Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-22
MRS. HARRISON HEARD FROM.
she Talk. with Enthusiasm About tn,
N.N t,tIu.a

she Talks with Enthusiasm About tho
New Palace.
Randolph keim, in the PHILADELPHIA
Inquirer, reports a long conversation with
Mrs. Harrison on the subject of tho i'm
provemout of the White House. He saws
that the report of Col. Wilson recon-
monding the building Of two wings reflects
the suggestion of Secretary Blaine as sus-
tanned by Mrs, Harrison, though Mrs
Harrison Is represented as first urging
some improvements In speaking on the
subject Mrs Harrison said:
+" We are here for four years | do not
look beyond that as many things NAV
occur III that time, but | am very anN ious
10 soc the family of the president provided
for properly.
"Nery few people understand to what
straits the presidents family has been put
at times for lack of accommodations. Even
in President Buchanan's time when enter
tanning the Prince of Wales as his guest in
return for social consideration shown him
self and Miss Lane while at London
by the princes mother, by the time
the prince, the Duke of Newcastle and
General Bruce, of his suite, were provided
with apartments, the president, who gave
up his room, was obliged to occupy the
ante-room as a bed chamber, and the rest
of the princes suite were compelled TO find
quarters at the British legation. Really
there are only five sleeping apartments.
had parlor upstairs, now they are com
PEELED To sit out in the corridor up stairs.
Besides this there are no convenience for
housekeeping, There is not a linen closet
IN the whole house. ! am now having one
constructed la the portion of the building
WI ii Will not trespass upon room availa-
ole Tor other purposes. Congress
can afford To be liberal. II has extended
It's own official place, the capitol, by the
addition oi the beautiful wings for the ac-
ColnmodaliOn of the Senate aud House of
Representatives, which had outgrown the
once ample accommodations of the original
capitol. Then the executive departments
were giving buildings adequate To their
necessities. Those great masses of marble
and granite i'll beautiful architectural form
like everything else at the capital except
the home of the presidents are an honor 10
the government of the republic. q glory to
free Institutions aud the pride of the Amer
lean people.
The extension on the west should, of
course, harmuniIo with the general Stylo
OF architecture of the present building.
1t might bc of marble To distinguish il
from the granite buildings on either side
1t should be spacious enough for all the
wants not only of the presidents family,
hut for entertaining guests II should
have entrances for the family apart from
the public. The extension
would be entirely private. There the
! Nlic ni tle president might hold her draw
ing rooms and TesoiNe her own Friends.
lhe corrld 'r- and parlor> should bc on Il
large scalc, and the chambers spacious and
| nttcd with all the modern ideas of COM
fort. Possibly the lower floor might be ar
ranged 80 as To be thrown into communica-
ton with the present parlors on special oC-
CiSlonsi ANA arrangements might be made
for the fashionable thrung To circulate
through the parlOrs without the usual Jam
combination of grand gallery for
historical paintings and conservatory
would bc source of instruction aud pleas
I uro 10 thoS" attending receptions or
strangers visiting the building. Everything
OF interest might be concentrated here. The
conservatory should have broad avenues
among the ranges of plants, so that they
may not only appear Ia best advantage, but
:" that the guests may enjoy themselves
| m pt'sucnalc surrounded by the luNu-
rlaiire oi rare varieties of plant life from
/ every portion of the globe. The
| sahefA OF historic paintings would
/ also ailord instructive entertainment
iof promenading guests. What a con-
| Nenlenoc and comfort this would be
/ 10 me thousand or more ladies, particularly
] IN elegant tCllettes, who are often crowded
INTO the East room. very excellent plan
. could be made for "A conservatory. gallery
I oi paintings and hall of statuarv, and what
source of attraction il would he To admir-
efs OF the beautiful in nature and art"
This government has reached that point
where II should give more attention To the
line arts; that is, judicious expenditure
for works of merit.
-, think that The president would