The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-14
ENDS "a YEARS
POLICE WORK
TO TRAVEL
Henry Gilbert Retires From
White House Force
ing 70 Tour South

I Freedom latter sixty years! Moth
ing to do but loaf along the road
to the South, watching the North.
ern autumn fade as 1t reaches the
borderland OF sunshine nothing to
do but spin yarns around q glowing
campfire. or to browse over a
fishing rod in dreamy tropical
waters! Nothing TO- do but loaf
and the prospect pleases Henry
Gilbert.
For more than thirty years, Mr..
Gilbert has been White House
policeman. He served at the home
of the Presidents in the administra.
tons OF eight executives, including
PRESIDENT Coolidge.
He saw the White House in the
old days, before visitors were
ehunted to the executive offices,
when newspaper correspondents sat
on the stairs and me Secret Service
had not become a fixture. He saw
thousand . little comedies and
tragedies in the lives OF the great
Americans of two generations the
stories OF sun and shadow which
the public never knows.
am free for the first time In
sixty years." says Mr.. Gilbert. IT
don't regret the years that are be.
hind, and look forward to q happy
future"
Has Secret Of Youth.
Despite his sixty years. It win be
long time before Mr.. Gilbert
grows old. He has the secret Of
youth In his twinlVIing eye, ana his
"reminiscences are not the dry, dead
tales Of men who grow old and
dull.
It takes q young heart to start,
at sixty, on trip across the coun-
try. Let Mr.. Gilbert tell it:
| We're going to start on the 26th
OF the month--Iny son, my wife and
/. We're just going to take It easy,
travelling down to Florida for the
winter, and it's likely wen be four
or five weeks getting there.
Then, after the cold weather's
over, wen probably start west, and
some ttmea ] suppose, we'lI get to
Los Angeles where my son lives.
Oh, we're not going to miss q thing.
We're going to take our time
fish and camp and loaf. We havn't
any definite objective. We haven't
anything to worry ua. We're just
going off to have q good time. !"
| II Guide for Visitors.
Mr.. Gilbert retired from the force
officially on September 80, when
] he was sixty, His son drove 1000
miles in his automobile 70 be pifes-
emit at the birthday party. Actually,
he didn't retire until October z,
when the papers were finally signed.
This came after more than thirty
four years on the police force. Mr..
Gilbert was on temporary duty at
the White House during President
Harrison's term Of office, and was
permanently detailed there on March
IL. 1888, in the Cleveland admins
tration.
Through three decades OF White
House service. Mr.. Gilbert was In
the residence itself.
When a President desired to show
q party Of friends through the
private apartments, he summoned
Mr.. Gilbert, whose talk on the his
tOric association Of the White House
rooms and furnishings Is familiar
to thousands.
| Mr.. Gilbert has literally shown
thousands Of Americans and for
eigners through the First. Home OF
| the Land.
Never having been a slave to sta
tistics. he would not attempt -.
riously to compute the total mum.
Der Of visitors who have listened
to his little travelogue.
Colonel Ro0seVelts Orders.
OF course, he had other. duties,
as the White House isn't open to
visitors every hour OF the day. And
| at some times he was enabled to
pickup, first.hand, anecdotes about
the distinguished residents Of the
Executive Mansion.
Mr.. Gilbert recalls the time when
a glassed.in conservatory and green
house adjoined the mansion. II was
the pleasure Of President Roose-
velt's lively sons to climb around
on the glass roof.
Their playing became SO frequent,
says Mr.. Gilbert, that the gardener
was compelled to protest to the
President.
Mr.. Roosevelt scowled a. he heard
/ the complaint.
'T'll tell you what to do" he said
to the gardener. 'The next time
you find them playing around on
that glass, just pick up some brick
bats and throw them at the boys.
III back you up-but be careful not
to break any glass;
1t was great life during these
years at the White House, and Mr..
Gilbert isn't sure whether he'll miss
the place or not. He knows only
that soon he will be closing up his
home in Ballston, Va, and viii be
off for his great adventure in re.
spectacle vagabondage. Richmond ID
the first stop. After that--well, who
cares? Mr.. Gilbert is sure that he
doesn't.
lI1AGERSTOWN GIRL BEATEN