THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2459, 4 February 1881, Page 2

THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA.

Major Swain, General Garfield’s private secretary, furnishes the American public with some interesting details, of the family of the President elect. General Garfield, it seems, goes to bed between 10 and 12 and gets up at 7 or half-past, and breakfasts at 8. He keeps two shorthand clerks going, and devotes considerable time every night after supper to the thorough perusal of all “ the principal New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati papers.” “There is only one autocrat in the house and that is the General’s mother.” The most curious item of thin family inteligence relates to the way in which the Garfields’ provide for conversation at meal-times. “ Some time ago,” says Major Swain, “ we got hold of a little work called ‘Throe Thousand English Words Usually Mispronounced.’ It lias been our constant companion ever since. Some one takes it and spells a word. Then each one takes turns in pronouncing it until all have failed, or its proper sound has been given. Then comments are made by whoever feels in the humour ; and so entertaining does this exorcise become that many times the meal hour flies by so quickly that we do not seem to have been sitting five minutes. It makes no difference whether the visitors are high or low, senators or soldiers, grand or simple. They can participate in the exercises if they see lit; if not they can eat and listen.” If the “little work” is not exhausted before General Garfield at the White House, it is possible that English visitors may have an opportunity of “ participating in theexercises” and improving their pronunciation.