The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-18

richly and tastefully embellished room of
the four. 1t is furnished and arranged a.
family parlor, has books and brio
a-brac, mahogany table over one hun
urea years Old and presents cheerful,
cosy appearance. fine portrait of
Lincoln hangs above the mantel The
state dining room, in which the president
gives ceremonious dinners during the
winter to the members of the cabinet.
senators and representatives, the iusti-
ces of the supreme court, the diplomatic
CORDS, and other distinguished person
ages, is at the western end of the corridor.
1t is magniticently furnished, and at its
table over fifty persons can dine. When
state dinners are given, the White House
Is brilliant with lights and flowers, with
court costumes and splendid toilets, with
falr women and stately men. The table
Is set with the sumptuous state china, on
which is finely depicted the fauna and
flora of America, and with masses of sill
yer and delicately cut glass. In the cabi-
net room, which is spacious and we'll
arranged for the purpose, the President
meets the members of the cabinet every
Thursday and Friday at noon, and
around mahogany table covered with
books and documents they discuss the
affairs of state.
To pass in review the successive occu-
pants of the White House from Adams to
the present tune, and include all the
characteristic incidents that might be re-
corded, would make a good-sized book,
and it would not be uninteresting either.
la, =,
and official etiquette of all the presidents
were Monroe, Buchanan and Arthur, and
the least particular on these points were
Jefferson and jackson; while the most
frugal of our chief magistrates was Presi-
dent Lucy Hayes. Jefferson was noted
for his exalted ideas of equality, and en-
tirely discarded the aristocratic fop
perry" as he called it, of official life and
set himself the pleasant task of making
all callers at the mansion perfectly at
home" Jackson opened the doors of the
White House to everybody, and visitors of
all sorts poured in and rOamed about the
rooms at will. The hearty old soldier dis
liked ceremony quite as much as Jefferson,
and saw no reason why the presidential
abode should be edged about with formal
etiquette. He went about the house and
grounds smoking an old corn-cob pipe,
and, as may be supposed, his example led
Others to avail themselves of the privilege
of smoking, even in the state parlors. He
called his friends by their Christian
names. slapped people on the back famili
arly, and would say by the eternal"
whenever he wished to emphasize sem
tence. His hospitality was so bountiful
that the proceeds of his Hermitage"
farm in Tennessee had to be used to pay
the expenses of his entertainments; in
which he was not so prudent as the late
President Hayes, who is said to have laid
up" the wherewithal to pay off a mort
gage on his Ohio farm while occupying
the White House.
Many people unacquainted with public
affairs regard the executive mansion as
simply the place where the president
sleeps, dimes and receives his visitors, but,
as matter of fact, it is about as much
of business institution as any of the
government departments. A force of
nine clerks find employment here in an
swering, filing and referring the enor-
nous pile of correspondence received,
recording appointments, ETC., and they
are a buster lot of clerks than will be
found in any other public Office. Every
morning the private secretary sorts over
the bag of mail received, selects the let