The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-12-11
WHITE HOUSE BELLIES.
Domestic Episodes i'm the Prcsi-
Dental Mansiou--1'id-bi of
IittIe-Tattle.

chosen to reside in the White House
from the 4th of next March. 1t will,
therefore, at the present moment,
while the result is fresh in the minds
of the people, be alike timely and in
teresting to give a condensed sketch
of the domestic history of the White
House; and to describe tersely and
truthfully the inner life, the romance,
and, to certain degree, the scandals
of the Presidential mansion.
There was no White House in
Washington's time, and Mrs. John
Adams, its first mistress, did not
think much of it. She writes: "The
Presidents house was built to be
looked at, not lived in" She further
adds: speaking of the City of
Washington itself, the people are
poor, and as far as | can Judge they
live like fishes, catching each
other" In this respect, at least, the
people of Washington have not
changed greatly to this day. The
Adams regime at the White House
was very peculiar and plain. Lemon
ade and oat cake comprised the ere
ception" lunches. tea was the staple
drink, and everything was conducted
on a cheap and thrifty scale.
A CHANGE CAME
over the White House in Jefferson's
time Things were still plain enough
bnt Puritanism was banished, and a
free-and-easy hospitality took its
place. Jefferson was fond of good
wine and of playing the violin. He
opened the White House to philoso-
piers and musicians, but closed it
as much as possible to clergymen.
He was constantly visited by editors,
artists and foreigners, their pockets
empty of coin but their heads full Of
ideas Mrs. Jefferson being dead,
there was, properly speaking, no mis-
tress of the White House in his time.
His daughters were at the White
House but seldom, so he held no for
NAL receptions.
Mrs. Martha Jefferson Randolph
and Mrs. Maria Jefferson Epps were
both of them estimable ladies, and
passionately attached to their illus
trious father. They always regarded
their parent as a true believer, despite
his denials, and always insisted that
Jefferson was at heart a Christian.
Martha Jefferson and Theodosia
Burr present striking examples of
the warm attachment of gifted relig
ious daughters
TO ''INFIDEL' FATHERS.
During President Madisons ad-
ministraton the White House was
exceedingly lively. Mrs. Madison
had been brought up Quaker, but
she gave dancing parties at the
White House. At one of these par
ties there was present the lady who
had 'jilted' the President years be-
fore, and who was presumably by
this time "sorry for it," Mrs. Mad
ison had been widow when the fu-
ture President married her, and she
ruled him completely. It was always
a source of sincere regret to Mrs.
Madison that, when the British seized
on the White House in 1912, the Off
GERS found one of her Estate dinners"
all ready to eat, and sat down and
ate it. 'If they had only come after
dinnerw she was wont to say.
Mrs. Monroe, like Mrs. Adams,
was addicted to State dinners. She
gave great dinners. She could afford
it, being herself of wealthy New
York family. "The era of good feel
ing" was emphatically IA good time
generally"
IN JOHN QUINCY ADAMS TINE
there was a great scandal. The Pres
ident was solemnly charged in the
papers Of his day with. having intro
duced worldlness and sin into the
White House, in the form of bill
lard table-and, alas. the terrible
charge was too true. Charles Francis
Adams, the son and Secretary Of the
President, bought and paid for this
table out Of his own private allow
ance, and played on it nightly.
Mrs. John Quincy Adams was the
hostess of Gen. Lafayette during his
visit 10 this country.
1t is said that Mrs. Andrew Jack
son was killed by the misrepresenta-
tions of her husbands enemies, and
that she died of broken heart be
fore her husband became President
She was a divorced woman when
Jackson married her,and this divorce
gave rise to scandal. But old Hick.
ory himself, though he loved her ten.
derby, seems to have survived her
loss with tolerable comfort. The
White House presented very pecu-
liar aspect under Jackson. 1t was
half military camp and half a
drinking saloon. jackson as PIesi,
dent was profuse in hospitality, anc
hadto draw on his private purse tt
maintain it. In 1886 he was compel
ledto sell some Tennessee lands fo
So, 600. and in 1887 to raise SO, 900 on
his cotton crop, all to sustain his
style of living at the White House
though his own personal expenses
were inconsiderable. Cheese was
served at the leyec, sometimes baked
apples or cold sausage. There wa