Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06

There is a prevalent opinion that the White
House is not suitable place for the home of
the President Public attention has been
called afresh TO this matter by the contrasts
which have been drawn between the residence
OF Citizen Harrison and the residence of Presi-
dent Harrison. The average citizen is. per-
haps, surprised to learn that the White House
only contains five bedrooms, and the feminine
portion of the people of the country no doubt
read with good deal of interest the newspaper
accounts of how Mrs. Harrison is trying to
adapt herself and her belongings to the eramped
quarters of the executive mansion, after being
accustomed to the roomy house in Indianapo-
lis. The shadows of this picture of the
home accommodations of the Presidents house
are further intensified by accounts of the de
fective plumbing of the White House and its
unhealthy location. 1t is but just to the old
mansion to state that these latter details are
purely imaginative. 1t is bad enough to admit
that the Presidents house is without that in
dlspensable feature of all hospitable homes--a
spare bedroom. There is no necessity. how
ever. of representing that the inmates of the
White House inhale sewer gas with every
breath or draw In deep draughts of malaria
from the poison-laden atmosphere. On the
contrary. the sanitary condition of the building
Is sald to be as near perfect modern appliances
can make II. Col. Wilson, the superintendent of
puDilc buDulngs ana grounds, says that the en-
tire plumDlng system of the house was a few
years ago renewed in accordance with plans
prepared by Mr. Waring. the sanitary expert.
Each year all the work is thoroughly examined
and tested. and it is now tirst-class in every
respect. The former conditions. which exposed
the inmates of the house to malarial influences,
are now entirely changed since the improve
ment of the river flats has done away with the
marshes and beds of mud which festered I'M
der the hot suns of summer. As the White
House used TO be IL Is no wonder that the Pres
idents, from Buchanan down TO Cleveland.
abandoned their official residence for the
greater part of the year AMI sought some
healthier location. The cottage at the Sol
dIeTs' home was occupied by all the Presidents
In the period named. with the exception of
Nr. Cleveland. who owned country place on
the Ienleytown road.
NOT A HOME.
But the White House of to-day with. its mod
ern Improvements and its location in one of
the largest and finest parks that ever sur
rounded city residence, whether in this city
or IN Europe, Is quite a different place from the
W hits House as it was az even such a recent
time as the presidency of Mr.. Hayes. Now the
grounds extend from PENNSYLVANIA avenue to
the Potomac, end there is besides on the other
side OF the Avenue the splendid Lafayette park.
In spite. however. of these improvements and
changes. the fact remains. and each year it is
becoming a more obtrusive fact that the
White House Is no longer home. 1t is neither
large enough for the proper accommodation
OF the President and his family and
there is almost entirely lacking the privacy
and retirement which are the essential features