Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1883 — Visiting the President. [ARTICLE]

Visiting the President.

Those who are merely visitors and sight-seers are first shown through those rooms of the White House which are open to public inspection. They are then requested to collect in one room, at a stated moment stream upstairs, and, passing through the library, shake hands with the President. He thus extends a courtesy in a few minutes, which, under every other arrangement, would keep his morning business hour constantly interrupted. This formality gone through with, he turns to those whose calls have a purpose. It is the etiquette for gentlemen to remain standing. A purely-personal introduction is followed by an invitation to sit and wait an opportunity which seldom comes, and one after another those in waiting are greeted with a cordial shake of the hand, and their mission met with “no” or “yes,” or a definite engagement for another hour or day. “No” is said firmly, but quietly almost to gentleness and respect. “Yes,” which can but seldom be said, admits of a briefer putting. A card is brought in and the President says, loud enough for all to hear, “No; I have an important appointment at 1 o’clock, and those present will take up every minute left. ” The Secretary of State enters. “Goodmorning, Mr. Secretary.” “Goodmorning, Mr. President.” A lady—one or two have been sitting awaiting their turn—detains the President, as a woman does a doctor, longer than would three men, for it is harder for the President to say “No;” harder for her to realize that his polite words mean “No.” Then the Secretary of State, the object of whose visit, it now appears, ia to aid the President’s superb tact, approaches and says: “Those gentlemen are waiting below. Will you go now?” “I have three minutes yet,” replies Mr. Arthur, glancing at the clock, and those who remain take the hint and are as brief as possible, as he turns to them. Such is a daily scene.— Washington Letter. •