Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-12-19
AROUND THE WHITE H)USE.
IHsORMA rIoN COME sNIH4 THE
PRnsIDENr HoME.
When it was Built and How il Is
Furnished TO-Dny-The various


Rooms.
The White House is the official resi-
dence of the President of the United
States. The nation has provided con-
venient and comfortable home for its
chief magistrate, and one which repre-
sents with adequate magnifcence the po-
sition of the United States among the
great powers of the world. Ministers
and other distinguished persons from
foreign countries entertained at the
White House find there an elegance and
refinement not surpassed in the palaces
of Europe.
1t will soon be hundred years when
the first commissioners oil the nascent
city of Washingsoa uettsed for de-
sign, as theasS ssp.ti II, of I" the Presi-
dents nous ~ "a eucouragementto to
competitions their invitation offered a
premium of $500 for the best design sub.
mltted. Living at Charleston, S. c.,
was young man named John Hoban,
who had studied hard in order to qualify
himself for success in life. He competed,
and successfully, and not only received
the premium, but the offer of an engage
ment at 100 guineas a year to superin-
tend the construction of the building
which he had designed. Tkis he ac-
cepted, and accordingly made his resi-
dence in Washington. His first pro-
fessional triumph was the beginning of
many, and when he died, in 1881. John
Hoban left large fortune, the result of
his "skill and diligence"
During his studies abroad he had OBJ
served with admiration the graceful lines
of mansion in Dublin, the residence of
the duke of Leinster. He followed the
general plan of this building in the de-
sign, which proved acceptable to the
commissioners.
The cornerstone of the projected re-
publican palace was laid October 10,
1892, with the "pomp and circumstance"
of the Masonic ceremonial. President
Washington was present at the head of
the leading men in the administration of
the government, and thousands of en-
thusiastic citizens witnessed the event.
During the next seven years the graceful
pile, which at this time is second only to
the capitol among the numerous fine
structures in Washington, slowly rose
from its well-chosen site, the center of a
plot of twenty acres, sloping gradually
down to the river at the rear of the man
sion. At the end of that time it exhib-
tied the same exterior as now-two stories
and basement, q length of 170 feet and
breadth of eighty-six feet, large por-
tico of Ionic columns IN the front, cir
cular colonade at the back and sur
mounted by wide balustrade. The
building material was Virginia freestone
painted white. Hence the name by
which the Executive Mansion is best
known. Washington died before it was
ready for occupancy, but it was so nearly
completed few weeks before his death
that he and his wife made visit of in
spection to it, The cost of the White
House was not large. By the time when
the hurried expedition and retreat of q
portion of the British army deserted
its privacy, in 1914, less tlaan $3.50, 600
had been spent on it. After that de.
| plorable event Congress authorized the
expenditure of $500, 900 on its renova-
ton. 1t was reopened January /, 1918.
Large sums have been expended on the
building and its furnishing since that
date 1t was partially refurnished when
John Quincy Adams became occupant,
and wholly with the beginning of Presi-
dent Grants administration. As it now
costs the government $50, 900 to main
tain the White House, exclusive of what
the occupant pays out of his salary OF
! $50, 900 for personal servants, household
supplies, horses and carriages, the diff.
ference between the expenditures in the
infancy of the Republic and in these
days is shown ii a striking light. The
wife of the first President Adams, writ.
ing to friend soon after the Executive
Mansion became her home, described il
in the following language:
The house is on grand and superb scale
requiring about thirty servants to attend anc
keep the apartments in proper order, and per
form the ordinary business Of the house anc
stables. The lighting of the apartments
from the kitchen to parlors and chambers, il
q tax indeed, but the fires we are obliged Il
keep to secure us from daily ague are cheer
ing. Bells are wholly wanting; not one hung
throughout the whole houge, and promises
are all we can obtain.
Mrs. Adams used what is iow the gor
geous East Room as place in which tt
dry the family linen. The grounds sur.
rounding the house were uncleared and
rough; hence the necessity of this ex
preston of thrifty housewifery. How
different from now, when the mansion
is partially hidden by the profusion O.
foliage which shades it from the summer
sun. Beautiful trees and flowers, we'll
| lyo,o4 rno1d aY,,orol III 10 ,,c
marble fountains cover the space which
for the most part, was forbiddingl,
Jagged waste when IL e first lady of thu
White House presided at its hospitalities
and the delightful conservatory at tn,
west side of the mansion had not thel
been thought of, much less provided.
The White House is arranged that tn,
executive offices, the Presidents recep
tion-room and the cabinet room take tn
whole of the west side of the SECOND
story, in which also, but on the opposite
side. are the family rooms; and below
in the first story, are the state parlor
and the great dining.room used on STATE
occasions, to see which is great deligh
of the country visitor to the capital cit
of the Union. These are, indeed, a
"real lovely" as lady inspectors pro
nounce them to be, and call for descrip
tion which can hardly fail to be appetiz
ing.
The East Room, used by Mrs. Adam
as a place wherein to dry household linen
is the largest room in the house.
measures eighty by forty feet, and is en-
tered from the beautifully. frescoed yes
tibule of the mansion. At evening re
ceptions it is seen at its best, whc
the richness of its furniture, hanging
and decorations is aided by bril-
liant light, and flowers and plants
that 50 diffused and these 90 dis