The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-03-01
LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
Uncle Sam Does Not Provide For All of
the Presidents Household Expenses.


the Presidents Household Expenses.
Mrs. Harrison begins her expert
ence in the White House next Mon
day. Perhaps some of our readers
might like to know something of the
experiences which she will have
when she reaches Washington as the
wife of the president. Will she pack
simply her trunks with wearing ap-
parel and move into a house COM
pletely furnished and filled with beds
and bedding, silver tableware, ser
wants and cooking utensils, or will
all of these things have to be brought
along or provided there? This is
question very often asked, and with
it good many others, as to horses
and carriages, coachmen and waiting
maids, cost Of ard payment for the
necessaries of the kitchen. dining
room, etc. It is a curious fact that
all the cabinet officers are furnished
horses, carriages and coachmen at
the government expense. II the
president wants any of these things
he must supply them himself. There
Is stable near the house built dur
ing Grants time, with plenty OF room
for horses, but every president who
comes finds it empty. And of course
costs him lots OF money to fill 1t.
Whoever sells horse or carriage to
the president of the United States
expects to get about 35 per cent.
more for it then If he sold it else
where. or course the president
must have. three carriages and sew
eral horses. Whether general Har-
rison will bring any with him is moi
known. Probably he will buy new
carriages, and OF course a presidents
horses must be thoroughbreds. And
he need not expect much of then
after he gets through his term in tht
White House either, for Washington
pavements are hard on horses, al
president Cleveland's big seai-brown!
show. The president is also obliged
TO furnish his own driver. Alber
Hawkins, q big eolored man whom
lGrant brought here before he becam
president, is still driving at the Whit
House, as he has done ever sine
Grants term, and will probably be re
engaged by Mr.. Harrison: but, If b
> does, it will be at his own expense
: for the government does not pa.
: Albert's salary.
Inside the White house Mrs. Harr
; son will fiud employees waiting to b
: re-engagedand paid for their service
i The steward, who has charge OF th
I kitchen and dining-roon5 the variou
) subordinates who sweep, dust an
> cook and attend to the tableware
= they are all private employees. Dow
!, in the basement, il you pass at II
proper time, you see the laundl
) work of the White house going o.
= ALI these employees, however, are pa
:, privately. OF course, there is yea
ly appropriation for the contingel
= expenses of the White house, b,
:, this is intended more to keep up Il
=, - furniture and furnishings general
/, than to pay the cost of the.president
!, living or the hire of his servants.
Il One thing that Mrs. Harrison W
- find is a completely furnished hou
- solid silver, the finest china, lin,
5 for the table and bed chambers, ell
- CANT furnishings in the parlors al
~ fairly good in the private parts of 4
!, g house. The private dining-room
% % on the first floor, just across the ha
= from the state dining room. This
:. the only room on the first floor us
;s e by the family of the president. T
: parlors are used by the callers, al
A. the entire family or "living" roof
! are on the second floor, There al
:, perhaps, half dozen OF these, scare
20 ~ ly more; a sitting-room or two near
! - the circular library room," whe
the president sits during his workir
and business hours, and several han
!. somely furnished bedrooms al
=, dressing-rooms. An elevator CARR
= Is the family down stairs at meal tin
N and when they go down for any 9th
q purpose, if they desire it; but as
\ rule they walk up and down t
n broad, easy and luxuriously carpet,
stairs and through the handsor
~ 30 always attractive corridors whit
~ q lead the way to the dining-rool
a a and parlors on the first floor. The
A. they find everything ready, for Il
q experienced steward is able to relie'
"A the mistress of the White house
u u all the cares OF house-keeping-if
p is well paid for it.
4n 4[ The latest style of Gents Boots a