The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-08-18
PRESIDENT ARTHUR.
How Famous Artist has Contributed to
His Comfort in Washington.

A Washington correspondent of the San
Francisco Post makes public little fact that
is not generally known as TO the esthetic
condition Of the White House, II has no pic
lures on Its walls in the private apartments,
fine art being represented in the mansion by
the series of Presidents portraits, aud the
portraits of Martha Washington and Mrs.
Hayes in the State apartments. President
Grant made the place home like and pleasant
during his long residence there, by aid Of his
many pictures; but when his lease of the
premises expired, these things were packed
| up and stored in his Galena house, until
brought forth TO decorate the walls of the
New York mansion. Among his treasures,
| and the chief ornament Of the White House
library, was the original Buchanan Reads
s.Sheiidan's Ride" presented to General
Grant by tbe-poet. painter, shortly before his
| death. President Arthur is a Judge and ali
admirer Of pictures, and at his home in Lex
ingron avenue. New York, he has a fine col
lection of paintings, engravings and aquarel-
| les. delicate sentiment toward the home
beau,ifed by the wishes and tastes of his
wife, constrains the President TO leave that
nook untouched, and he prefers the bare
walls Of his While II ,use apartments to de-
spelling his home Of single familiar trras-
ure He brought with him only the minia'
| ture portrait of his wife, and that picture,
| framed in bronze. stands on his bedroom ta-
ble, wreathed in flowers and lighted at night
by the rays from all antique lamp that stands
| beside it, BIerstadt, the artist, who is all
| old and valued friend Of President Arthur,
'ook pity on his pictureless condition aud OF,
| fered 10 lend him some artistic solace from
| the walls Of his crowded studio. Sumo
weeks ago he sent down five of his finest ex-
amples of Western scenery, and they were
al once hung on the walls of his sitting
rooms, smoking room and snuggery that the
President had constructed out Of the end of
| the corridor outside Of his bedroom door.
The largest picture hangs directly over the
staircase that leads up from the first floor of
The mansion, aud bears no title upon its
frame. The scene is that of dark, ragged
mountain side, dotted with little blue pools
and lakes clear up to its snow ribbed sum-
nit, while foamng stream winds through
| the canon at the base. On either side OF
this hang two smaller pieces, representing
views Ia the Yellowstone country, one show
ing the great Geyser. tossing up its giant col
umn Of water, and the other the amber food
| Of the Yellowstone river as IL takes its great
leap down into the can n. On the opposite
walls hangs a picture Of a still, clear lake,
surrounded by thickrts and forests bright
greenery, and on the lake tishernans boat
is floating with the solitary angler bent in
pensive attitude over his line. The last
picture is the we'll known winter Morning
in the Yosemite" and It hangs just at the
doorway nf the Presidents chamber. The
rocks and walls and trees are covered and
| weighe down with SNOW, aud the hush and
quie' Of the scene impress every beholder.
| With these pictures To charm the eye the
President spends many odd minutes N this
little resting place. smoking ,h' re with his
friends after dinner, and glaucing over the
morning papers IS lie pauses on his way 10
Official duties in the library each day.