The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-12-28

ses II mart Of the Presidential Mansion and
=. saornments. under the Administration OF our
Smoker President
IN president's house once more assumes the
.nneerapce Of comfort and comparative beauty.
no costs of pure white paint on the OUTSIDE t,
renew il right 70 DO designated the "Wh'te
Honse.s The interior, during the last ei1
months, has bsen thoroughly cleansed and Oh
moe entirely recommended. Very little new
fnrniture has been introduced, - much Of the
ga Il vet substantial, having been procured In
is time Of Monroe, and 10 not only valuable on
hat account, but 10 really very handsome, from
ite antique style. Much Of this OIL furniture.
however, has been revarnished, and the chairs
haye been cushioned and covered with rich GRIM
eon eatin brocatel, tufted and laid In folds on
the backs, rendering . modern appearances
Upon entering the great east room tive promi-
nent things strike the eye-the psper on the
walls and the carpet on the door. The hrst ia
Parisian style Of heavy velvet cloth paper, Of
crimson, garnet and gold. Itgtves massive ap-
pearance to the room, and is quite rich. In the
day time il seems rather dark; but when the soft
light of the great chandeliers illuminates the
room it DEVELOPS ito full richness and harmonic
zes to . shade.
The carpet IL An ingenious piece of work, not
because Of it's rich quality or exquisite design,
but because Of the fact that it u in one piece,
and covers floor measuring one hundred feet
long and forty-eight feet wide There 10 nothing
hashy or extravagant about its appearance. The
admiration of the beholder is not suddenly ex-
cited BY view of the whole surface, % inge-
niously and beautifully are the varied figures and
colors harmonized. It is like q constellation Of
stars where the beauty Of one star is lost in the
combined grandeur Of the whole It il very
heavy Administer, with three medallions grace
fally arranged into one grand medallion. AsWe
walk over It's velvet surface from center to Sides
or from corner to corner, the most chaste and
beautiful surprises of wreaths and bouquets of
flowers and fruit pieces excite our love of true
art. The carpet, in its mechanical construction,
as we'll AZ in its artistic design, is wonder. Il
was made in Glasgow, Scotland, upon the only
loom existing in the world capable of weaving
went to Europe, and, after examining various
patterns in different Cities including Paris and
London, proceeded to Glasgow and designed this.
His mission was q success
The next attractive features among the orns.
mental, in the East Room, are the curtains and
drapery at the eight windows. The inner cur
tains are of the richest white needle-wrought
lace made in Switzerland. Over these, and sus-
pended from massive gold gilt cornices, are
French crimson brocates, trimmed with heavy
gold fringe and tassel work. The embrace, or
curtain pin, at the side Of each window, is of
solid brass and covered in gold gilt. The de-
sign IS comminging Of banners, arrows, swords,
an anchor, chain, &c, interviewer behind the
American shield, upon the front of which is
raised figure of an eagle. Opposite the great
east window of the room is the door leading to
the promenade. In order to harmonize the in
terror appearance Of the great East Room, this
door has been curtained with lace and crimson
brocatel, trimmed with gold fringe and tassel, to
match the window opposite. The eight mirrors
In the East Room are the same that have been
there for years. Passing from the East Room
We enter the Green or conversational room. It
has been newly papered, carpeted and curtained,
and greatly improved. Next is the Blue or
Presidents reception room. This is the only
room, when Mr.. Buchanan left the house, that
was very well furnished. A new carpet has been
placed upon the floor, otherwise the room Is in
the same condition it was when Mr.. Lincoln took
possession.
Next we come to the Red Room. This 10
properly Mrs. Linclon's reception room. Every.
thing in it is new, except the splendid old paint
ing of Washington. The fine pictures of Queen
Victoria and Prince Albert, and other members
of the Royal family, presented to the President
of the United States for the Presidential Man
sion by the Prince of Wales, that hung upon
the walls of this room, are missing. learn that
they were removed to Wheatland with Mr..
