The Portland daily press., 1873-04-28
Iuside the White House.
WHERE AND row TIE PRESIDENTS FAMILY
LIVE.
WASHINGTON Letter to Boston journal

Washington Letter to Boston Journal.
Inc lour eastern rooms of the second story
OF The White House are used as Offices by the
riesiuehts private secretary, Mr. Levi P.
i4ochey ana his assistant. 1t ia no aasv ask
TO olgest the immense amount of corras,,o,,a
ehce addressed to the Presiden, -,
which he directs to be sent TO Tho s,s'. '.
departments, with notes of his views neiont ona
my the subject matter thereof Fvon,. oncern-
Is hied or noted with military precisi9r paper
no apphcatioh, whether for place or fo, ,as aaru
| don, is unnotced. ioi par
Hext 10 the Presidents own business RON,
Whlch Is the second one from the east nfT ~,
south side, is that in which the cabinS. ou . tne
and where the President receives tbe So.
| OF visitors who daily call upon him. Tbare
| IS large council table in the centrc go
rounded by chairs, and here t.. e most imnor-
tant national measures are discussed and do
cided at the regular meeting on TUESDAYS and
Fridays, when each head of the department
in turn produces his budget of matters re-
quiring attention.. The windows command a
fine view OF the Potomac and of sold Virgin
Is.s Shore" and from one of them the gallant
Ellsworth in 1851 pointed out to Mr.. Lincoln
the STARS and bars" waving defiantly over
the Marshall house in Alexandria, and prom
ised to bring the rebel flag to him. When
Mr.. Lincoln Dext saw the young hero he was
hfe!ess, with the rebel flag thrown over his re-
mains.
From these official rooms which are often
seen by gentlemen who have business with
the PRESIDENT. We passed into what are
known as the private apartments. First we
entered the library, which is fitted I'm with
mahogany book cases, tolerably well filled.
and oak furniture. This was the recention
room OF Mrs. John Adams, for in her dav
none of the downstairs parlors were either
finished or furnished, and she used to have
her Mondays wash hung out to dry on the
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 ia
Miss Nellie's room. The sitting room has
blue curtains and the furniture is covered
with blne, while pictures and books give it a
homelike appearance. Opposite Miss Nelie's
room is that of Master Jesse, who is a bright
boy, and the especial favorite of bis parents,
who has just gone to California with his play
fellow and schoolmate, a son of ex Senator
Cole. The state bedroom Is the most ele-
gantly 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 I, and substantial breakfast
Is served at s, the President bringing his IA
vorlte newspapers to the table, and reading
them as he enjoys his toast and coffee. AT
ter breakfast the President takes short
walk. returning to his Office at 10, and re-
naming there until about A, when he takes
another walk, or perhaps a short drive
MEANWHILE, Mrs. Grant and Nellie, have at.
tended to their household duties, received
the calls of friends, and perhaps made a few.
is served, plain repast,
OF which di b of hominy is always part.
After dinner there is an informal receipt :, in
the blue parlor, with an occasional1s fer
ence ON political subjects in the Pres nt's
office up stairs. Such is the daily life our
chief magiitrate and his family