Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-29

That old house with history-better known
~ the Seward mansion"-situated on the east
side Of Lafayette square or Jackson place, is
rapidly being put in repair for the occupancy
of the Secretary of State. 1t is a roomy old
dwelling. of no particular style of architecture,
with many wide windows front and back 1t sets
low on the sidewalk. with wide hall through tho
center. divided into front and back by an arch
resting on two slender doric columns on either
hand. To the right is a drawing or reception
room, back of which is a layatory and its ac-
companying convenience, with a good-sized
room in the rear. On the left side is another
room, a reception room or library, with but
ler's pantry dividing it from the dining-room
beyond. The kitchen is large. and a new range
and other fixtures are being put into position.
Beyond that is a good-siZed laundry with every
convenience, and still beyond are sheds and a
stable. narrow gallery with g colonnade
runs along this back building or IL" and
opens out upon a square back yard where there
Is noble and venerable beech tree of great
height. The house has three stories,
with an attic under the caves lighted
by DONOR windows looking east and
west Room for water tank, closets and the
housewives delight-a goodly number Of
.'eubby holes for storing away things-are af
forded by these apartments under the roof.
There are servants rooms over the kitchen
and dining-r room also. The next floor below
me attic contains four large sleeping rooms
with one small one, and as each is well furnished
Will ucNIF-dDpOifiteuC Closets IOr hanging. Win
trays for folded garments; the superstition is
quite natural that Mrs Blaine has had hand
in the plans for remodeling the house. The
first floor above the street il undergoing quite
Transformation. Two large front chambers
have been thrown into one fine salon some fiffy
feet long by twenty or thirty broad The car
penters are almost through with their work
and when the painters and decorators put on
the finishing touches il will, indeed, be a noble
apartment. suitable for stately receptions.
This old house-if it could speak-could tell
many tale as full of intrigue and the passions
that rule men as any storied house in this CITY,
Years ago il was a club house, and out of il Kew
walked when he met his death az the hand OF
Gen. Sickles, on the corner Just south of it.
In II Secretary Stewards beloved daughter
slckenad and died, and the assassin sought his
HE. Uncle Sam took il out Of social life to
serve the everyday uses Of government Office
which Is did under lease and protest for several
years. Like others who have seen '.better
days" il grew quite seedy and time-worn
when once more it is thrown upon the market
70 be rescued from oblivion by being leased to
the Secretary of State, who is having il put
into a more habitable condition as to conyen-
fences than 1t was ever in its first estate.
soon. newly appointed, il will become home
again and within its walls will go on the weay-
ing Of LIES story.
Mrs. Blaine has been suffering from indis-
position for two or three weeks and DENYING
herself general society that she may get the
needed rest She will go to their home in Bar
Harbor July !, where the Secretary viii Join
hsr for q season.