THE PENALTIES OF GREATNESS IN AMERICA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2263, 6 October 1891, Page 3

THE PENALTIES OF GREATNESS IN AMERICA.

How anybody with any common sense of refinement or delicacy of mind can feel a wish to undergo a certain term of office at the "White House is more, (writes the New York correspondent of the Manchester Examiner) than one . can understand. Neither the President nor his family are permitted the slightest amount of privacy during the period of his four years' power. They seem to be regarded by the people as a kind of free circus, run at public expense for public entertainment. lam struck afresh with this ever)' time I visit Washington. The church which the President attends on Sundays is invariably crowded with sightseers, who get as near his pew as they possibly can, and audibly comment on his demeanor and looks during the service, just as if he were a prize hog at a country fair. On leaving, if he attempts to return home on foot—and he is very fond of walking—he is literally chivvied through the streets. Indeed, on one Sunday last spring I was the witness of a curious scene of this character in the neighborhood of the White House. - The President was coming up the avenue at a rapid pace, pursued at a distance of about thirty yards by a party of tourists. Fearing that General Harrison would get to the White House and safe within its portals before he could catch up, the chief of the party, a great lank long-leg, ed, and long-whiskered creature, fairly broke into a run, got \ close to the President laid a giganeic hand upon his shoulder, and deliberately spun him round, telling Harrison that he came from.lllinois, and wanted to look at the President. He clutched hold of the unfortunate little President's hand, and grasped it with the grip of aJ. L. Sullivan. Harrison attempted in vain to release it but the man wonld not let go, exclaiming that he wanted his wife and daughter to see the President, and summoned in a a loud voice and with extraordinary gestures, " Mary Jane" and "Sarah Ann "to " hurry up." It was not until he had presented them, panting, perspiring, and out of breath, that he consented to release the President's hand from his iron grasp, and to allow him to escape, leaving " Mary Jane " and "Sarah Ann" staring after the unfortunate Head of the Nation with open mouths and delighted eyes. Still worse was the bodrishness displayed on one memorable occasion during the presidency of Grover Cleveland, when a number of tourists who sat in church near the White House party during Communion service actually engaged in a disgraceful and audible wrangle as to who should get a first chance at the Communion cup after pretty Mrs Cleveland.