The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1870-04-19
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4 A Washington correspondent q a.,
New York If1a gives the public m IN
side view of tho State dining. at
the White House
A long table, rounded At the ends
extends through the middle Of it, al
which thirtysi1 eau be comfortably
seated There is plenty q room be
sides. ion the servants to perform ther
dates admirably New mirrors aud
chandeliers have been added since the
administration Of President Graut, bat
the carpets, upholstering and paper
ing have DESCENDED from the Johnson
regime The exquisite taste Of Martha
Patterson is seen on tie daiutily tinted
walls, the figures Of the carpet so nice
iy adjusted 70 the sizo Of the room, the
dark green satin damask at the wiz
dows, and the quaint chsirs, under her
supervision arranged to match. A
clock, as ancient as tie day Of Mad
ison, adorns one Of the marble mantels,
whilst a pair Of hydra headed candle
sticks, grim with age descended from
nobody knows whose brief reign graces
the other With the exception of a
pair Of mahogany sideboards, the fur
niture seems to have belonged to the
era Of Washington or Jefferson. it is so
solid and sombre. The white house
was modelled after the palace OF the
duke OF Lcinster, and the state dining
dining room, more than any part Of
the building, is suggestive Of baron
ial hall
These dinners cost from three to ff-
teen hundred dollars, though the aver
age cost is about seven hundred. The
state dinner Of which prince Arthur
had the honor OF partaking was com
posed OF twenty-nne courses and cost
fifteen hundred dollars; but it is only
when royalty ID to be entertained that
these teasts assume such costly proper
tons This modest sum does not in
Glide the wine and other beverages,
for these come under separate "item
In no other administration has the
government appointed man to spend
the presidential money Heretofore
the ladies Of the white house" have
looked after this part OF the official
business, and it will at once be seen
what frugality is necessary in order to
make both ends Of the presidential year
meet; but no man during the existence
of the republic has ever been the recip-
lent OF SO many costly gifts as the pres
ent executive,
A rare work Of art adorns the cen
tire of the long table in the state din
| ing room. 1t is several feet long, and
perhaps two feet wide, and is compos-
ed of gilt and looking glass The foun-
datlon ls a long mirror, and this beach
ed by perpendicular shore three
inches in height, but OF no appreciable
thickness Little fern like upheavings
may be seen rising out Of the tawdry
gilt at equal distances apart, and these
are used as receptacles for natural
flowers. But, lest the guests should
look into this mirror, and see each 9TH
er facetiously reflected at moments, too,
when the human mouth assumes any
thing but proportions, large vases Of
flowers are strewn on the CLASSY sur
face, and the mischief of the mirrors is
nipped in the bud The ornament is
not merely ornamental; it is useful.
1t answers the very purpose to help
out social ambuscade, for it can be SO
arranged as to hide the president from
any guest whose presence he IS suffer
ing; whether said person comes under
the head of enemy or friend.
/