The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-08-09
A Unique Sc. Of China for ths White House.

~-Ns--~a
Mr.. Theodore r. Davis, the Wellknown
artist Of Horpef's Weekly, Is OF work in |
his studio at Asbury Park on designs for a
state dinner set for the White House.
Early last spring Mr.. Davis went to Wash
ington on mission for the Harpers, which
was to make a picture Of the President
aud the Cabinet, aud which appeared in
due time in the Weekly. Mrs. Hayes 10.
vited him into the conservatory, and, after
turning the camera on the group described
above, the Presidents wife entered into
conversation on 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 ser
wants handle at the States expense. She
found It difficult to set the table properly
for State dinner, since the china closet
held only a Babel of remnants. She had
ordered new State dinner set Of Havi-
land; the contract was signed, and Havi-
land was under $4,000 bonds to deliver the
set by January, 1880. Mrs. Hayes re-
GREETED that she had been obliged to 90 to
France for a dinner set. @They make
very good ware at Trenton said Mr..
Davis, "but, Of course, Hayiland, of Ii
moges, makes the best. Still, IL you can
not have American ware you could at
least have American designs, representing
the fruits, vegetables, game, fish, and
fauna indigenous to this country"
Mrs. Hayes caught at the idea, aud
acted upon it with the decision aud au-
thority Of a queen. "Scott," she said to
her little son, "sec if you can find brother
Webb" The eldest son appeared. "Webb,
will you ask General Casey to come to the
conservatory General Casey appeared,
aud was requested to write at the lady's
dictation. She began "Haviland Co.
| desire TO cancel the contract for the
dinner set -" "But-," interrupted
General Casey. Remember, | am dicta-
ting" said Mrs. Hayes, enjoying his sur
prise, and continued, "and to enter into
new one similar to the FIRST, with the ex-
ception that Mr. Theodore Il. Davis is to
have exclusive supervision of the designs" !"
This was the substance Of the letter, which
was despatched at once.
1t was now Mr.. Davis turn to expostu-
late. He urged that he was under con-
tract to the Harpers not to do work for
any one else. Mrs Hayes, with woman s
faith, could see no obstacle in that con.
tract, any more than she could 10 the first
contract with Haviland. IL may be that
a Presidents wife eau make and unmake
business treaties at her will. Atany rate,
Hayiland acquiesced with Incompatible
grace, and Fletcher Harper, when Mrs,
Hayes wish was mooted to him, said TO
his faithful artist -''I don't ask you to
try to surpass everything Of the kind that
Haviland has done. ! expect you to beat
them, and I'll have one OF the duplicate
sets for myself"
Mr.. Davis has had everything his own
way both as to the shapes Ofthe pieces and
the designs, and has aimed at striking
originality and strong, bold effects of colOl
and form combinations. Everything that
enters into the designs is distinctly Ameri
can. To give a running description Of the
different pieces The tea.cup Is 10 the
form of a Chinese mandarin's hat, the
handle being formed by curling tea sprig
the leaves of which decorate the sides o
the cup. For the 0yster-plare decoration
there are FIVE Blue Point halEshells in ,
curve lie has discarded tho conventions
halfdosen, adopting hmeFson's saying, tha
nature loves the number Eve. 0pposit,
the shells is a scene representing down OF
the seashore, sea gull, and a tangle O
sea moss bordering the picture.
The soup plates in coloring and form arr
in imitation like the mountain laurel flow
cr. There will be pictures on the bottom
of the plate, such as bullfrog croaking OF
a bank, in the midst Of rain storm, anC
an Illustration Of clam.bako.
The fish plate Is 10 form in imitation o
a sOallop shell, with salt and fresh waite
scenes on the fat surface added to the hee
Of the shell to complete the oval form O
the plate. In these water pictures ar,
shown different American fishes, such a
trout lying under lily pad, two lobster
fighting, sheepshead nibbling at oyster
fastened to palmetto log, The platte
picture represents enc roe shad entangleS
in golden net, In form the platter l
nearly square, with the corners turned up
The designs for the dinner plates ar,
very elaborate, aud comprise such scene
as bear attacking honey tree, the ante
lope, the buffalo, coon climbing n per
simmon tree, with "darkey" looking fo
the coon; cranes dancing, with one Gran,
beating time with his wing while the 9th
ers enjoy walk-around, which is not o
the Imagination but fact, etc. The plat
ter Of the bird plates will be adorned viii
wild turkey, the chief Of the American
game birds, on the wing, with a prairi,
fire aud its reflection on the water addin,
color to the picture. The birds plates ar,
placque in form and the prairie chicken
ptarmegau, duck and other birds entel
into tho designs The salad plates are .
great novelty, the figure Of a lobster beins
etched into the bottom Of tho plate, Will,
the color win be applied underneath, Oh,
color with the varying strength Of trans
lucency, produced BY the etching, unitin.
to form fine effect. The dessert plate
are decorated with fruits indigenous 10 III.
country. The plates for crackers, ehees,
and cigars will be furnished with piCtoria
designs intended to stimulate conversation
10 form they will resemble an Indian plate
which is stiff willow bent in circl,
with thin strips ofwillow or reeds woyeI
across. Mr.Davis's beautiful Indian blank
ct, on which he sits, will take csnspic
uous place in these last designs. IN y
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