40 CAMPING WITH THE PRESIDENT 



bare as our line of carriages moved slowly along, but 

 that rose up in solid walls of town and prairie human- 

 ity on the sidewalks and city dooryards. How hearty 

 and happy the myriad faces looked! At one point I 

 spied in the throng on the curbstone a large silk ban- 

 ner that bore my own name as the title of some so- 

 ciety. I presently saw that it was borne by half a dozen 

 anxious and expectant-looking schoolgirls with braids 

 down their backs. As my carriage drew near them, 

 they pressed their way through the throng, and threw 

 a large bouquet of flowers into my lap. I think it would 

 be hard to say who blushed the deeper, the girls or 

 myself. It was the first time I had ever had flowers 

 showered upon me in public; and then, maybe, I felt 

 that on such an occasion I was only a minor side issue, 

 and public recognition was not called for. But the 

 incident pleased the President. "I saw that banner 

 and those flowers," he said afterwards; "and I was 

 delighted to see you honored that way." But I fear 

 I have not to this day thanked the Monroe School of 

 St. Paul for that pretty attention. 



The time of the passing of the presidential train 

 seemed well known, even on the Dakota prairies. At 

 one point I remember a little brown schoolhouse stood 

 not far off, and near the track the schoolma'am, with 

 her flock, drawn up in line. We were at luncheon, but 

 the President caught a glimpse ahead through the win- 

 dow, and quickly took in the situation. With napkin 

 in hand, he rushed out on the platform and waved to 

 them. "Those children," he said, as he came back, 

 "wanted to see the President of the United States, 

 and I could not disappoint them. They may never 

 have another chance. What a deep impression such 

 things make when we are young ! " 



