The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-04-28
THE HOME OF PRESIDENTS.
a TOUR THROUGH THE ROOMS OF
THE WHITE HOUSE.

Upthe steps of the portico and through
the large entrance vestibule, we see an
inner corridor separated from it by
handsome screen of glass mosaic. 1t is
in itself a spacious apartment, eighteen
feet wide and 100 long. reaching from
the middle of the east room at one end
to the conservatory at the other. South
of this corridor are three parlors, named
respectively the Green room, Blue
room and Red room, from the prevailing
color of decorations and furniture. West
OF the Red parlor, at the extreme south.
western end of the mansion, is the state
diniug-room, and on the north side of
the corridor, directly opposite, we find
the Presidents private dining-room,
which occupies-with buffers pantry and
the servants waiting room Immediately
ad ioining-the northwest front of the
building Under this room, in the base
ment, is the kitchen. On the north side
of the corridor is also situated the private
staircase leading to the chambers. This
portion of the corridor, which is the
length of the state dining-room, can be
separated at will from the more public
and longer portion on the east, by double
doors of inlaid mahogany.
This long hallway is an important
part of the White House, and is treated
accordingly. 1t is only lighted in the
day time by the doors opening into
the parlors and from the open arches
over the jeweled screen, so that no
photographer has been able to secure a
good picture. The walls, painted a
warm cream-gray, are finished with a
stenciled frieze, two feet deep, light
green, gold and crimson, in conventional
designs. The ceiling, a lighter tint of
gray, is covered with figures in mixed
colors, interspersed with brown and
silver decorations in relief. A large
semi-circular niche in the wall immedi-
ately opposite the front entrance and
screen door, is gilded and contains cir
cular table of ebony and marble.
The crimson Administer carpet, we'll
covered with small figures of a deeper
shade, imparts richness of tone which
is very desirable in the half-light of the
day, and which responds, at night, TO the
light of three immense crystal chande-
liers. The furniture frames are ebony;
the fabric, cream-colored brocade figured
with shaded crimson. On the walls hang
the portraits of most of the Presidents,
save that of Washington, which is in the
East room, and those of Van Buren, J. Q.
Adams and Arthur in the Red parlOr
and of jefferson in the Library room
above. In the western angles the bu;ts
IF Washington and Hamilton, on pcdes-
tails of ebony, gaze with sightless eyes
upon the ever-changing panorama.
The private corridor on the west is
fitted up still more like reception room.
Each corner angle is cut off by tall
cabinet of ebony, containing faience and
plants in majolica holders; doorways are
hung with portieres of Turkoman, in
brown, yellow and crimson, with hOri-
zontsl stripes, and there are Eastlake
chairs of ebony with seats and backs of
embossed leather. A hexagon table with
rosewood frame and marble top, accord
ing to tradition, was frequently used by
Jackson, when he lived in the White
House, about the only article, in this part
of the building, left from that compara-
lively late period. The wall tints of the
private corridor are darker than those of
the larger one-a kind of greenish gray
with parti-colored Japanese frieze,
thirty inches deep. The broad staircase
with one long landing, leading to the sec
ond story, is finished with a hand rail and
balusters of mahogany. and from the
large carved newel-post female figure in
bronze, nearly life-size, holds, metaphor
cally torch, in reality very prosaic
gas fixture The remaining figure con
sists of mahogany table, before a mir
ror framed in the same wood
At the foot of the stairs door on the
l. = i Il
dents private dining room. The
walls Of this room are hung with heavy
paper, initiating leather, a gilt ground
with vines of shaded olive and crimson,
and frieze, thirty inches deep, of dark
terra Gotta stamped velvet, with
gilt molding. The ceiling is greenish
gray. The white marble chimney piece
and mantel are draped with crimson
plush, and the same fabric covers the
frame of the large plate glass mantel mir
ror above. Administer carpet IF dark
green is we'll covered with figures in
shaded olive and crimson. The mahogany
chairs have dark grsen leather on the
seats, with backs of wood The wood
work of the room is painted a light tint
of the walls. The finest features of the
room are two large carved mahogany side
boards, one on the west side of the room,
the other on the south. The one on the
right is a fine specimen of Cincinnati
carving and dates from the admInistra-
ton of Mr.. Hayes; the other was pro-
cured when the entire room was fur
nished anew under the direction of Mr.
Arthur. Both are laden with plate and
fine specimens of the ceramic art. All
the movable furniture aud plate of these
rooms are under the care of the steward,
who is required to give bonds 10 the
value Of $50, 900, before entering upon
his duties Good Housekeeping.