Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1881-01-06
The Presidents Savings.
Mr. Hayes q Good Manager, hut Not
PnrsimOntous

Washington Letter To Boston Adverti1er
Recently report has had wide clrcula-
ton in the country that the President had
saved very large proportion of his salary
by extreme economy. The idea has got
abroad that he has lived at the rate Of Sl0,-
900 wear. and saved $4,000. In un-
friendly quarters he has been accused of
parsimoniousness The President doubtless
is a good manager, but except in one par
ticular there has been no want of generous
living and hospitality The bill for wines
and liquors during the present admlnlstra-
ton has not been large one, and those
who think there can be no entertainment
nor hospitality without such things are dis
posed to grumbe. Touching this subject
every one is entitled to have and to hold
his own opinion When the present occu-
pants leave the White House they will
probably not regret their course IN this re
spect. In the matter of receptions and state
dinners the President has not been remiss.
The grand reception in honor of the diplo-
matte corps, which has SO brilliantly closed
the season for two years was new feature,
and has been remarkably successful. Mrs.
HAYES is credited with devising this enter
tainment. An evening or two preceding
the first one there was grand ball at one
of the foreign legations. Wine flowed as
freely as water, and stI onger liquors were
| supplied without STINT. The result as that
many gentlemen and some ladies lost their
| heads, and there were scenes before the
! house was abandoned that were cause of
| grief if not of shame The follow ing party
at the White House was in its innocent
| cheertulneSs and reasonable enjoyment "A
marked contrast to this one. There was
every pleasure which good company can
| give, and there was no lntOXicatlOn, no mad
ness. no foulncss, and no remurSe. None
who attended both parties could fail to note
| the difference, and there were few who did
not willingly confess that Mrs. Hayes mad
! chosen the better way. An intimate friend
! Of the President. and one who is likely to
! be well informed. late!y expressed great in
| dignation at the charges Of excessive tru-
| gality that have been made. He says the
| Presidents expenses have been about $50,
600 year, instead of 10000, ana he Will
save out of his 800. 900 of salary for the
| four years about $4,000 The President ;
| own family is not a small one, and almost
constantly there have been several guests at
| the White House, Young people for the
must par NllO dllltu IldNtS III Ildhil1
her parlors delightful place Of resort. BY
the death of an uncle the President not
long before he came into office came into
possession of a large property. chiefly in
land, subject however, to many legacies.
These the President, by placing heavy in
| cumbrances upon the land, promptly paid.
The earnings of this term have been devoted
to paving the debts so incurred and have
been far from sufficient to do it wholly. The
President has felt under no obligations to
| expend his whole salary while in office, but
he cannot justly be accused of maintaining
an ilIberal style Of living any more than he
can be accused OF maintaining an extraya-
giant style. He has lived as beftted the
chief magistrate of republic, and during
his term the White House has been, so far
its domestic affairs are in question,
representative American home. where tenn
perance, cheerfulness, intelligence and genu-
inc hospitality have had useful and emo
| bling exemplification.