Shaking With 60,000

In an artiole describing "The Social Life of the President" in The Ladies' Hoine Journal ex-President Harrison tells of the fatigues of handshaking and also of the benefits of being brought in contact with the good, honest hearted people of the country. "In the first two weeks of an administration," he says, "the president shakes hands with from 40,000 to 60,000 persons. The physical drain of this is very great, and if the president is not an instructed bandshaker a lame arm and a swollen hand soon resnlt. This may be largely or entirely avoided by using President Hayes' method - take the hand extended to you and grip it before your hand isgripped. It is the passive hand that gets hurt. It has been suggested that a nod or bow should be substituted for the handshake, bnt it would be quite as adinissible to Buggest a revisión of the Declaration of Independence. ' 'The interest which multitudes attach to a handshake with the president is so great that people will endure the gratest discomfort and not a little peril to life or limb to attain it. These are not the office seekers, but the good, honest hearted, patriotic people whose 'God bless yon' is a prayerand a benediction. They come to Washington for the inauguration, and later with excursions, but they are mostly to be found near their own homes. They come out to meet the president when he takes a journey, and nis contact with them and their unselfish and even affectionate interest in him revive his courage and elévate his purposes. Mr. Lincoln is said to have called these popular leceptions his 'public opinión baths. ' "