The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-11-30


Room carpet, and of itself, while doing
credit to the economical ingenuity OF
Gen, Babcock, is disgrace to the
White House. At the far end of this is
the Presidents Office, the floor of which
is covered with mating, and the room
| furnished with cane-seated chairs and
two office desks. Here General Dent
showed us one or two Corean trophies
among others the battle flag, on which
was painted flying tiger; on top Of
this, arranged like crown, were col
ored feathers. He also showed us a
book of photographs sent home by Ad-
miral Rogers; from the pictures of the
Notifications made by the Coreans, they
must be a nation well versed in engin-
eering. Next is the Cabinet Room, in
which the mantle is of Vermont marble;
on it is a clock made by Brown and
Spalding, New York, which has bar
ometer, thermometer, and moonometer,
showing the changes OF the moon. All
of these ometers, singular to relate, are
always in order-of which | say, nota
bene. In the centre of the room is the
Cabinet table. The President at Cabi-
net council occupies the head, the Sec
rotary of the Treasury the left hand,
and Secretary of State the right; at the
foot sits the Secretary of the Interior;
on his right is the Secretary of War,
en- his left the Secretary of the Navy,
next him the Acknowledgement, and OPP
posite the Postmaster General.
Next this room is the Library, which
in shape is oval, the furniture green
morocco, the ceiling frescoed in gray
and gold; very good and exceedingly
pretty carpet covers the floor; low,
handsome bookcases are around the
room. \ portrait of Hampden and one
of Jackson are on the wall. Next this
is the guest chamber, which is The only
one in the house. Think of that, We
hospitable house-wives-one spareroom
furnished in crimson, one dressing-glass,
a wardrobe with mirrored fronts, a
lounge, and an old-fashioned marble Ia
BILE. Next this is a sitting-room; it has
blue carpet, furniture covered with sat
ine-( which, for the benefit of the stu
pid who may imagine Saline TO be satin,
we will say ii is a mixture of silk and
cotton, very glossy, and in very pretty
designs "a mirror, mantle ornaments,
and on pedestal a finely executed bust
of General Grant, by Bailey.
Next this is Miss Grants room, furn-
ished in blue, very small, and as plain
as possible. No superhuous Injuries
there. On the opposite side of the hall
we were shown Jesse Grants room; on
the mantle were several curious figures
made from figs or potatoes, in one cor
ner a bookcase, several shelves filled
with boys books of adventures, of
games, and the others holding his treas
ures in the shape of boats, etc. in an
other corner stood his grabbing net and
fishing poles and lines. The next is
Mrs. Grants room, upholstered in pur-
pie and gold; this furniture also is Gov
tICu Win bll CtII lclIiS~-ONtl tIlc btN
lace canopy, and the wash-stands in this,
as in all of the other bedrooms, had, VIC
backs of dainty combinations
Of muslin, ribbon and lace-very femi-
nine and very beautiful. In this room
we saw a ladies' eScritoire and several
with dressing-glass. Out
from this are the bathrooms. Such
bathrooms Beyond it is Mr.. Dents
room, cosey and comfortable, furnished
with scraps, and plain.
And here let us say, that if we have
criticised (or do criticise before we
close this little articlc) too severely,
the miserable poverty of the furnishing
of the White House, remember that we
only the parsimonious Congress
which allows the President and his fam
lily to occupy as home residence such
a barn fitted with so few real comforts.
General Babcock does his level best
with the niggardly sum at his disposal,
but it would take hundred thousand |
dollars to put the house in decent repair
and renovate the furniture; and when
Congress appropriates ten thousand
dollars for its repair the country looks
aghast at the extravaganza of the Adj
Washington Capital.