Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-05-18
MIR. M'K1NLEY WALKS
He GOES ABOUT WASHINGTON
WITHOUT FEARS FOR SAFETY
Exercise Dropped During the Spop;s,,
war WINS Afterward Resumcd-tt;.
quette Observed by the pub,;c w,,
He Goes for a Stroll.

On entering the White House Mr..
Mckinley did not make a recluse of
himself. During his hours of recre,.
'lon ne enjoyed long horseback rides or
walked along the streets as freely rs
AL! private citizen, without guards or
extra precaution for his personal safe.
~. Washington had been his home
tor many years as Il member of Con.
sress, and he felt at home, KNOWING
tue character and customs of the resi-
tents OF the national capital.
hen the Spanish war broke ont ho
was compelled to abandon his long
walks ana take his exercise chiefly
within the confines of the White Uousn
grounds. In the first place the demand
Tor ms time did not admit of his enjoy
ing the same relaxation as former.
Moreover, during the period of n for
elSn war 1t was felt to be unsafe for
the President to expose himself to the
possible attack of some person perhaps
devoted to the cause of the enemy.
Inc Idea of moving about followed by
guards was repugnant to him, and
therefore he abandoned his walks along
the public thoroughfares.
mus he got out of the habit of talk,
Ing 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. Hanna's home in Geor
gia. There he dropped again into his
Oh habits of recreation, and he Is
quoted as expressing determination
not to again permit himself to relapse
into sedentary habits. He has renewed
his walks and proposes to keep them
up.
President Mckinley knows n thing
about Washington which President
Cleveland never had an opportunity to
discover That is that it is point of
etiquette universally observed at the
national capital never to obtrude atten-
tons upon the President when he ap-
pears III public. On the street or in any
place of amusement in Washington the
President has the undisputed privilege
of appearing as any private citizen. He
Is never stared at unless it is by stran-
gers. and his appearance in theater
is not greeted with any sort of dem
onstration.
Grant and Arthur, more than any 9th
err Presidents, except Mckinley, enjoy
ed the privileges of plain citizens,
Grant being fond of driving alone, and
Arthur of walking. The President ma
walk where he pleases in the streets
Their notice than the tipping of a hat, I'M
less OF his own motion he stops to speak
with someone. Office seekers and petit
TONERS never venture to approach him
on the street. His surest ridCance of
the opportunities of the throng is to so
out among them.
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the British
ambassador. speaking of the American
customs that had impressed him, re-
marked that one of the most striking
things he had observed was the man
ner in which the President was treat
ed in public in Washington. He sug-
gested that, while Il foreigners first
/ impression 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 Old
servation that it was the highest pos
sible tribute of respect and cOnsidera-