Public Ledger, November 23, 1892
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges
LEFT NEW YORK YESTERDAY FOR A MUCH-NEEDED REST.
He Makes a Statement to an Associated Press Reporter -- He Will Not Consider Applications for Office Prior to His Inauguration.
[SPECIAL TO THE PUBLIC LEDGER.]
NEW YORK, Nov. 22 -- The World will say to-morrow:
"President-elect Cleveland took a Pennsylvania Railroad train at 8 o'clock last night, and is now on his way to some secluded spot in the South, where he will not hear the importunities of the horde of patronage hunters who have made his life a burden since election.
"A special car was placed at his disposal by the railroad management. His sole companions were L. Clarke Davis, of Philadelphia, and Charles B. Jefferson, a son of the veteran actor, Joseph Jefferson.
"The destination of the party is being kept a secret, but from a very authoritative source it was learned last night that, barring accidents, the President-elect will awake this morning on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, on the line which divides Maryland from Virginia."
NEW YORK, Nov. 22 -- President-elect Cleveland left town to-day in search of a much-needed rest. Since election he has been fairly overrun with callers, and the volume of his correspondence has been something enormous.
A reporter of the Associated Press called upon Mr. Cleveland this morning. The President-elect's appearance indicated to some extent the fatigue consequent upon his labors and the confinement to which he has been subjected. In speaking of the absolute necessity of relief from the annoyances and exactions which are his daily lot at home he said: "I have been amazed and exceedingly gratified by the thousands of letters of congratulation which I have received since election from the American people of every station in life and from every quarter of the land. It has been, however, utterly impossible for me to read even the letters of that description which I have received with the other interruptions that have thus far seemed unavoidable. I fully appreciate, however, the good will and friendliness which these letters indicate, and shall not omit, as time allows, to read every one of them. These good friends, of course, will not expect any replies to their communications, for that would be utterly out of the question, and the most that I can do is to say through the press that I am not unmindful of their kindness.
"Many of the callers whom I have been obliged to receive would not, I think, have encroached upon my time if they had given the matter a moment's reflection. Those who have called upon me to talk about offices, it seems to me, have been a little inconsiderate, and certainly unnecessarily premature. I desire to give as much publicity as possible to the statement that I do not propose to consider applications for office prior to my inauguration, and I shall avoid all interviews on that subject. Those who, under any pretense, gain an opportunity to present their applications orally, and those who burden me at this time with written applications, cannot possibly do anything which would so interfere with their chances of success. Written applications will be so little regarded that I doubt if they ever see the files in Washington, for there is no reason or decency in my being overwhelmed with such matters at this time."
Upon being asked how long he expected to be away on his vacation, Mr. Cleveland replied: "As to that I am not certain. It will depend upon various conditions. I expect, however, to be absent about two weeks, and when I return, unless I am somewhat relieved from the unnecessary demands upon my time to which I have been subjected here thus far, I shall shut up my house in the city and find some more quiet place to spend the winter. Certainly between now and the 4th of March I ought to have some time to devote to other matters than receiving callers and considering subjects which should be postponed."
Mr. Cleveland's Outing.
reprinted from New York Recorder, November 22.Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges
Mr. Cleveland is going away. At least that is the report, and, as none of his intimate friends, such as E. C. Benedict and William C. Whitney, deny it, the report is probably correct. Of course no intimation of the President-elect's plans will be given out at Fifty-first street. Mr. Cleveland's butler is an abnormally tall and discreet man, and talks to callers in monosyllables, when he talks at all. He seldom talks at all.
But the fact has leaked out that Mr. Cleveland is going away, so as to be rid of callers, both reportorial and political, and Mrs. Cleveland and Miss Ruth Cleveland will accompany him. His friends and the tall butler remain mute when his destination is asked, but it can be set down as certain that Buzzard's Bay will not be the place. Buzzard's Bay is a delightful spot in summer, but abominable in winter.
Newberne, N. C., is the place to be honored by the presence of the next President of the United States, notwithstanding rumors that either Lakewood, N. J., or E. C. Benedict's beautiful home at Greenwich, Ct., was to be favored by the august presence of Mr. Cleveland. Newberne is an ideal winter home, situated in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and sufficiently inaccessible to daunt the spirits of the most persistent slate-maker or office-seeker. Willie K. Vanderbilt goes himself to Newberne in the winter, and many prominent Virginians have homes there. Mr. Cleveland will probably leave for North Carolina either to-morrow or Thursday. How long he will remain no one appears to know.
His sole object in leaving New York is to get much-needed rest, and to avoid the legions of callers, who adopt every known expedient to get by his tall butler.