The age-herald., 1899-03-31
ETIQUETTE OF THE CAPITAL
DisnatarieS Are Not Stared At When
 on the Streets.
TRIBUTE OF BRITISH AMBASSADOR
Sir Julian Pauncefote Comments on the Veneration Shown the Chief Exec tive By the American Public
 The President Improved.

Washington, March s0.--(Specal 1.-The president has improved in every way since he went south. He had begun to look pretty old during the last part of this winter. he was becoming fieshy, too, and his face had lost much of the wonted vivac ty and pleasant humor. But fortnight has dore a lot for him. He has taken up the hapt he assumed when he first came Into office, that of walking about the city every day For the first six months there was scarcely day when the chief executive did not stroll up Connecticut avenue or ou,g to one of the parks. Gradually, as the troubles of his office increased, he forsook the thlckly thronged avenues and took to side streets Just before he left for Thomasville l saw him and General Corbn walking up Sev- enth street, the least frequented highway in the city. He looked as if anxious to avoid people and as if he wanted 10 be alone as far as possible. This was unlike the president, and 1t was this tendency which was growing on him that caused his friends anxiety and made them deter mined to get him out of the rut into which he was getting.
 Gradually he even stopped going on the streets at all and confined his outdoor ex-- ercise to the hideous and bewildering ser pentine walks in the white lot, back of the presidents home He has promised his friends that he will keep up hts daiiy walks and not lapse again to his abnormal desire to shun people.
 Likes to Mingle With the Throng
 To like solitude is abnormal to the pres.- dent. He loves to be with people and watch their antics in the streets. He once said that he would give almost anything to go unrecognized through the streets and hear children laugh and watch others with out being observed himself The Washing ton public is well trained in the matter of etiquette to the president when he ap- pears on the street. Possibly in no other city could he walk along for squares with out having some sign of recognition shown him. Some times people lift their hats to him, but make no further demonstration and only look at him on the Sly.
 The people of Washington are not less in terested in the personality of the chief executive than the inhabitants of other cities. In fact they are even more interest," ed for the reason that their appetite is given a keener point by reason of his liv- ing here.
 But it seems to have become an unwrit- ten law even among children of the city, that the president must not be stared at rudely as if he were a freak, but allowed to pass on his way without any demonstra- tion being shown or any recognition made could possible embarrass him. President Grant inspired the utmost veneration among the people here and atays went in and out without any undue notice being taken of him.
 President Harrison was frequent pc .4-tN zi@ sar11 Arthur was especially free and untram- meled In his movements President Cleve- land was too large to walk and seldom was seen outside of the white house, except in his carriage.
 Habits of the Presidents
 But none of the presidents since tho civil war have gone about the streets as freely as did President Mckinley during the first year he was in the white house. The fact that he gave up the habit to certain extent was not due to any desire to court exclusiveness but as his cares in creased and the country's affairs became more involved. his wishes to be alone cor respondingly increased. When he zoos awalking the papers pay no attention to it and no comment is ever made by the people on the street in his hearing.
 What is true of their treatment of the president is equally true of ali notables and foreign potentates in the city. In fact the inhabitants Of Washington are the best hammered people in the world Chinese pass in their brilliant celored robes and the minister and attaches from far on Corea in outlandish frocks come and go unmo- tested by any outward form of curiosity The people of the pavements and the parks have learned to pay this silent respect to all celebrities by feeling it for their presi- dent.
 Even in the theaters the president and his household can enter box without the audience showing its curiosity or making any demonstration whatever. When a roy al parsonage enters theater abroad the entire audience arises and remains stand ing until the ruler or royal person takes his seat. Foreigners here attribute the lack of demonstration on the part of the people when the president comes into their midst as a sign of the extreme democracy of the country and the lack of respect the people feel here for their rulers or for the heads of the government Sir Julian Pauncefote understands the dignity of the respect which the American people show their president
 Ambassador Pauncefote's Tribute
 "Never have I seen greater homage than that which the Americans pay their presi- dent" he said the other day in talking on this subject.
 "There is a respect implied In their s. lence of which any ruler of Europe might be proud. To see the president of this country come into crowded theater and to watch the audience endeaYoring to ap- pear indifferent to his presence, and see