The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-23
THE SUMMER WHITE HOUSE.
Daily Life OF President Harrison and Fan
lily at Deer Park.

lily at Deer Park.
Letter in New York Tribune
1t is not generally known that President
Harrison means to make Deer Park his
summer home during his term in Office. 1t
is afact, however, that the villa in the
M aome has of
cupied by the Presidents until Mr.. Cleye-
land purchased country place.
Already negotiations have been
begun with the owners of the cottage
provements and additions have been sug-
gested by Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Mckee
that will be carried out when they leave in
the fall. The living and sieeping-rooms
are all that the best housewife could
quarters for servants that causes a woman
of Mrs. Harrison's philanthropic nature
considerable annoyance.
1t is quite touching the love the Presi-
dent and his family bear to this mountain
nest. Thomas Jefferson scarcely thought
more of Monticello, or Andrew jackson of
the Hermitage, than President Harrison
thinks of his retreat In the mountains. the
only place, as his daughter said, where
care had not followed her father. For
eighteen years they have been coming here
and almost as much of their life is associated
with it as with indianapolis. 1t was here
Mrs. Mckee came for her vacations when a
schoolgirl in Philadelphia, and here that
she passed the days of her honeymoon.
She told your correspondent that her
mothers chiefest thought in the excite
ment and worry of the campaign last sum-
mer was that they might all recuperate
from a. trying year by summer In the
mountains.
There is bit of history connected with
the rental of this special cottage that may
be interesting to note. Two years agO-be-
fore General Harrison had presidential am
bitions-Mrs. Harrison persuaded her SON
L. - l., x.<~&kn at
Deer Park for the summer of 1885, She did
1T for her daughters sake, as Mrs. Mckee
had not been strong since the birth of little
BENJAMIN. All the cottages were engaged
for that summer, but he received the promise
'S9. Mr.. Spencer, of the Baltimore & Ohio
road, had occupied the cottage with his
family for several seasons, but as a Eu-
ropean voyage was his plan for this sum-
mer, the much desired cottage fell to Mrs.
McKee's lot. She said the Spencer cottage
seemed like home to her, as both she and
when Mr.. Spencer occupied it. The
cottage looks like a Swiss chalet.
with it's pointed sea red roof AN and deep
in front of q gentle descent to the glade
where the railroad passes, and behind a
high hill bearing dense growth Of oaks,
with here and there pretty villa half hid
Ge4 IN tine green m are
that the space seems ample: The contest
spot is the square hallway with its bright
rugs and cheerful fireplace. 1t is there
the President goes to rOmp with his lusty
leaving the corner in the parlor that is
spared to his papers. The parlor is furn.
ished in the simplest fashion, the polished
hardwood floors are covered with rugs.
One of these is especially interesting. 1t is
of American make and bears as design
two American flags with crossed standards.
This rug was one of the first gifts Presi-
dent Harrison received after he entered the
White House. On all sides are pictures
painted by. Mrs: Harrison, who laughingly
calls painting the accomplishment of her
old age. The prettiest bit that bears her
initials is mass of heartsease. So fond IS
she of the wonderful pansy flower that lshe
constantly repeats the design in her china
painting. Mrs. Harrison has dropped the
palette and thrush since her husband be-
came President. but she expects to
spend some of the long mornings
in Deer Park at her favorate
work. The President has the apartment
above the parlor, and from. his eastern
windows he gets sweeping view of purple
hills, which share with the sea the quality
of ever changing. In the early morning
they are dream mountains in the mist, at
midday every tree on the distant SUBMITS
can be seen distinctly and at nightfall
these ever-varying mountains take on
that deep violet which peculiar atmos-
pheric conditions make possible at sun
set. The Deer Park farmer who wants to
r6nt this spare room" urges air and water
as inducements. He should add the view.
1t is that that is going to do the President
good. This range of the Alleghanies is
called the Glades, and one sees no abruptly
rising mountains, but always upland alter
noting with valley.
say his home life has always been peculiar
ly dear to him. His one serious grief was
the marriage of his daughter, and he only
accepted that as inevitable when Me-
Robert Mckee promised that he should
never take his wife from her fathers home.
The President has only doubted the sue
cess of this arrangement once,
elected in November. Having his
daughter and grandchildren with him when
when President, as he would be obliged to
make Washington his permanent home. He
confided his fears to Mrs Harrison; she
went to her son-in-law and said: Robert,
the children are dear to us, must we part
with them" Mr.. Mckee promised then
dren should live with the President, and
thai is the reason so happy family sur
rounds President Harrison.
The daily life in the Mckee cottage is very
at $50. dinner at 1:So, and supper at 7--is
observed. The diet is of the most whole
some kind, and truth to tell of wonder.
full cookery, as Mrs. Harrison herself
trained the cook. and when the President
was, here she often went into the
of some of his .favorite dishes.
President Harrison did not take
any outing during his first stay in the
mountains, but he cannot long be proof
against the charms of Deep creek, where.
as an old sportsman put it. you can shoot
four wOOlcOck out of every five Won see y
The Big Youghiogheny, with its three
official business, and he may even
GINA, where painters and bars
needful to make the Presidents country
life complete is carriages and horses, and
they will be sent next week. The little
stable back of the cottage will receive the
bays from the White House stables, and
also the Presidents mail buggy, the landau
and the extension carriage being too heavy
for the mountain roads. Besides the mail
buggy, Mrs. Mckee has had her two-seated
surrey shipped from Indianapolis and the
two will give all the driving privileges
needed.