Evening star., 1899-04-01
The President to Resume His Exer-
else on the Streets.
Was INTERRUPTED BY The Late War
Washington's Consideration for
the Chief Executive.
ABSENCE OF DEMONSTRATION

Inc IfeSluent looks lorNdIu ~ d iesuiilP-
ton Of that freedom of exercise which he
used to enjoy Before the breaking out of the
Spanish war. On entering the White House
Mr.. Mckinley did not follow the example
of Mr.. Cleveland and make reciuse of
himself. During his hours of recreation he
enjoyed long horseback rides or walked
, along the streets as freely as any private
citizen, without guards or extra precaution
for his personal safety. Washington had
been his home for many years as member
of Congress and he felt at home, knowing
the character and customs of the residents
OF the national capital.
Sometimes he accompanied by his sec
retary or a cabinet officer; sometimes he
was alone, but he never manifested any
fear of being .nolested or annoyed on the
street.
When the Spanish war broke out he was
compelled to abandon his long walks and
take his exercise chiefly within the confines
OF the White House grounds. in the first
place the demand upon his time did not ad
nit Of his enjoying the same relaxation as
formerly. Moreover. during the period of
a foreign it was felt to be unsafe for
The President to expose himself 10 the pos
sble attack Gf some person perhaps devoted
to the cause of the enemy. The idea of
moving about followed by guards was re-
pugnant to him. and therefore he abandoned
his walks along the public thoroughfares.
VIII Resume Old Habits.
Thus he got out of the habit of taking
this exercise so beneficial to his health, and
devoted himself more and more closely TO
his work, so that he was pretty well worn
down before his vacation at Mr.. Hannas
home in Georgia. There he dropped again
into his cid habits of recreation. and he is
quoted as expressing a determination not
to again permit himself to relapse into
sedentary habits. He has renewed his walks
and proposes to keep them up.
Consideration for the President.
President Mckinley knows thing about
Washington which President Cleveland
never had an opportunity to discover. That
is that Il is a point of etiquette universally
observed at the national capital never to
ohtrude attent ons upon the President
when he appears in public. On the street
or in any place of amusement in Washing
ton the President has the undisputed priv
ilege OF appearing as any private citizen.
He is never stared at unless it is by strang-
ers, and his appearance in theater IS not
greeted with any sort of demonstration.
A Washington audience regards 1t as rude
ness to stare into the Presidents box. and
to rise or make any demonstration on his
entering the theater would be regarded Us
inexcusable. The only time when there was
ever any disposition contrary to this mani
tested was during the enthusiasm of the
war times, and then it never extended very
far.
1t used to he regarded by some people as
breach of etiquette to even tip the hat to
the President on tie street. but that idea
has passed away, and now the President is
treated by the residents merely a fellow
citizen and neighhor with whom their ac-
quaintance does net admit Of familiarity.
Not Annoyed on the Streets.
Grant and Arthur. more than any other
Presidents. except Mckinley enjoyed the
privileges of Plain citizenship, Grant being
fond of driving alone, and Arthur of walk
irg. The President may walk where he
pleases on the streets of Washington. meet
ing with no further notice than the tipping
Of hat unless of his own motion he stops
to speak with some one. Oificeseekers and
petitioners never venture to approach him
on the street. His surest riddance of the
opportunities of the thrcng is to go out
among them. President Mckinley knows
nearly every one of any consequence in
Washington. and frequently during his
walks stops 10 speak with some one whom
he meets. but this is an exercise of his own
privilege and not thing ever forced upon
him,
The British Ambassadors Comment.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British ambas-
sador, speaking of the American customs
that had impressed him. remarked that one
of the most striking things he had observed
was the manner in which the President was
treated in public at Washington. He sug-
gested that, while a foreigners first impress
sion might be that the seeming Indifference
of the public toward the President when he
appeared on the street or at the theater
was the result OF an exaggerated idea of
democracy, it must become apparent on
closer observation that it was the highest
possible tribute of respect and censidera-
ton.