The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-10-09

sorts of French nonsense! But honest Oglei sees
no truulpery' in all this until some of these very
articles came to be repaired by Mr.. Van Buren -
The very gliding materials of which he makes such
a parade, page IA, were 10 replace the gliding on
this very furniture which was much broken by
tarcnty-tico gears use. And this Ogle well KNEW!
Let us now, Mr.. Ogle, take glance Of Mr.. Mon
rOe's
KITCHEN
You will see that he sold to hiusef kitchen fur
niture TO the amount of S2S2 90
Among his bills may be found the following items
in this department, viz;
1917. Voucher 8. Making repairing or
cleaning water buckets, ham boilers,
stcwing-pans, kitchen lamps, coffee
pots, coal buckets Tin boxes, fish boil
ers, spoons, meat boilers, dishes, mod
els, skinner, and oval kettle Al Al l-2
1918. Voucher 43. lS tubs, different sizes,
buckets, half bushel measure, peck,
and halEpeck % IS
Why, CHARLEY, they must have set up lCash-
ing for The nation in Mr., Monroe's time
46. Hopping, setting and repoiring2
tubs, hopping and new hopping do 800
g.. Pair of tongs, poker and coal bod
8; coffee roastcr, 10 90 on spit, 4;
two CRATES to set dishes on before the
fire, I 60; six NEEDLES for cook, l.
five polished steel pokers with brass
heads, apiece, including poker at 80 30 co
If Uncle Sam has mt paid for heating the poker
in this case, there is no truth in vouchers But il
wasn't in Mr.. Van Buren's time so it is Of no sort
of consequence.
So Large pudding pan, 4; large camp
kettles 80 80
This looks warlike
Come, Charley, let us now look at
THE BATHS.
On page 2S,h, Og'e thus speaks, viz;
'1he Presidents commissioner, by his report,
dated in December, 1885, informs us Of sundry 9th
or important alterations within the palace coh-
struccd during this year, amongst which is the fol-
lowing:
"'Ia the boScmeat story a reservoir has Teen
constructed, mhich, Ly means Qf@ doublct forcing
pump, supplies the Kitchen, paairy, B.A1HS, etc.
with fine pure waicr. "
"Ah sir | thought we should soon arrive at
the Greciaa boihS, for without them the Injuries
of the palace would be incomplete. As early as
the days of Homer, the delights of Il palace bath
was prepared for Ulysses, the of laercr, at the
palace of Gree, and that after he had enjoyed the
luxury of the bath, he was anonted with costly and
delightful perfumes, and nttircd in gay appurel.
am not a little surprised that Mr.. Van Euren is the
first President whn made the discovery that the
pleasures of the warm or tcpd bath are the proper
Accomplishments of palace life; for it appears that
our former Presidents were content with the 0ppIi-
cation, when necessary, Of the simple shower
bath"
Now, the voucher quoted by Osc, shows on its
face that the 'bathS' were there before the cXpcn-
diture being only for supplying them, us also the
kiicheR and pantry, with pure water, not for buy
ing or erecting the baths themselves. That this
luxury was known in the 'paidcc' as early as 1919,
and continued during Mr. Adams administration:
is proved by the following extracts from vouchers.
Mr.. Monroe 1919, voucher so.
TO Bath $50 90
Mr. Adams 1896, voucher 81.
To repairing Bath Tub, and feet Cop
per pipe 20
Tin Shower Bath 90
Voucher 1913. To repairing Bath Trp 10
1927, voucher &c. Repairing Tin Bath
and Bucket 25
That Ogle had examined these vouchers, and
that his lie in this case is wiiu is shown by his al
fusion to the shower bath mentioned therein.
Now to
THE STABLES.
On page G, Ogc thus speaks of the stables on
the grounds at the Presidents House, VIZ:
"Although from the earliest feudal times, all
kingly establishments have been distinguished for
the extent and mngnfcence of their stalls for the
'rovnl steeds,' vet, until the accession of our re-
formers to the administration of the Government,
sabling formed no nppurtenancc TO the Presidential
palace. But the predecessor Of the present incum-
bent, with some other singular notions, had an ar
den, love for the horse race. His fleet coursers,
consequently, must be provided for; stalls must be
prepared, where they might be fed, lodged, sump-
iuously clothed, and waited upon by palace grooms
appointed 10 that service
How absolutely false this assertion IL, may be
seen by the following extracts from vouchers for
expenditures incurred during the administrations OF
Mr.. Monroe and Mr.. Adams:
Mr.. MONROE.
1918. Voucher G2. To Is halter rings, &
l6 staples at ~ l-2 each 81 80
To pitchfnrks, and ferues for handles co
To repairing lock for carriage house door 80
Mr.. ADAMS.
1926. Voucher 1872. To one pitchork rs
Voucher lao. To cutting doorway in stone
wall at stable, building jambs with
brick and mortar 90
1926. Voucher 4. Repairing the stable
floor, &c. $50
Voucher ls. 2 curry combs 81
Do . curry combs w
1927. Voucher So Repairing two stalls
in the stable %
Voucher 33. Putting one bolt on stable
door, Sc. 20
Voucher AZ. Repairing coach house door
and one shutter oo
1928. Voucher "a. Repairing stalls in the san
stable ""
So, notwithstanding Oge's positive assertion TO
the contrary s,abling did form an 'cppurfe,n,anc.e
10 The Presidential palace under former Presl-
dents. and there was all the rouai'y about 1t that
there has been since. Indeed, if we mistake not
Adams |. chargeifhe cost of his carriage and hOr-
SEES 10 he public! All this Ogle doubtless knew,
and vet he tells the people, that no such thing as
stable, or any thing Ike 1t, was ever known until
after Gen. Jackson came into the Presidency!
Now let us examine The weighty affair of the
FRENCH BEDsrEADs.
Page Is, Oge thus declaims about the purchase
of French bedsieads BY Mr.. Van Buren,, viz;
al have before me, Mr. Chairman. the original
bill duly rcceip'ed Of C. II. and ]. j. WINE ior
sundry FRENCH BEDSTEADS,' 'Mdr6ie-toP
Uasbsiapds,' Dining room Commoae auI
sfaiuiaru Marble top Dressing bureaus . ,'
tuuust 10. 1851. IOT TIE