The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-02-15
HE WHITE HOUSE SERVICE

About twenty servants are required 10
attend to the comforts of the Pres-
dent of the United States and his
family, says the Washington CORE
spondent of the New York Journal.
There are scarcely ever less than this
number employed at the White House,
and sometimes few extra servants are
needed. President Cleveland retained
nearly all of the domestics that he
found here when he took charge of the
White House The help, with here
and there an exception, is composed of
negroes The wages of the servants are
paid by the Government as rule,
as they are necessary employees, and
take care Of the Executive Mansion.
When Mr. Cleveland first came here
from Buffalo he brought a polished
negro man with him named Sinclair,
and at first Sinclair acted as the Presi-
dents valet. He went about with him
and constantly waited upon the highest
official in the land. Sinclair Is an ex-
traordinaiily smart fellow, and II wasn't
long before he was promoted. He Is
now and has been for more than two
years the steward of the White House
A CHANGE or COOKS.
Mr.. Cleveland has changed cooks
several times during his term Of service
in the White House, and at present has
French chef named Paul Rcsal, who
formerly resided in New York. Rcsal
Is an artist in his line, and has pleased
the President very much. He has ex-
celled in the preparation of the State
dinners especially Rcsal has an abund-
ance of help In the kitchen and In the
pantry. hut those on whom he has to
depend are oil negroes. Their names
are Beverly, Isaiah, Gray, Hogan and
Dan, and to hear the talk around the
building one would imagine these dar-
kies had no other names. Beverly,
being one of the handiest men about
the place, IL also pressed into other
service than that generally expected of
him, for in addition to helping In the
| pantry and cleaning up, he acts as foot
man. Isaiah, Gray, Hogan and Dan
7 help to clean up the house. and all of
them, together with several other men
servants, do the waiting on the table at
the State dinners. There Is o negro
woman, who also assists In the kitchen.
Two negro women operate tn @ White
House laundry. They have been there
I through two or more administrations.
and. they are experts In their calling.
! They wash the table and bed linen and
the clothes of both the President and
Mrs. Cleveland.
y-.t.s., AN ALB-ARoUND MAN.
There is an all-around man named
Jere Smith, an American citizen of
African descent. He was brought here
during General Grants Administration
| from Annapolis, Nd, where he was
born and reared. Jcre sweeps upthe
large rooms, washes the windows and
mops the tiled floors in the entrances.
He is q worker from wayback, and
| is one of the strongest and largest
negroes TO be found anywhere. He
is upward of fifty years of age, and has
been in the White House 80 long that
he is a familiar figure to the frequentcrs
of the Executive Mansion. Jere is the
hearticst laugher of any servant about
the house and enjoys q joke 30 much
! that he has often been known to roll on
the, floor when-he could do 30 without
attracting undue attention. He is al
ways at his ease except when Indians
visit the Executive Mansion, and then
he is as quiet as, an oyster. He is afraid
Of Indians, especially the big ones who
are smeared with paint, clad in blank
cts and who stick feathers in their hats
|, t4s HAWKINS. TsinlT
| Hawkins, the White House coach
man, isone of the most important per-
sonages among the domestics. He is a
magnificent specimen OF his race, and is
very black. He wears no beard, and Is
| as careful about having his face shaved
az il he were white dandy. He used
to live with the well-known Carroll
family of Maryland, of which he is q
native. General Grant was attracted by
his qualities as a coachman, and secured
! his services. He holds the ribbons grace
! fully, and has been at the White House
ever since. President Harrison will
in oil probability retain Hawkins. He
has held the ribbons on some superb
| matched teams since he has been the
coachman for the Chief Executive Of
! the nation. The seal-browns are his
| pride. Hawkins does nothing but
| drive. He does not act as a hostler,
though he is, OF course, boss of the
stables Three other negro men are
employed in the stables, and they do
the grooming and keep the vehicles
| in order.
4 Hawkins Is certainly proud of his
place.. and being man in the prime of
life, IL would almost break his heart ii
he were TO be supplanted when General
Harrison takes charge OF the White
House.
Simmons, who keeps guard at the
door leading to the Office of the private
secretary to the President, has been
longer in the White House than any
other employe. He was there in Lin
1 coins time, and has remained ever
since. He is exceedingly black and is
about as keen negro as one ever
meets. lie is "a messenger npminally,
and is full of experiences. Simmons is
/ thrifty He has saved his money and
il tolerably well off. His wife'operates
| n laundry and her husband is never
slow or backward in drumming up GUS
tom for the laundry He has secured Il
rushing trade among the public men
| and among the clerks in the Depart
ments. Simmons is great theatre
goer and he fairly fell in love with the
opera known as "The Little Tycoon" ="
He went TO hear II sung five times In
one week. .r
THE MAIDS AND HoUsEKEEPER.
Mrs. Cleveland has two white maids,
both of whom she secured in New York.
One attends her when she dresses and
the other does the chamher-work. Mrs.
! Harrison will II 10 thouuht hrina, hnr