Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-09-11
THE PRESIDENTS LIBRARY.

Wl1u Una CaH never Uc crdulCuCcus -
N Y. Commercial advertiser.
THE PRESIDENTS LIBRARY.
Description of the Room in Which Me
Receives Visitors by Gard.
The library at the White House, the
room in which the President receives
visitors by card, is similar in size and
shape to the Blue Parlor on the main
floor, but differs in color. In the lie
brary the ceiling and walls are painted
dark brown. and the dark red leather
furniture harmonizes perfectly. Com
Portable looking arm-cha;rs and luxu-
rious sofas abound in this apartment,
which faces south and is lighted by
three large windows, directly yer tho
porch which leads out upon the lawn.
Between the windows is placed tho
desk at which the President works. and
portraits of ex-Presidents James Mon
roe and Thomas Jefferson flank the
heavily-incumbered receptacle of State
documents. Under the administration
of President Arthur the library was
made a very comfortable office-room,
and the walls erstwhile painfully baro
and glaring were covered with por-
traits of former occupants of the White
House, while the lower portion of tho
walls were concealed behind hand
somely-carved bookcases contain-
ing standard works of literature.
Brougham's Political Philosophy"
Hughes History of England" Mot
ley's ''Rise of the Dutch Republic"
elves of the Lord Chancellors of En-
gland" Sheridan's works, Washington
Irving's novels, 1.-The Democratic Re-
view." Blackwood's Magazine. Niles
Registrar and Shakespeare were a few
of the titles that a Post reporter saw in
some of the bookcases, the bindings of
the volumes being perfect gems of art.
On a small stand at the left of tho
Presidents desk there is a reduced
equestrian statue of Andrew jackson.
modelled after the now in L%afayetts
square, and beside this stands an easel
containing an electrotyped shield de-
plotting scenes from ..Milton's Para
disc Lost" A square waste basket,
made OF oak to match the desk, is
placed at the right hand of the Presi-
dent, and a revolving. high cane back
chair completes the outfit. Papers arc
piled in, seemingly, a confused mass
all over the top Of the desk and hide
the leather cover, but they are kept in
place by cunningly wrought paper
weights of every conceivable shape and
pattern. In writing the President uses
a steel pen and redwood penholder,
and he puts his signature to a docu-
ment only after mature deliberation.
Nothing is done hurriedly in the IL
brary, and the calm demeanor Of
the occupant of the caneseat
chair has a very %reassuring effect
upon the busy, nervous visitor who
may be ushered into the apartment
from the Cabinet room; for it must be
borne in mind that the room in which
the Cabinet meets twice q week oply
serves the purpose of an antc-room to
the office, and as fast as visitors pre-
sent themselves at the door, Charlie
Loetfler. the j%anitor, ushers them into
the walt:ng-room, as it is often termed.
Usually when a visitor enters the IL
brary the President rises and ereets
him, and if the call is merely one of
respect he docs not resume his chair
until after he has said ''good-day." In
order that his time may not be imposed
upon, the President has a large mantel
clock of black marble and bronze inn
mediatcly on his right. and the orna-
ments of the mantel are two graceful
bronze figures and generally a couple
of potted plants from the conservatory.
From his windows the Pres dent can,
by turn 'ng in his chair. have an unob-
structed view of the Virginia and Mary
land hills, the Potomac River, Wash
ington Monument. Arl ngton, the Gov
ernment carp ponds and the exquisitely
lad out grounds at the south of the
White House. Consequently, this is a
very agreeable resort for the Presi-
dent, and he spends the great
err portion OF his time in
this room. Some of the ex-Presidents
whose pictures adorn the walls are
Andrew johnson, John Adams and
William Henry Harrison-all in uni
form-sized and designed frames. A
white marble fireplace is further bright.
ened by two tall. highly polished brass
andirons, upon which hickory wood is
laid, in readiness to be ignited at a mo.
ment's notice.
IL oCSh du WulC1 luC IIcSIOcnU SlGs
was presented to the United States by
Queen Victoria during the Hayes adj.
m~inistration, and was formerly a part
of the Arctic rel eff vessel Resolute,
VIII CHI went in search of Sir John
Franklin. After numerous encounters
with the ice in the polar regions the
Resolute became disabled, and was
found drifting helplessly by a United
States man-of-war. 1t was lowed into
a harbor, refitted and returned to En-.
gland by this Government. and when
finally broken up, some of the pieces
were utilized for the desk at which the
President of the United States trans.
acts his business. On a small silve.
plate Embedded in the woodwork is an
appropriate inscription, which gives
the details of how and when the Reso.
Lutte was found and finally disposed of.
- Washington Post.
The problem of the hired uirl &c