Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-01-07
what .. Costs General Grnni ana
His Family TO live i'm the White
House.
A Washington correspondent Of the
Boston Globe writes:

General Grant is uuquestionably the
most thrifty President who has occupied
the Executive Mansion for years, not
even excepting James Buchanan. de
will retire at the close of his term oil
Office the richest of all our Presidents
His extraordinary and usiform good for
tune has followed him in the Investment
Of bis money as in everything else, and
every "taleut' has been made to yield
full harvest. Grants habits and tastes,
like those Of Mr.. lincoln, are very fru-
gal aud simple. lie has onn weakness
which, in othor men, might lead to eX'
trsvagance, namely: an incrdinate fInd-
ness tor horsehesh. But with his''canny"
Scotch shrewdness, he INDUCES this lux
ury at comparatively little expense to
himself. He is gool judge of a horse
aud has been known to make some very
advantageous trades or "swaps." Mrs.
Grant. though not the bandsomest woman
in America, is perhaps one of the best
managers. The fact of his having such
wife is Only another illustration OF
Grant rare luck. Ii be knows how to
fight battle aud drive horse. she un'
derstands all about housekeeping, mar
keting, shopping, and how to keep the
buttons on the childreu's clothes. These
are excellent accomplishments in any
woman. or rather they we're SO regarded
when Mrs. Graut was a girl. That was
before it was considered the acme OF
young lady's glory to be able to "dance
the German" and fritter away the hours
of an evening with small talk to q vealy,
braiuless BOBBY. From what bave said
Of the habits and tastes of the President
aud 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 Ex-
ecutve Mansion is run upon sensible,
economical principles, and yet there is no
lack of hospitality. II is very seldom
that it Is without guest or twj of some
kind. In addition to the customary
Estate dinners which consist of the Cab
inent, Of the Diplomatic Corps. Justices
of the Supreme Court, and mobs of Con-
gressmen, the family or private dinner
room is frequently the scene of quiet lit
tie dinners composed of the Presidents
personal friends. l have heard bon oi-
rants say that the Presidents dinners are
nothing to brag of, either in point of sub
stance 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 a Judge of
wines. and his stock is mostly selected at
random. Champagne is about the only
wine for which ho he's any partiality, and
bis taste fJr it is rather acquired than
natural.
A large proportion Of the expenses o.
running the White House is borne by the
government. The entire appropriations for
this purpose for the present fiscal year ls
$I2S,200. This includes the President +
salary, the salaries of bis secretaries,
clerks. messengers, policemen, ushers.
watchmen, furnaco.kceper, steward, and
for fuel, light, taking care of the mansion,
repairs, plumbing, gas fitting, stationery
and contingent expenses. With the OK
caption Of the steward, the President
employs anl pays out of his salary all hi"
bouSeh I'D servants. cooks, waitsrs, cham
bermaids, coachman, footman, etc. But
the list is not long, and the cost iS Nc
more, if as much, as for the servants OF
any private gentleman. | heard Presi'
dent johnson say, on one OCCASION, that II
cost him 1900 year to live while he
was in the Executive Mansion, aud he
renamed here all the year round, from
JSnuary to January. President Grant il
usually absent six months of every yea
on an average, aud it is presumed tia
his expenses when travelling or at Lons
Bran, b, are less than in the White
House. The general Impression is tina
il costs Grant about SS 900 year.
t Sowing Grass Seed.