The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-08-30
Inside the White House.

The four eastern rooms of the second
story of the White House are used as
offices by the Presidents private Sec
rotary, Levi P. Luckey, and his assis-
tant 1t is no easy task to digest the
immense amount of correspondence adj
dressed to the President, much of which
he directs to be sent to the different
departments, with notes of his views
concerning the subject matter thereof.
Every paper is filed or noted with mill
tary precision, and no application,
whether for place or for pardon, is I'M
noticed.
Next to the Presidents own business
room, which is the second one from the
east, on the south side, is that in which
the cabinet meet, and where the Presi-
dent receives the scores of visitors who
daily call upon him. There is a large
s council table in the centre, surrounded
by chairs, and here the most important
national measures are discussed and de-
cided at the regular meetings on Tues
days and Fridays, when each head of
department in turn produces his budget
OF matters requiring attention. The
windows command fine view of the
Potomac and of ''old Virginas shore, "
and from one Of them the gallant Els
worth in 1861 pointed out to Mr.. Lin
con the ''stars and bars waving def
antly over the Marshall house in Alex
andria, and promised to bring the reb-
ell flag to him. When Mr. Lincon next
saw the young hero he was lifeless,
with the rebel flag thrown over his re-
mains.
From these official rooms, which are
often seen by gentlemen who have bust
ness with the President, we passed in
to what are known as the private apart
ments. First, we enter the library
which is fitted up with mahogany book
cases, tolerably well filled, and oak fur
niture. This was the reception room
of Mrs. John Adams, for in her day
none of the down-stair parlors were
either finished or furnished, and she
used to have her Mondays wash hung
out to dry on lines stretched in the
east room. Next to the library is the
Presidents bedroom, plainly furnished
and opening into Mrs. Grants sitting
room, on the other side of which is
Miss Nellie's room. The sitting-room
has blue curtains and the furniture is
covered with blue, while pictures and
books give it a home-like appearance
Opposite Miss Nellie's room is that
of Master Jesse, who is a bright boy
and the especial favorite of his parents
who has just gone to California with
his play fellow and schoolmate, a son
of ex-senator Cole The state bed
room is the most elegantly furnished
room on the second story, and beyond
it is the chamber of Mrs. Grants father
Mr.. Dent, now in his S8th year. The
family life at the White House is very
simple. All rise about z, and SUBJ
stantial breakfast is served at s, the
.r President bringing his favorite news
papers to the table, and reading them
he enjoys his coffee and toast. After
breakfast the President takes a short
walk, returning to his office at 10, and
remaining there until about 4, when he
takes another walk or perhaps a short
drive. Meanwhile, Mrs. Grant and
Miss Nellie have attended to their
household duties, received the calls
~ of friends, and perhaps make a few.
At 5-sharp-d dinner is served, plain
repast, of which dish of hominy is
always a part. After dinner there is
an informal reception in the blue parlor,
with an occasional conference on polt-
ical subjects in the Presidents office
upstairs. Such is the daily life of our
hiefmagstrate and his family. Wash
-ington Letter to Boston Journal.