Marvellous Handshaking Records.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4, 24 July 1912, Page 60

Marvellous Handshaking Records.

SOME PENALTIES OF POPULARITY,

The feat of President Fallieres, who on New Year’s Day, without cessation’ shook hands with his guests from half, past eight till mid-day and again from two till late in the afternoon, equals tha record of President Taft, who at least on one occasion, underwent a hand shaking ordeal beneath which the ordinary mortal would assuredly have succumb' ed. During the Easter holidays daputa. lions by the dozen, mainly from New. England, invaded White House for tlia purpose of greeting America's principal citizen. For a while the President unflinchingly faced the music, but after having shaken hands with some 1700 women he nlaintively inquired how many more there were to eome. “Three hundred,” was the reply; whereupon he hurriedly excused himself on the ground of pressing official business. M. Thiers, when President of the French Republic, had, on one occasion, when receiving some hundreds of deputies from the provinces, to undergo an ordeal even more severe. Handshaking commenced at noon, not in many cases the perfunctory greeting of official reception, but the hearty grip of goodwill from a countryman's muscular hand. Small wonder that such enthusiasm soon became too much for the little statesman, who, at each guest’s approach. winced more and more at the sight of the outstretched hand, whose clasp would intensify that agony which finally compelled him to plead sudden indisposition and retire to his private apartments.

Even worse was the experience that fell to the lot of his compatriot, Eugene Sue, the famous author, whose novels were at one time immensely popular. Once, on his birthday, a deputation of working men waited on him with an address of congratulation, to which he replied in terms so felicitous that the enthusiasm of the party broke through all restraint. In a tumultuous succession of vice-like grips were the luckless author’s hands clasped and wrung, until he writhed in agony and shouted aloud for assistance. Then only did his worshippers realise that their exuberance was not altogether appreciated, and with many apologies they retired somewhat crestfallen. Few handshaking records bear comparison with that of ex-President McKinley. At a public reception, held during his term of office, at the White House, he exchanged handgrips with no fewer than 4816 visitors. The magnitude of this feat ean be better realised when one considers that, as the reception lasted but an hour and three-quar-ters, two guests had to be disposed of every three seconds. Certain members of the Cabinet, envious, perhaps, of this wonderful display of speed and endurance, endeavoured to keep pace with their chief, but their efforts proved futile, and they soon’ relinquished the attempt in despair. It ean exeite no surprise that such arduous undertakings are at times shirked, and that recourse is had to vicarious aid. Once at least General Zachary Taylor, who became President of the United States in 1849, shrank from t’:e erdeal. One day’s reception had he undergone with all due formality, and each guest, of whom there had been some hundreds, had been gratified wit?, t Presidential handshake. But to carry through in a like manner a similar funtion that had been arranged for the morrow was not to be thought of. At all hazards must it be avoided. And avoided it was. Pleading in’.imposition, the President appeared in ’• voluminous cloak, and, closely surrounded by a number of friends, took up ’ 5 position with his back to a thick curtain. hung in a somewhat dim light. T ’ usual handshaking was then carri- I through to a successful conclusion. A t the General had taken no leading part. Behind the curtain had been concealed t man, whose arm, thrust through an opening, had, from beneath the folds of • ' President’s cloak, offered to each of tl’.e visitors in turn a hand which no one outside a small circle had suspected of being other than that of General Tlylor.

Mrs. Dashaway: “How long had y it known your, husband before yon we:-’ married?” Mrs. Gnaggs: “I didn't know him -tt aIL I only thought I did.”