Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-03-25
The Daily Routine Of Life in the White
House at Washington During
HAYES. Time.

Hayes. Time.
The routine life at the White House
was as simple and decorous as the stout
est Democrat could wish the home of our
chief and representative citizen to be-
After an early breakfast the family and
guests met in the library, where Bibles
were distributed, selection of Scripture
read by each in turn, and the Lords pray
repeated. The activities of the business
day then began. The President. went to
his Office. and Mrs. Hayes occupied herself
with household cares or with those duties
Of hospitality in which she showed to such
advantage. During the middle hours of
the day she was scarcely less busily occu-
pied. if at home, than her husband in re-
ceiving callers who had or fancied they had
special privileges at the hlte House, and
special claims on the consideration of its
mistress. A constant stream of invited
guests of the family, eager to look at the
famous sights of the capital, were in turn
escorted with tireless good nature to see
he ''ions;" to the Washington Monu-
ment, the Smithsonian Institution, Mount
Vernon, Arlington, the Capitol and De-
partments, and all the rest. Then there
we're the little big people TO be polite to,
and the bores which could not be avoided
peating an anecdOte of Presidential prac-
tice IN this respect which Mr.. Hayes told
me. He said he asked General Grant Oh
entering on his duties what he had said
when he wished to offer pleasant word
or two to casual visitor who deserved or
expected moment of conversation beyond
he simple ceremony of presentation. Gen.
eral Grant replied, II always ask them,
Have you been to the Smithsonian u
Mr.. Hayes thought the formula very
safe and good one and to some extent
adopted it. He was accustomed to valy
it, however, he said, by a reference to the
beauty of the prospect from the South
window. The view is indeed pretty one
but perhaps there was hidden satire, or
lurking sanitary motive underlying the
feature in the scene is that lniquity known
As the Kidwell bottoms, low river lands
which breed pestilence and which the pres
dent and the citizens of the district have
in vain importuned Congress to remove.
The later hours of the afternoon were
generally passed in the family carriage,
enjoying the finest drives aud the finest
climate in the country. I speak as a resi-
dent of the District. Dinner generally
occupied the best part OF two hours, from
six till eight, after which the family dis
persrd and Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes returned
to the ''red' parlor to receive calls. This
cosy and homelike apartment was gener-
ally well filed with the more immediate
friends of the family and others who chose
to call. Saturday night was reserved for
the family and those specially invited to
spend the ev ening with them, and Sunday
WAS of cOurS0 a daV 0f nrivacv At fen
O'Clock the visitors were supposed to re-
tire, and the White House was closed
The family and guests then gathered and
,,layed country old fashioned rompine
games or amused themselves as they saw
fit till bedtime. Such was life at the
White House during the Hayes admins
ration; such its domestic character and
habits. Who shall say that such home
was not in the best sense American-st
,nce type and pattern?- Washsngto,a
Cor. N. Y. Post.