Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-19
THE RENOVATED WHITE HOUSE.
IMPROVEMENTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

| IMPROVEMENTS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
BEAUTIFUL DECORATIVE WORK IN
THE INTERIOR.
| 1t is customary when the President goes away
| for his vacation, during the heated term. to
give the White House a thorough overhauiing
and renovating. This year much more work
| than usual was done.
| OUTSIDE WORK.
| The carriage road in front of the building
! which was generally either dusty or muddy, has
been torn up, and a smooth asphalt pavement
has taken its place; the old brick sewer In the
cellar has been replaced by 12-inch pipe the
dirty cracked ceiling OF the northern portco is
now smooth and white, and the whole exterior
| OF the building has been thoroughly repainted
and is now 'riiLe, in fact as well as in name The
| iron railing in front of the building has also
been painted and the top gilded. adding not a
| little to the general effect These improvements
were all made under the direction of Col. Rock
well, commissioner of public buildings and
| grounds.
| The PRESIDENTS TEMPORARY RESIDENCE AT THE
SOLDIERS HOME.
! While they were in progress the President
took up his quarters in one Of the cottages at
the Soldiers Home. He found his exile there so
agreeable and convenient that he has been in no
hurry to return to his residence at the White
House, where he is constantly beseged by host
OF Office seekers and VISITORS leaving him but
little time to himself. The rides to and from
the White House occupy only about twenty
minutes, and instead of being inconvenient are
source OF enjoyment. The cottage at the Home
was made very pleasant and h0melike by a
taSleiui arrangement OF the furniture and the
introduction OF handsome rugs, open fire.
places, and numerous other c0nveniences and
comforts
THE PRESIDENT TO SPEND HIS CHRISTMAS AT THE
SOLDIERS HOME.
The President is in fact very much pleased
with his country residence, and intends spend
ing Christmas day there returning to the White
House shortly after Christmas. On New Years
day the first public reception of the season will
| be held in tue White House.
INTERIOR ADoRNMENTs AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
During the Presidents extended stay at the
Soldiers Home it was determined to give the
interior OF the White house something more
than the annual cleaning. Louis C. Tiffauy g.
Co., the well known associated artists of New
York, were given charge of the work of decorat-
ing and painting some of the rooms Of the lower
floor. and the great change they have wrought
IN the appearance and style of the apartments
Will be great attraction at the receptions of
the coming season. Since the commencement
OF operations the rule of excluding sight-seers
from the building and allowing no one to pass
beyond the vestibule into the private part of
the house has been strictly enforced for the ar
lists were unwilling that their unfinished work
should be subjected to criticism This work
ntn oyd 70 f,r tho,
flrst time visitors We're given an opportunity of
seeing the result OF seven weeks constant labor
! The artists knew the value of time in this in
stance. and. by working day and night have
completed IN seven weeks what they would not
have thought of undertaking in New York In
less than four or five months. Some of Tiffany's
Skilled WOrkmen were sent over from New
\ DIRK Tor the finer and more important work,
but much OF it was done by Washington men
and home industry was still further patronized
10y purchasing nearly all the materials here
The work and wOrkmen have been under the
direct management Of Mr.. E. N. GriswOId OF
the firm of Tiffany q Co., and Mr. H. NJ Law
| renee OF That firm has done all the designing.
Inc WORK shows for itself, and reflects great
| credit upon both of these gentlemen All the
designs were studied with view to gas light
| effect. The Presi dent was a frequent visitor
! during the progress of the work and in many
| instances his personal wishes were followed.
THE EAST ROOM
which is open to the public more than the
Others. was first visited by STAR reporter, in
viewing this afternoon the changes that have
been wrought. During the summer the mag
nlflcent crystal chandeliers were taken apart
and each separate piece of glass was thoroughly
cleaned and polished, so that they are as bright
as new. This room had been so recently retitted.
that no additions were deemed necessary except
new carpet. Enough material of the same
10 Spnp h<~,
they were obliged to send abroad and have it
made. 1t is the best English administer that
could be gotten. and it was selected by paslipht
for evening effect 1t is of pale lemon color.
harmoniZinS admirably with the white and gold
of the room. The figure in effect is very broad
yet simple.
The green room was next visited. but was
found intact. just as it was reftted by Mrs
Garfield during her residence at the White
House.
IN THE BLUE ROOM
they have endeavored to keep the general char
acter SO that it might still be called the blue
| room, yet quite Transformation has taken
place. 1t now has a new carpet. the walls and
ceiling have been newly decorated, and the fur
nlture regilded and upholstered. The carpet is
an excellent antique blue-grey, OF the same
qnallty as that in the east room. The furniture
has been covered with heavy blue and gold
changeable silk canvas, made purposely for it.
The greatest change however, is in the decora
ton of the walls and ceiling. Formerly the
ceiling was composed of panels of imitation
| mouldings OF light and shade Now it Is purer
and lighter, silver being the predominating
color, and the design being chiefly oyals of the
same proportions as the room. The centers of
the oVals are decorated with shields of various
coiored metals, radiating from the center of the
room, which center has designs OF conven-
tiona eagles in relief. surrounded by a narrow
border of silver figures. The cornice is richly
decorated with silver, and the upper part of the
wall is filled with ornamental work of a raised
Character. forming freze eight feet wide The
decoration OF this 1rieze, which is very hand
some. is in pale silver and grey color, the wall
harmonizing beautifully with the general char
acter OF the rOOm and
LIGHTING UP BRILLIANTLY
The lower part of the wall is palmer. of
| robins-egg blue. with band four feet in width.
at the bottom of still darker tone harmon
izing with the carpet, The general character of
the room Is therefore dark at the bottom grad
ually growing lighter to the top, which is
mixture of silver and male hluicb ,uh;+o IT..