The times., 1899-12-10
ODD GIFTS FOR MR.. M'K1NLEY.
Many Presents From Citizens Never
Seen by the President.
rom the Ne" York JournaI

The splendid, great turkey which graced
the Presidents board on Thanksgiving
Day and which was sent to Mr. Mckinley
by Rhode Island admirer. was only one
of hundreds OF presents which are being
sent to the White House at this season Of
the year.
Only few days ago a box. Slated across
the top, arrived at the White House by
express from SauntOn. Va. addressed TO
His Excellency the Hon. William McKin-
ley, the President of the United States.
1t contained two dozen magnificent, great
red apples, evidently the pick OF an Or
chard.. And yet the pleasure Of opening the
box and tasting the fruit probably was re-
served for some meniaI, for it is an easy
guess that the President knew nothing
about the box. If an acknowledgment was
written the President never saw it.
One day recently farmer from southern
Pennsylvania sent by express dozen mon
ster ears of corn, the choice picking from
his fields, accompanied by note that ne
knew the President would be glad to know
Pennsylvania was growing such excellent
crops.
A third farmer, from the vicinity Of Har-
per's Ferry, sent a couple OF live squirrels.
which he said were the finest and largest
specimens he ever had seen OF the grey
variety, and were warranted to perform
certain tricks, for they had been carefully
trained.
A Missouri citizen early in September
sent the President a choice head Of cab
bage Somebody from Kansas sent him
sample box Of Kansas wheat, and with ii
a long letter stating that Kansas wa all
right politically and commercially and
would never 90 back on the Republican
party.
It is said that if the President were. per-
sOnally TO look after all OF the small gifts
which are forwarded to him by weIl-nean-
ing, but mistaken citizens he would have
time for little else. In the course Of a year
these gifts number far into the hundreds
and represent almost every department Of
of the field and garden. They are all re-
ceived provided the charges are paid, and
are slowed away in the White House base
ment where they stay for short time,
and from which place they finally ind
their way into the homes of the various
White House employees.
The only gifts which are not welcome at
the White House are those which come
from patent medicine men who are anxious
to secure a letter of acknowledgment from
the President to be used for advertising
purposes. All hair restOrers painkillers,
corn and bunion cures porous plasJers
cough drops, etc. are promptly consigned to
the scrap pile without ceremony, and no
letter is ever written by way Of acknowl-
edgmeut
About a year ago a Western farmer sent
the President pair of prairie dogs in
wire cage Other additions have been
made in the geological department from
time to time, and had they all been saved.
the White House would have a zoo" OF no
small proportions.
The flower and plant crank also has had
his turn at sending presents to the Presi-
dent. The specimens have covered a wide
range. OF both cultivated and Wild plants.
but, of course. it has been impossible TO
make any use of them. In every Instance q
letter of thanks is written by one of the
private secretaries and the gift is turned
over to the garbage man, the President
never seeing it.