" said one, but 1 reckon
my stomach will have to keep cool until
gifts to my mommers house at dinner
time"