Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-12
Inside View of the White House.
THE PRESIDENT AND FAMILY.
The Public Rooms and 1.-THE other part"
Interesting Particulars.

But few Of the thousands OF stranger. who an
nually visit this great metropolis fail to take in
their sightseeing rounds the historic pile known
IS the White House. As IL is they are privileged
to inspect the East Room and the Red, Blue and
Green Parlors, and there stop, with an already
eager curiosity shsrpened to see
'THE OTHER PART"
or the private portions of the house occupied by
the Presidential family. This il shown by the
queries and remarks passed by the different
visitors, especially by the ladies. The men are
apt to poke about through the accessible portion
Of the house with stslid indifference, and drop
no inluistive remarks. But the wife is sure to
say,
WELL, WONDER
what the other part is like ?, 81 wonder how
it's arranged ?" "Where are the children 2"
wishing to see more, and many saying" Pshaw!
I'd rather see the bed rooms, the dining rooms, )"
while some more domestic in turn havea
HANKERING FOR vIRw
at the culinary arrangements.
Well, for the benefit of all above mentioned
as we'll as the by no means small number Of our
District residents who need the information, we
give a description Of the building which is 80
iegular in its construction that il fayors sketch
from the outside which will at once reveal the
arrangements of that portion closed to the pub
lie gaze. The other parts are too well known
to need mention.
With the exception Of the space occupied by
the East Room,
AwIDE HALL
divides the building throughout, running from
east to west, the ends Of which are denoted by
the semicircular windows. The basement story
contains kitchen, laundry, wine room, storage
n for
BERNARD and housekeeper, all females. Besides
these There are three house servants This is
all the help" used by the family except on
occasions of
STATE DINNERS,
when other servants, besides French cook, are
temporarily engaged.
This portion Of the house is in charge OF the
steward, Mr.. V. Melah, a caterer of long expe-
rience. With the first (main) and second floors
let's take the windows in numerical order, and
by them locate the various apartments and their
uses. Considering the main door as one there ara
eleven windows on the front of each story. On
the hrst floor, starting from the east Nos. and
3 light the famous East Room; No. 4, the public
stairway hall; Nos. s, (the main door, and Z,
the main vestibule; No. 8, a smaller vestibule:
and Ncs: and 10, the private dining room; be-
yond which No. H. the extreme western win
dow, opens into small pantry. This
PRIVATE DINING ROOM
is grained in oak, plainly furnished, and con-
tains All ordinary extension dining table, the
head of which is always occupied by Mr. Dent,
the Presidents father-in-law. The President
sits on his left with Miss Nellie, and Mrs. Grant
on the right with Master Jesse. The fare is
always plain and substantial, the family having
little inclination for fancy dishes prevailing
and only one servant is in attendance.
THE MEAL HOURS
are, breakfast at a. m. and dinner at D. m,
with lunch at noon. Across the hall and i'm
opposite this is the State dining room
which is magnifcently furnished, but never
used except on State occasions. The western
doof OF tins hail leads through a small billiard
room to the conservatory.
ON THE SECOND FLOOR
at the east, window No. lights up
an apartment which was for long time occupied
by Gen. Badeau, the historian Of the Presidents
Military Campaigns, bu is now used as a bar
bers shop; Nos. and the public waiting room
No. 4 stairway hall, No. 8 spare room, used
once Is barber shop, but now as a school room.
No. 8 Immediately over the door hall, No.
law, Nos and the Presidents bed chamber,
and Nos. 10 and IL Master Jesse's bedroom.
Nos. and now used as the Presidents Sleep
ing department is the room in which the
PRINCE OF WALES
slept during his visit here, and also was the
scene of Willie Lncoln's death, as well as where
years uSV ITtsiucut lbylOT Dreamed his last.
The postmortem examination of President Lin
coins body was also held in this room.
Now for the
SOUTH SIDE
Of the building. Starting from the west Nos.
and light Miss Nellie Grants sleeping apart
ment; No. the guests room or private parlor;
No. 4, spare sleeping room; Nos. and 6, the
library; No. !, the Executive Office; Nos. and
8, the Private Secretary's room, and Nos. 10 and
II he rooms for the clerical force on duty at the
White House. Thus we are again brought to
the starting point, the eastern front, aud you
have before you description from which, on
OF the Presidents family.