The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-02
A KISS, nut NOT AN OFFICE.
Account of "a widows visit 10 PresI-
dent johnson.

Mai James Low has been made collector
OF the port of Niagara Falls. He got the
Office without a contest such as marked his
candidacy for appointment as postmaster
of the former village of suspension bridge
by President Johnson in 1865. Another can
didae for the postoflice at that time was
the late Leander Colt, who had fought in
the civd war. had seen his captain killed
in battle and had brought the body home
for interment. Colt agreed with the widow
of his dead captain to oppose Low for the
postofiice and to divide the emoluments of
the office If they We're successful. It was
felt that the death on the battlefield of the
captain would be a strong card to win ia
vor In Washington. The story of the Wild
ow's experience as an ofi1ceseeker Is taxi
en- from the diary of her father, who ac-
companied her:
Saturday, July 15.-Thls is a day long to
be remembered After breakfast Lucy ana
I started with trembling hearts for the
Presidents mansion. Lucy had a card all
ready and gave IL to the usher, and we
went into the east room 10 wait. She
thought 1t quite uncertain az 10 our getting
a hearing and suggested thaV try to find
Mr. Clark, but 1 did not succeed. and
when l returned could not find Lucy, but
on inquiry found she had gone 10 the re-
ception room and that none but ladies' were
admitted to-day. This was gratifying in
telligence to me and / returned to the east
room to patiently wait the result
After an hour and half Lucy came
downstairs; her face fun of sunshine and
hope. We went out into the grounds and
she told me with great arAmatlon of the
cordial reception the President gave her
and the warm sympathy of his feelings for
her situation; seemed disheartened that the
President told her he feared the appoint
ment had been made two DAYS
ago. This had a saddening effect
on Lucy's hopes. but the President
told her to go to the Postmaster
General and inquire and then return.
We walked and had plenty OF time 20 con-
fer together. When we reached there Lucy
went in with more confidence than she
did to the President She was not long in
getting a hearing from MI. Denison though
very polite and gen tlemanly, he seemed de-
sirous of closing the interview by telling
her the appointment was made to Mr.
Low. Mr. Burt Van Horn (member of Con-
gress) had been down and insisted that the
appointment be given to him; that il was
then pfactce 10 give TO the men they
wished. Altogether Mr. DenIson seemed de-
sirous to dismiss her, but she held upon
him to get some ray of hope. / had waited
in the vestibule nearly an hour when she
came out in deep grief, her eyes red with
weeping; her grief alarmed me but saw
at once that she was stil hopeful and said
she would see the President again. for
he told her to come back and see him after
she had seen Mr.. Denison. But she wanted
to go to our hotel and wash away her
tears / urged her right in at once, telling
her that her tears were the best argument
she could use. She consented to try IL, and
no sooner presented herself than the ush-
ers told her to walk right in, as they were
so instructed by the President when she
left.
ut was now / O'Clock when she went in
the second time and the President was at
lunch. He soon came IN and went directly
to Lucy, and looking earnestly al her told
her to come into his private room Here
none but private officials are received. She
was seated by him on a sofa; he sat by her
in a most confidlng and friendly way; took
her by the hand and told her 10 dry her
tears; then went into most minute In
quiry all about her husband and children.
her parents, brothers and sister how her
husband came TO go into the army and all
about his death, fixing his penetrating
eyes on her countenance, as VI to deter
mine whether she was truthful. He said
he was impressed the first time he saw
her; felt that he had seen her before and
felt that he was acquainted with her. He
could see by her fingers that She used her
needle; asked If she made her children's
clothes; said that was very creditable to
her.
Conversation grew very familiar and
Lucy said she felt no more embarrassment
4. - "a
sonal friend or relative. He became very
familiar and playfully and plea ask
ed II he might have a kiss. She told him
as President Of the United States ne
might, but no other man under present
circumstances could. Kisses we're ex-
changed; he said she ought TO have this
appointment; that she was competent for
ats duties then asked " there was not
some other place che would like; that he
wanted to do something to help her They
spent an hour together and she often play
fully reminded him that she was occupying
too much Of his time. Once one OF his sec.
retaries came IN and whispered him that
Gen. Grant wanted TO see him. He said.
Let him walt that he wanted rest and
must turn to something agreeable As
this remarkable interview was bout clos
ing he said TO her, Go to the Postmaster
General and tell him If he will reverse this
appointment he would indorse it, And then
with hearty kiss and a most cordial God
bless you, she retired from his presence,
feeling that this interview seemed to her
more like romance than reality, and It
must so seem to all who hear the account
of IL, that a young and inexperienced and
artless widow. In humble life should have
so fascinated the President Of the United
States as 10 he'd him an hour in perfect
simplicity OF childhood Is passing strange
after Lucys return from the second
interview with the President her counte-
nance was In a glow Of JOY and excite
ment; che hardly got composed while we
were walking from the presidential man
sion to the postoftice. / was perfectly
COMPOUNDED at the relation she gave me
OF the interview and asked her " he had
not imbibed too freely Of wine al his