Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-30
WHITE HOUSE cEocKS E

WHITE HOUSE CLOCKS
The Executive Mansion Il Furnished with
Twenty-Five Timepisces.
The people at the White House take
note of time They do it with twenty
two fine eight-day clocks. not count
ing the few ephemeral and cheap af-
fairs whose active life with one wind
ing is for day only. Every Thurs
day a skillful clockman from asstore
on Pennsylvania avenue goes up to
the White House and into every room.
and in nearly every one he winds a
clock. He and the President are the
only men who have, the. undisputed
entree to every apartment OF the
Executive Mansion.
Nobody knows how much the CLOCKS
cost. and one or two OF them nave
historical associations which make
them priceless. The skillful CLOCK man
who takes care of them thinks the
twenty-five clocks could not DC ouPA-
Gated for less than 81, OOO.
The most expensive OF the ume-.
pieces is also the most ancient and has
the prettiest story connected with 1t.
II rests on the mantel in the blue par
Tor. and is in form female figure
resting on a couch arch. The female
figure has nothing to do with keeping
the time. The clock face is in the
freut of the couch The figure and the
couch are of bronze and are gllded.
The story is that the first Napoleon
gave this clock to Lafayette. who in
turn presentedSit to George Washing
ton. History is silent as to how it
came to be in the White House. where
Washington never lived. Indeed,
there is no affidavit accompanying any
part of the story, and possibly it is
not true. But certainly it is a good
clock. keeps good time, and serves to
warn the people who call upon Mrs.
Harrison and her beautiful daughters
. and daughter-in-law when they have
taid long enough.
Whoever arranged the clocks in their
present positions appreciated the fact
that time was more precious to the
President than to the other members
of the family. The French clock in
BILE and gilt time-piece. and its, cathe-
1ral gong sounds the quarter-hours.
None of the other clocks do that
Hours and half-hours are frequent
enough for them.
Every bedroom has a French clock.
That in Mrs. Harrison's room is of gilt
and has gilt candlesticks to match. In
Mrs Russell Harrison's bedroom there
is another gilt clock with a glass case
over it.
In the Presidents Office there is a
large black marble clock with bronze
figure above it. The clock in the Cabi-
net-room is more comprehensive and
includes q calendar and barometer.
Private Secretary Halford has in his
room the clock which is dearest to the
hearts of the old employees in the White
House. It is of black marble and gilt
and originally had glass case over it,
but that was broken long ago. What
appeals to the sentiment in this tim e.
piece is that it is the only article III
the White House. certainly the only
one in the room where it now is, which
stands exactly as it did when Abraham
Lincoln was President. Lincoln's Office
room was the one now occupied by
Mr.. Halford, and the clock stood on
the mantle then just as it does now.
but it has not always been there. Mr.
Arthur fancied the clock because of its
associations and had it taken to his
own room. Mr.. Henley, chief of the
Executive office during Mr.. Cleveland :
administration, asked to have il
brought back to the room which he
then occupied, and about two years
ago it was done.
There is another very eEpensiv e
clock in the green parlOr. 1t is OF
white marble and gilt. In the red
parlor there is glass-cased gilt clock.
and in the blue-room there is also IA
gilt clock, besides the Napoleon time
piece.
A tall clock of comparatively modern
construction. but of the old fashion,
stands in the lower hall near the en-
trance to the conservatory. and in the
upper hall there is genuine old
fashioned, wooden-cased clock biz
enough for a girl to hide ill., 1t WA.
made in Boston.
In the private dining room there is /;
large black marble clock, with {;
bronze figure of Diana on the top OF it.
The state dining-rOom contains il.
clock, delicate consideration for tn.
feelings of guests. preventing any re
hinder of the flight of time. or OF ths
uncomfortable length of their time a
the table.
The basement, stewards room
kitchen and other rooms devoted t,
domestic purposes are supplied witt
what the German clock-man who take
care of them calls Yankee clocks.
There is nothing remarkable abou
them. There is not an alarm-c,ocl il
he house Post.
Two Brave Southern Women.
Near Shiloh. Ga. in a modest cot