The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-06
MRS. HAYES NEW DINNER SET.

MRS. HAYES NEW DINNER SET.
American Designs Welded 10 European
SkIIi.
New York Tribune Letter From AIbury Park, Nj.
Pleasant as asummef resort, this place
is also invested with interest as the tenn
porary home Of an artist engaged in a
work designed to do credit to American
industry. This gentleman is Theodore R.
Davis, who has been connected for many
years with Harper's Weekly. 1 have Just
come from his studio, where he is en-.
gagged on a most unique work for an Amer.
lean artist, and one which interests avery
American and will challenge the atteu-
ton Of the connoisseurs Of the Old World.
He is making the designs for a state din.
ner set for the White House, which Havi.
land, of Limoges, France, is now at work
upon, and declares will be the finest din.
ner set ever made in Europe.
Upon a high shelf is a large photograph
Of the conservatory Of the White House,
with Mrs. Hayes in the foreground sur.
rounded by her two youngest children,
and Mr.. Davis little girl, who makes pies
in the sand outside while her father laws
in the water.Color. On this photograph
hangst the whole story. Early last spring
Mr.. Davis went to Washington on a mis-.
sion for the Harpers, which was to make a
picture OF the President and the Cabinet,
and which appeared in due time in the
Weekly. Mrs. Hayes invited him into the
conservatory, and after turningthecamera
on the group described above, the Presi.
dents wife entered into conversation ON
a topic very dear to the housewives
heart. The china brought into the White
House during the reigns of Mrs. Lincoln
and Mrs. Grant had gone mostly the way
OF all porcelain that servants handle at the
states expense. She found it difficult to
set the table properly for a state dinner,
since the china closet held only q Babel OF
remnants. She had ordered a new state
dinner set Of llaviland, the contract was
signed, and Haviland was under 5000
bonds to deliver the set by January, 1880.
Mrs. Hayes regretted that she had been
obliged to go 10 France for a dinner set.
They make very good ware at Trenton"
said Mr.. Davis, "but, OF course, Haviland
OF Limoges makes the best Sill, il you
cannot have American ware you could at
least have American designs, representing
the fruits, vegetable, games, fish and fauna
Indigenous to this country"
Mrs. Hayes caught al 1.-THE idea and acted
upon it with the decision and authority
oil a queen. "Scott," she said to her little
son, see II you can find brother Webb"
The eldest son appeared. "Webb, will
you ask Gen. Casey to come to the con-
servatory?" Gen. Casey appeared and
was requested to write at the iady's dicta-
ton. She began, "Haviland 4 Co.: l de-
sire TO cancel the contract for the dinner
set" But" interrupted Gen. Casey,
Remember, l am debating" said Mrs.
Hayes, enjoying his surprise, and continu-
ed, land TO enter into a new one similar
to the first, with the exception that Mr..
Theodore r. Davis, is to'have exclusive
supervision OF the designs" This was the
substance Of the letter, which was dis
patched at once.
1t was now Mr.. Davis turn to.expostu.
late. He urged that he was under ION.
tract to the Harpers not to do work for
any one else. Mrs. Hayes, with a WON.
ems faith, could see no obstacle in that
contract, any more than she could in the
contract with Haviland. 1t may be that a
Presidents wife can make and unmake
business treaties at her will. HAt any rate,
Haviland acquiesced with incompatible
grace, and Fletcher Harper, when Mrs,
-Hayes's wish was mooted to him, said TO
his faithful artist: II don't ask you to try
to SurpaGs everything Of the kind that
hayiland has done. expect you TO beat
them, and I'll have n Of the duplicate
sets for myself"
Haviland was in this country, and Of.
fered Mr.. Davis every assistance and CO.
operation, but at first he was disposed to
doubt If any n could surpass his fayorite
artist, B~racquemon. He brought out an
oyster plate. THAT" said he, SIS the best
oyster plate that was e made" Mr..
Davis didn't like 1t, and frankly said he
thought he could do better. "If you do l
will break this plate" said Theodore Hav-
iland. A few days afterward Mr.. Davis
showed him the design, and the favorite
plate was seized and dashed into q hun
dred pieces that strewed the warehouse
floor. The artist has already furnished
50 designs, and HaYiland grows more en-
thusiastic over them as they come in.
There are to be Is sets bearing the sigma.
ture OF the artist and maker; these will be
similar to an artist proof engraving.
Eleven Of these come to this country, and
the remainder will be sold in Europe.
Mrs. Hayes will probably have two sets,
LSInkolaS Hn,nnn 70 - bnvn nnn nuI A.,
Theodore R. DaVisis not TO be forgotten.
Mr.. Davis has had everything his own
way both as 10 the shape OF the pieces and
the designs, aud has aimed at striking
originality and strong, bold effects Of col.
ors and form combinations. Everything
that enters into the designs is distinctly
America. To give o running description
OF the different pieces: The teacup is in
the form of n Chinese mandArin's hat, the
handle being formed by a curling tea sprtg,
the leaves OF which decorate the sides OF
the cup. For the oyster+plate decoration
there are Ave Blue Point half shells in a
curve. He has discarded the conventional
halt.dozen, adopting Emsrson's saying,
that nature loves the number five, 0ppo.
site the shells is 8 representing down
on the shore, a sea.gull, and a tangle oil
sea moss bordering the picture.
The soup plates in coloring and form,
are in imitation like the mountain Laurel
flower. There will be pictures on the
bottom OF the plates, such ,Rs q bulliroi
croakingin a bog, in the midst OF q rain,
storm, and an illustration Of 3 ,clam.bake
The Rsh plates arei in form IN imitation o
scallop shell, with, salt and fresh watel
scenes on the fat surface added TO thu
heel Of the shell to complete the ova
form fthe plate. In these water picturel
fare shown different American fishes, sucl
as q trout lying under a lilly.pad, two
HOLSTERS fighting, . s~heep's.head nibblinI
at oysters fastened TO 0 palmetto log. Tn
platter picture represents q fine roe shai
Ientangled in Q golden net. In form thI
platter Is nearly square, with the corner
turned up.