The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-19
TIE WHITE HOUSE.
The Executive Mansion an Undesirable
Residence for Quiet Man.

The Executive Mansion an Undesirable
Residence for Quiet Man.
The White House with all its beauties
is by no means a very desirable resi-
dence for a quiet man. 1t is great
hotel with none of great hotels privi-
leges. Its occupant has no privacy, and
such moments as be has are always
spent with guards at his doors and an
unavailing clamor from those who want
admittance, but must necessarily be re-
fused. The Presidents every action is
watched. Crowds come to his back
doors and peep into his kitchen, they
interview his servants, and the good
public has the right at any time to walk
through his great palace and make their
remarks about his furniture and the
way he keeps it. Cranks come and they
are also often admitted. In most cases
these are harmless, but now and then
one thinks he has mission and then
the President is either bored or killed
The full half of his big house is given
up to- offices and he has his work always
with him. He can't get away from it,
and it haunts him day and night. He
has also 20 entertain, and at his enter
tainments. which he pays for out of his
own pockets, he has to invite people for
whom he doesn't care straw and peO
pie will eat his terrapin and drink his
champagne tonight, and straightway
90 off and plot to break down his repu-
tatiOn. @, Mr.. Editor, the President OF
the United States has no enviable 20 j.
ton, and his head, as it sleeps on the
soft couches in the second story of that
great white palace, rests as uneaSily as
that of any monarch in Europe.
But let me tell you how the Presidents
house looks. 1t is long white rec
tangular building of two stories. with
many large windows in front looking
out at Pennsylvania Avenue and the
beautiful park opposite it, and with a.
porte cOchere, like the entrance to
Greek temple, jutting out over its front
door and supported by a number of
Greek pillars as white as the house
itself. A long greenhouse-lil1e con-
servatory rs attached as wing to its
western end, and the building stands
several hundred yards back from the
street, and it is surrounded by twenty
acres of lawn and trees. In the front
of it the ground slopes by an easy grade
down to Pennsylvania Avenue. and ar
iron fence with goldheaded points sep.
arates it from the wide sidewalk. AT
the back, the house looks out on the
Potomac and over the river on the hill
may be seen Arlington. the home OF
Washington and General Robert K. Lee.
The lawn back of the White House Is
rolling and it contains many forest
trees, a beautiful fountain, and near the
house in summer. gardens and flowers.
The wide walks or drives lead in a
winding way from the street to the bic
porte cOchere, and this is so arranged
that several carriages can stop under it,
cover and their passengers get out
without danger from the: weather.
The White House covers about one
third of an acre, and it has cost up. to
the present time about S2,000,000. 1t
is modelled after castle in Dublin, and
the architect, who was a South Carolina
man named Hoban, got $500 for draw
ing the plans. When it was first bfilt.
away back in the ninesies, it cost $780,
000 but the British burnt out lis in
sides, and its cost has since added to
that sum about S1,70G000. In il all of
the Presidents since. Washington have
lived. and each has added to its beaUties
and its expenses. L think it vas John
Quincy Adams whe bought the first
billiard table which was used 81 it. But
in John Adams time it was emily half
furnished, and Abigail Adams used to
dry her clothes liz the big east nom
Year by year, however, the furnishing
has gone on, until now it is q sor. of a
museum OF art agad beauty.-COr. Cgere-
LdRd Herald.