Buchanan. He also took away from the White
House large number of Chinese or Japar ese
curiosities, intended, upon presentation, for the
Mansion. All these are missing. Nevertheless,
under the general direction Of Mrs. Lincoln TO
whose excellent good taste we are chiefly in.
debted for the identifying Of the Presidents
House,, this room does not need those pictures
1t is model OF elegance and modesty combined.
The most perfect harmony prevails throughout.
The sofae, chairs, etc., are covered with rich
crimson brocade SATIN
The guests room, now known as the Prince
Of Wales room, since that youth occupied it,
has been thoroughly ornamented and refurnist-
ed. The carpet 10 beautiful Wilton. The pa.
per is lighttinted purple, with golden figure
Of . moss rose tree in full bloom The princi.
pal feature of the room is the bed. 1t is eight
feet wide and nine feet long, of solid rosewood.
The sides are cushioned and covered with pur-
pie figured satin. The head-board is a piece of
rich carved work, rising eight feet above the
bed, and having an oval top. Twenty feet above
the floor, overspreading the whole, is msqnif.
cent canopy, from the upper carved work, of
which the drapery hangs in elegant folds, being
in the form of crown, the front ornament
upon which is the American shield, with the
Stars and Stripes carved thereon. The drapery
is rich purple satin fringe, and otherwise orna-
mented with the finest gold lace The carved
work is adorned with gold gilt The curtains to
the room are made Of the finest purple satin
damask, and trimmed to correspond With the ca.
nopy. The center table Of solid carved rose
wood, is quite costly and exceedingly beautiful!
The private apartments of Mr.. and Mrs. Lin.
coin are more modestly but very beautifully or.
namented and furnished. The Presidents libra.
~ is chastely and not extravagantly refurnished
Green is the color that predominates in this
room. The room where the Cabinet meetings
are held, and where the President is usually to
be found, is very neatly papered, but should be
better furnished. All the furniture il exceed.
iugly old, and is too ricketty to venerate.
THE DOUBLE CoLoNELcY-SoxE FAcrs ABOUT
It-It was not the original intention, as We are
creditably informed, to raise the 10th Regiment
Of Infantry. But when Col. Edwards returned
from his expedition to Missouri, whittier he had
been with detachment of Home Guards. Sew.
eral Of his friends, among whom was Gen. Grant,
Ex-Governor Grimes, and various other influen.
tial citizens Of the Southern part of the State
aent petition to Gov. Krkwood setting forth
the capabilities of COL Edwards and very strong.
~ urging his appointment to the Colonelcy Of
some Of the Iowa Regiments. We understand
that the Governor paid no immediate attention
to the petition, it being then understood that no
such regiment as the 18th would be organized
Subsequently one Of the petitioners visited the
Governor at Iowa City, upon the same subject.
He seemed anxious to accede to the request Of
the petitioners, aud remarked that in order to
give Edwards place, another regiment would
have to be formed, aud in mediately wrote to
the War Department for permission to do So
This request was at first refused, and for while
the matter seemed to be at an end Subsequent
~, however, the request was granted at the ear
nest solicitation Of the Governor, and few DAYS
after he had been authorized to raise the 10th.
Col Edwards met Gov. Kirkwood, at Burlington
and then and there, the Governor promised. nm,
conditionay, as he avers, that he should be forth
With commissioned Colonel Of the new regiment.
he told Edwards that if ne would come right
along up to Davenport with him, he (Kirkwood)
would there issue and place in his hands Colo.
nePs commission for the 18th. Edwards had not
thought of coming TO Davenport, and for while
hesitated, but finally consented to 70 with the
Governor. They came to Davenport together.
Mr. Edwards as much expected that the Gov.
ernor would fulfil his promise as that he would
arrive here BE made no reservations or excen.
lions in his promise, and of course no change Of
policy was expected.
IN orriv;n0 n Al. 49,.