The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-01-07
THE RICHEST OF THE PRESIDENTS.
GRANT SAVING MORE OF HIS SALARY THAN ANY OF
HIS PREDECESSORS.
From the Boston Globe.]

| From the Boston Globe.
! Cen. Grant is Enthusiastically the most
thrifty President who has occupied the Execu'
tive Mansion for years, not even excepting
James Buchanan. He will retire at the close
of his term the richest of all our Presidents.
His extraordinary and uniform good fortune
has followed him in the investment OF ms
money as in everything else, and every
s'talent" has been made to yield full harvest.
Grants habits and tastes, like those OF MI.
Lincoln, are very frugal and simple.
| He has one weakness which in other men
might lead to extravagance, namely, an IN
ordinate love for horehesh. But with MS
| sscannv" Scotch shrewdness he INDUCES this
luxury at comparatively little expense to him
self. He is good judge OF horse, and mas
been known to make some very advantageous
trades. Mrs. Grant, though not the hand
soonest woman in America, is perhaps one OF
the best managers. The fact of his having
such q wife is only another illustration OF
Grants rare luck If he knows how to light
battle and drive horse, she understands
all about housekeeping, marketing, shopping,
and how to keep the buttons on the children's
clothes.
From what have said of the habits and
tastes of the President and Of the character OF
Mrs. Grant, you will not be surprised to learn
that Grant saves more of his salary than any
of his predecessors. The household of the
Executive Mansion is run upon sensible,
economical principles; and yet there is no
lack of hospitality. In addition to the GUS
tomary Estate dinners" which consist Of men,
bers Of the Cabinet, of the diplomatic corps,
Justices of the Supreme Court, and mobs OF
Congressman, the family or private dining
room is frequently the scene Of quiet little
dinners, composed of the President s personal
friends have heard bon uiuants say that the
Presidents dinners are nothing to brag of,
either in point of substance or service. In
his early days, Grant lacked the training
which would enable him to compete, in this
line, with men like Sam Hooper or the late
Charles Sumner. He is not much Of judge
of wines, and his stock is mostly selected at
random. Champagne is about the only wine
for wi ich he has any Partially, aid his taste
for it is rather acquired than natural.
large proportion of the expenses of run
ming the White House is borne by the Govern |
ment. The entire appropriation for this pur-
pose for the present fiscal year is 1928, 200. |
This includes the Presidents salary, the sal
aries of his secretaries, clerks, messengers,
policemen, ushers, watchmen, furnace keeper,
steward, and for fuel, light, taking care of the
repairs, plumbing and gas fitting,
stationery, and contingent expenses. With
the exception Of the steward, the President
employs and pays out of his salary all his
servants, cooks, walters, chamber
maids, coachmen, footmen, etc. But the list
is not long, and the cost no more, if as much,
rs for the servants of any private gentleman.
heard President johnson say on one occa-
;icn that it cost him about $1,000 year to
i've while he was in the Executive Mansion
md he remained here all the year round, from
January to January. President Grant is
Usually absent six months of every year on an
verage and it is presumed that his expenses
When travelling or at Long Branch are less
han in the White house. The general i'm
PRESTON is that it costs Grant about $4,000
ear