The New York herald., 1921-01-02

the mail Is running. About the mall /
can only give attention here to the per-
sonal element of 1t. Some OF the let
ters l answer myself personally in long
hand Most of the personal corre-
spondence turn over by debating to
one or another of the assistant secre-
taries.
These letters, all of rather per-
sonal nature, many of them from men
who seek posts in the Government or
who are recommending others for posts,
amount to about 900 a day. That ID the
general average. In addition there is
large amount of mail that cannot be
digested so easily. i take that home
with me in the evening, and almost
every night it keeps me up until ii or
12. read this slowly and deliberately,
making notes MS go along. The next
day ] turn the notes over to my secre-'
tary, Mr. Christian, either for a reply
to the sender Of letter or to make a
memorandum for consultation later.
This mail carries a great deal In the
way of valuable suggestions and coun-
sci from useful men In the country
who have definite constructive notions
about domestic or foreign problems"
do you get many freak letters or
begging letters?"
Thousands OF then." the Senator
said rather sadly. ''They are trial.
those letters imploring assistance for
one cause or another or in behalf OF
some distressed Individual. Before the
campaign reached it's end I saw that
it was hopeless for me to try to an
swer them or to respond to entreaties
for money. / would have to be MILL
ionaire to stand that.
"And then the freak letters. as they
are called. DO you know that people
have written In to me solemnly de-
manding that make--MAKE, under
stand-the women of America reform
their dress? Did you ever hear OF
ANYBODY making woman do anything.
even q President Of the United States!
1t can't be done. Some folks seem to
have a notion that collars should be
higher and skirts longer and lot OF
things of that kind, and they think l
should Immediately on inauguration in
form Congress of these dreadful ten
dencies of American life, supplying at
the. same time suggestions Tor lesis-
lation to the desired end. / mention
this as a sample.
1T trv to get to bed before midnight
every night, but with 90 much mail and
so many calls upon my time it is not
easy to do. The result Is am feeling
a bit tired again. The whole task here
I'm Marion has been something or a
strain If there were only more time
to do things in. When / see people
souandering time nowadays catch
myself becoming a little irritated. l
don't mean to be, really. 1t Is just that
/. myself, need SO many more hours
every day than / can find"
IT have heard you say on more tnan
one occasion, Senator, that we need a
return to simpler standards OF living In
the United States-less show, less op-
vious money spending. Do you mtend
to do anything as President to impress
that belief on the country"
II scarcely know what / can do.f ne
answered II certainly am not going 10
set myself up as an arbiter OF either
manners of dress or good taste. Mrs.
Harding and do not like pomp ana
parade If there Is anything IN the
world we finch from 1t is show and
ostentation We shall live according 10
our light in these matters. as simply and
democraticalIy as may be. If in that
vay tho White House can set an ex-
ample. well and good"
1t was toward the end OF the day, ana
I was ALREADY feeling "A sense OF guiit
in absorbing 80 much of the time Oh
this driven masi. AS passed out OF the
door. glancing backward, l. saw him take
nm the topmost OF hundred piled up
letters. bending over his desk. abstract-
edly. already remote, absolutely oe-
tached. Perhaps there Is nobody on
earth lonelier than the President the
President in fact or the President TO De.