News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-07-22
LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE
An Interview with Her in the White n0Hse
A Charity Woman.

pointed waist, with collar, cuffs, and a
tapering yoke of black velvet the point
of which reached almost to the waist
line. There were slight hoops of gold
upon her wrists, a plain band and anne
thyst set in gold upon her finger, and at
her throat she wore a pretty filigree pin
set with the face of an Italian court
beauty painted upon cameo. Her feet
were daintlly dressed in ivory silk hose
and patent leather slippers, with knots
of black ribbon in the front.
Mrs. Cleveland's suave and genial
manner treasures the ditfident and BASH
full person, and puts him at his imme.
date ease.
"We may as we'll sit down., " she said,
as h led the way to chairs, land talk
about the rain. | remember when my
mother and l were here two years ago
that we went to make a call. 1t was
raining when we entered the house, and
before we came out the sky had cleared
beautifully, and we thought the Wash
ington weather most accommodating.
But l think the rains are wetter here
than anywhere else. Oh, yes, it is sure
to be clear before evening-that is the
Presidents good luck. Well, you re-
member it rained the morning of our
wedding, and then cleared so brightly.
| think it an omen of good fortune.
Then we have had favorable weather for
all occasions. 1t was delightfully."- cool
for the receptions, and although Thurs
day was a warm day, it grew cool to-
ward evening, and was most comforta-
BILE at Mrs. Endicott's dinner. Mrs.
Endicott lighted the room with lamps
and candles, and the dimness of it kept
the air cool"
800 you like the White House for
housekeeping p said the correspondent,
as we again seated ourselves.
"Oh, | just loved the house from the
first time l was here" said the bride,
and l thought how happy any one
mus be to live in it. But it had never
been put into my head that l should
ever live here, not for a long time after
wards. Indeed, I loved the house SO
much that l almost wished the Presi-
dent did not live in it, for fear the fact
might influence me, but it did not.
And now they talk of changing the
house. 1 hope they won't. The fur
nishings might be refreshed, but the
house is all l could wish it to te."
Sergt. Dinsmore now introduced Mrs.
and Miss Hill, and Mrs. Cleveland ad-
vanced to meet them. Miss Gregg fol-
lowed and was introduced.
"Were you not here the night of the
reception?" inquired the lady of the
White House. 81 was sure L saw your
faces" on their answering her in the
negative, land l thought you must be
sisters. My mother and myself are very
near the same age, too. My mother is
SO young. She is now in Jackson,
Mich"
The ladies said they were from the
Fan West, st. Louis, and were making
a flying visit.
"Oh. you surely don't call that far
West. Why, don't you feel quite far
East2" pleasantly said the hostess.
81 am sure those people were here at
the reception" as we again sat down.
81 enjoyed that evening so much. l
loved to look ahead and watch the ex-
pressions of the faces as the people en-
tered from this room. Some looked
indifferent, some difhdent, and some
cheerful aud pleasant. usually re-
peated the name when I greeted them.
L could not say something different to
each one, and a set speech would have
been very monotonous to myself. Some
of the folks looked all around the room,
and one man was so engaged.
Looking about, he did not see the
President, who told him if he looked to
where he was going he would get along
better. DR.. O'Reilley, who stood just
back of me, told me not to shake hands
so hard and not to lean over; but l like
to bend myself when l shake hands,
and ! fan myself so hard with the left
hand that my arms are about evenly
exercised.
mo, my arms were not tired; nv
fingers were a little stiff, and the first
night l wore a set ring upon my first
finger" showing me the bruise in the
middle finger made by the pressure of
it in the soft flesh. ''The people the
second night shook hands ever so much
harder than those of the first night.
The latter tried to spare me all they
could, but / suppose the others never
thought of that.
I'm sure l don't see how the society
people here stand so much going out in
addition to their own entertaining" re-
sumed Mrs. Cleveland. 81 think one
misses a good deal tuat is pleasant and
agreeable by not being able to make
visits. l like to meet people. Miss
odAA L MI" hlOI III dllcI !
the two weeks l was here than she did
in a years stay. She says she is coming
TO visit me, and l am to take her about.
l t ink it will be most agreeable here.
All the people l have met are so kind
and pleasant.
Eyes, / shall have to be confined to
the Cab net families in my visits, she
affirmed in response to a remark from
Miss Gregg, land perhaps it is the best
way. If n accepted one other invita-
ton she would have to accept all. Did
not some one here, l think it was Mrs.
Grant, go to the families of the Judges?
l have been told so, at least. Well,
maybe the General did not have as
much to do as the President. He is al
ways busy. l do not see how he
accomplishes so much. He sits up
to midnight almost every night
but then we do not breakfast until
8 o'clock, and l have him take a
nap every day after luncheon or before
dinner. OF course he gets very tired,
and a number of tireds might make an
illness, But the President is in excel
lent health. Well, he always is. l
don't believe he was ever sick in his
life"
We all agreed that he did not look
like it, and. the bride went on: 81 try to
have him take as much exercise as | can
manage. He walks with me upon this
south portico and in the East Room a
great deal, but of course that is not out
door exercise. Blu when we go to the
farm he walks all about there, and it
rests a mans mind to talk of potatoes
and hay and corn, and where he is going
to put roads and all that. Oh, the farm
is indeed a god-send to usl Mrs. Whit
ney says their farm has saved her life,
and perhaps ours will keep the Presi-
dent in health. But what a lovely place
they have out there, and what success
they have had with the grass. There
are great, green, shiny mounds of it as
soft as velvet. What do you think of
our house? The view of the front is
splendid. l was not thinking OF the
prospect when l first went out there,
and it burst upon me all at once. ] was
perfectly amazed. 1t is very much finer
than that from Arlington or the Lunatic
Asylum. Those views include too much
of the muddy Potomac, while ours shows
just enough of it for variety, and it
shines like a silver thread in the dis
lance.
1.-THE first papers we got on board the
steamer coming in told that the Presi-
dent had bought the Crittenden place,
but l am glad it was not that, for / like
this one better and the view Is finer
than that from Piercp's road n1ace And