There are many other things that cost him nothing, such as the culinary arrangements, his steward, who does the marketing, the many fancy delicacies sent him by enterprising firms. This, by-the-way, is a sort of nuisance, for it seems to be the desire of every manufacturer of some new eatable or drinkable to get it into the White House. Things of value that find their way there are never accepted.
Lately the bicycle manufacturers have tried to get President Cleveland to ride a wheel, and have offered the most extravagant inducements to both the President and Mrs. Cleveland. One firm said they would present Mrs. Cleveland with a gold bicycle studded with gems if she would ride it.
The President has to give state dinners and state receptions, but the expenses of these yearly probably do not exceed $7000 or $8000. The Marine Band always supplies the music, and the flowers come from the conservatory. It is seldom necessary to decorate the reception-rooms of the White House, so that these affairs, although of elaborate and ceremonial nature, are still inexpensive.
Upon his retirement to private life, the influence that his Presidential office has given him enables him to secure large sums in payment for whatever he may do, such as a lecture, an article in a periodical, or, if he practises law—which most of our ex-Presidents have done—such fees as $10,000 are no uncommon thing.
[AN EXPLANATION.]
"I do not smile when I'm in bed,"
The little baby softly said,
"Because my smile's so very wide,
'Tis sure to fall out on one side,
And oh, how madly I should scold
To find my smile out in the cold!"