New-York tribune., 1881-09-11

not be long held by man who sought TO introduce
Moreover, Mr.. Jefferson was himself a very poor
man, and knew that as President he should have to
}iG incur more expense in great and polished city
bOarding-h which was Washington from 1900
to to 1908. Sir Augustus Foster relates that he had
himself often seen the President riding about the
city without attendants, and hanging up the bride
OF his horse to peg at the door of shop-keeper.
ngs and slippers and in this guise receive all who
called upon him He was tall man. says his
and gray neglected hair his manners good-natured
frank, and rather friendly, though he had o some
blue coat~the color Of tire Contnentai unform
gray hairy waistcoat, green velveteen breeches
% Wtn pearl % ri buttons , yarn stockings and slippers
uown az the heels His general appearance was very
much that of a tall, gaunt, raw -boned farmer"
The circumstances Of the last few weeks have
mankind to the sick-bed of the distinguished pa
tlent who has SO long hung between life and death
at the White House in Washington, and forscfhis
reason it is no inappropriate moment to inquire why
1t is that the Chief Magistrate of the mighty trans
official life upon a spot which NO sane man would
select for summer residence When the White
House was built there were few architects to be
found In the United States, and but little DISPOSE
ton existed to call in professional assistance from
beyond the Atlantic. At this moment Irish
son came forward, who produced plan of the
Duke of LeinsteTs mansion in Dublin, on which he
had been employed as journeyman, emitting how
which last defect was remedied by Jefferson him
sell io tins lrlshman then, was assigned the task
WaSnlnQ
ton which, happily unhapply-we are inclined
at tins moment to think the latterescaped deslruc-
tiOn when the public edices of the young city were
unJustifiaby set on fire by the British Army of Oc-
cupatlon in 1912.
1t is significant of the self-sacrifice which has
always been characteristic of American Presidents
that while, almost without exception, the White
House has been dIstasteful to them as a residence
they have never proposed to remove the Executive
Mansion to another and healthier spot. MIR. Van
Buren,, who perhaps more tastidious In his
tastes than any of predecessors Successors
pressed an OPT ion, when he was sent as his coun-
try's envoy To Great Britain in 1881, that a more
announcement and unsuitable residence than the
White House could hardly De found to meet the pur-
pose TOR which it was bult.
Events, however, have taken place since the
mencement OF last month, which can hardly fail to
make our American kInsmen reflect with emotion on
the lmpollcy-we might almost say the iniustlce-
OF exposing the men upon whom they temporarily
lay the burden OF presiGng them to the danger
or losing health II not life ITSELF by residing in the
dog Gays hear the edge of pestilentIal marsh For
ourselves we incline to the Delief that neither IN
summer nor i'll winter is the White House desira-
bic or convenient residence for Presidents of the
United States. SO far the situation of the place
itself is concerned, there is capital in Europe,
Wtn perhaps the exception OF st. Petersburg. which
can vie with It in unnealthineSs. The prolonged
su1eungs of General Garfield may perhaps inuuce
our transat antic kinsmen hencetOrward to show
more mercy TO the citizen whom they place in the
Presidential chair.