The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-31

iuc ouhe"b 10 wv wv !" ichBtus w iccs
high on the north front, 73 on the south,
and IS feet wide. The south front has a
portico scmi.circular, with pediments and
en,ablaturc, supported by SIX Ionic columns.
This side Of the building stands upon rus.
ticated basement, and 10 connected by ten
Ionic pilastcrs, with semi.capitals between
the openings. g. .'.''-a 'hi l'-i
The north front has q portico 50 feet wide
by 40 feet In depth, the stone flooring is di.
yided near the exterior by p carriage way.
The entablaturc is supported by eish, Ionic
columns, and with four emi.columns ngains'
the wall of the house. The main entrance
is by a highly ornamcntcd doorway, which
leads into large vestibule, As feet wide by
20 feet in depth. Until the commencement,
of the present Administration, this WIS q
dark, gloomy place. At the back are lour
columns Of marble, dividing this main or en-,
trance hall from the hall leading from the
east room to tho smaller rooms between
these was heavy, unornamentcd wooden
screen, with doors, and some very common
looking sash and glass. The ceiling was
whitewashcd, and ut either end was very,
very old fashioned mantel. 'On the advent
Of Mr.. Pierce, $4,000 were appropriated
for the White House; and Mr.. Walter wis
directed to suggest the necessary changes,
which he did, and his suggestions werc
adopted, and will be mentioned as we de-,
cribs the various rooms. ..
The wooden pancling has given way to q
light, graceful, airy iron screen, with ground
glass the ceiling has been frescOcd with
suitable devices, and new modern inantel:
supply the places Of the old ones. Tie
wooden box which formerly enclosed the
doorway, has also been removed, and re.
placed by light iron structure. At thin
entrance stands. ut all times, the door-kecp'
or or assistant. lie is the Lord High Cham.
berlain of the blue stick, and always knows
whether the President can zee the applican;
or not, and discharges his duties as Il high
functionary on the household stuff, with q
sort of suaraier in modo, forfifer in re.
Turning to tho lett, You enter short
hall, from which the stairs leading to the
upper story are constructed /; crossing this
hall, you enter the celebrated east room
which, said Mrs. Adams, In a letter TO her
daughter, written Immediately after her ar.
rival in Washington, in 1900, was an eS'
cellent place for drying clothes in wet
weather. 1t is, however, a very SNOWY
room now, and for its uses could scarcely b,
improved. 1t is 70 feet in length by 80 il
wid.h, and II feet in height. The ccilins
is lrcscoed with artistic skill, and calls forth
admiration from all who look at it. The
carpet, which Is of the richest pattern, and
with a pile unsurpassed, is in one piece,
without seam, with rich border, and
weighs I, 600 pounds. The centre is oval.
extending two.thirds the length Of the room.
There arc three large cut-gass pendant
chandeliers. Tho mantels, of which there
are four, are OF fine marble, and Of novel
and beautiful patterns; over each, as at
either end Of the room, there are French
mirrors ofgigantic proportions. large enough,
We should think, to reflect regiment at
once. The draperics, carpets, chairs aud
tables, and fresco, all harnonizc. and nre
strictly in keeping. The uses OF the east
room arc various during tho winter, at the
Presidential receptions, the guests or yisi-
tors, after greeting the President, pass on
t. this vast place, and soon circle Of pro-
is formed. Standing on tho cdgc
of tho circle, you will sec Foreign Ministers,
grave Senators, Cabinet officers, COngress-
men, officers in full costume, and, as the
programmes of Fourth of July PROFESSIONS
say, lastly, citizens and strangers
Ladies go in full costume, and as the
light is strong. tho surroundings good, and
the audience large and distinguished, it is
most desirable place to display alike the
beauty of person and costume, and icw OF
the fair daughters of our Rcpublic lose the
opportunity. In fact, tho mixture of the
liiIcrcnt styles of bcauty-thc warm.bloodcd,
impulsivc Southron; the blue
,yed, fair skinned, graceful and intelligent
NOrtherncr the whole-sonlcd, dashing
Western woman, with her heart in her cyes
he Spanish, French and South American
adios; the rich costumes; the sparkling
diamonds tic simple roscbads in the hair
If the young maidcns; tho tone and reputa'
ion of so many of the maleportion, serve TO
n ke the scene attractive and remarkable
In summer, when large parties. including
aides, cAll upon tho President, he usually
ecciycs them in the east room. We pas
rom the east room TO the green room, which |
: in fact, an ante-roOn, and was originally |
o intended it is about % by 22, and is en-
irely finished in grccn-thc paper. carpet,
nd furniture; the ceiling Is beautifully
rescoed. Next en- suite, is the State Room.
This is an oval room, situated in the GEN.
re of the buildins. on the south side. It's
o by % feet. The furniture Is dark crim-
IN, which ADDS warmth to the green room
n the one side and the blue room on the
ther. The state room derives its name
.om the fact that it is-there the President,
, sovereign, receives such Foreign Minis
,rs as are credittd to him, and replies 10
,eir ~ chc- Al Minisr'is, our ders
f.y y, aw,r', are nut acr dit u To the
r.,iint: riarsrs d Mfrs arr accre.
i i 10 tire = CT 't,ry 81 Stat. 'nrall call \
,am the pr.~iient. On tie LIT o January
-.ry iIlpnat ut Washington puts on IiIs
N uniform. and with Ser tiri.- and At.
i.. ~ ,,fi,i ,liy Hnt to NJ mann ~