Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-10
VIM. II. Crook.

Stanton went, there went Loeffier. During
the famous impeachment proceedings
against the war secretary Loefiler slept
ana ate In the building. Stanton was bar
ricaded in his offices. and between him and
the hostile official world stood the sturdy
figure of his German guard. No man could
break down that barrier.
When the matter was settled and Stanton
resigned Sergeant Loefier was sent back to
the War Department from Stanton's house
and was later detailed for duty at the
white House as doOrkeeper. General Grant
while acting as Secretary of War had OBJ
served his faithful performance of duty and
recognized his merit.
During his years of service at the PresI-
dents door Captain Doeffler has collected
many scores Of important autographs His
small album has been long outgrown and is
now fat with repeated additions. 1t is be-
yond price During the Spanish war PresI-
dent Mckinley appointed his faithful door
Keeper captain in the regular army, as mil
tary storekeeper, and he was placed on the
retired list.
The Venerable Usher.
Downstairs is the dean of the White
House corps, Thomas F. Pendle. the usher,
who was detailed for duty November g.
1864, from the Washington police force as
bodyguard to the President and was later
placed on the civil stan OF the house.
Though far beyond seventy years. Mr.. Pen
die stands today erect and youthful in ap-
pearance. He is a walking Encyclopedia
of information about the house and its con-
tents and traditions. He knows the precise
date of the purchase of each of the articles
OF furniture. Visitors who go through the
parlors are highly entertained and instruct
ed by his discourse delivered slowly and
methodically. AT times Presidents have
consulted him as to the record of the house
furnishing. In later years his duty has
been to escort visitors through those por-
tiOnS of the est abliShmPOt which
to the public, and his autographs are TO be
found today in many thousands of Ameri-
can homes as souvenirs Of visits to WASH
ington.
In the trying days of assassination Mr.
Pendle has proved himself a stanch friend
of the presidential family. 1t was he who,
on the terrible night OF Lincoln's death.
comforted little Tad" and uuieted his pitt
full cries of grief for the father he had Just
lost. Thus. during nearly forty years, has
Mr.. Pendle remained on duty. faithful and
true. Out of the fullness of his recollec-
lions he recently compiled valuable vol
ume.
The list of veteran helpers around the
White House is not complete without ref
erence to Jerry Smith, the black major
domo. officially the chairman one of the
kindliest of souls ever encountered and one
Of the most courtly personages. Jerry was
a waiter in the Baltimore hotel once pa
troniZed by Gen. Grant He attracted the
notice of the soldier-Presdent by his dig
nified bearing and his sincere good nature.
AS a result of this acquaintance a hope
was born in Jerry's breast that he might
some day become identified with the ma
tional administration. and he accordingly
went to Washington and eventually was
taken into the White House ranks as a
cleaner and household helper.
Then Mrs. Grant. with eye to the pro-
portions of a carriage servant, chose Jerry
her footman. Since then Jerry Smith
has never been away from his duty except
when his perennial misery" has conquered
him. Thousands of Americans have seen
his picturesque figure In the halls of the
White House, his head covered by a gray
skull cap, his long apron denoting his oc-
cupation as buster and polisher. the type
of the democratic simplicity which disdains
the buttoned livery of courts and palaces.
Jerry hoists and lowers the White House
flag, but he has an abiding fear of the at
tic, through which he must pass on this
duty, and which he stoutly affirms is in
habited by the ghosts of departed states
men.
There is no thought of changing these
men or retiring them because OF their
years. Their very age and length of SER
vice are the factors Of their greatest use
fulness Without them the White House
would indeed appear a strange place to the
frequenters of that center of the national
activity.