Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-20
Written for TEE EVENING srAx
A HOME FOR THE PRESIDENT.
A Chat with Mrs. Harrison About the
White House and What It Needs.

A Chat with Mrs. Harrison About the
White House and What It Needs.
rHE PROPOSED WESTERN ASSrx--NoRE ROOM
AND MORE PRIVACY REQUIRED-wHAT MRS.
HARRISON THINKS ABOUT THE PROPOSED GAIL
LERY OF PAINTINGS AND THE CONSERVATORY.
Very soon after the Inauguration Of Presi-
dent Harrison, while the assignment Of the
private apartments of the executive mansion
to the different members Of the Presidents
domestic circle was being arranged by Mrs.
Harrison, the insufficiency Of room was felt as
very serious Inconvenience. Although the
household Of the President was not the
largest ever domiciled in the official
home OF the chief magistrates, that
OF President Tyler having exceeded it in point
OF numbers, the encroachments Of official re-
quirements Of late years upon the apartments
in the earlier days used for family purposes
has now reached point where relief has be-
come matter OF absolute necessity. Even the
library, which was used by the ladies of the
household as late as the administrations of
Presidents Grant. Hayes and Garfield, was taken
| for Office purposes by Arthur. a widower,
and Cleveland bachelor, and after his mar
riage was retained for that purpose. The cabi-
net room then and since has served as an ante
room for Senators and others admitted without
card, while the public ante room still serves
the same purpose of place OF anxious and pa
tient waiting for over-hopeful Office seekers
who imagine that few minutes interview with
the President will be sure to bring a realiza-
ton OF their widest hopes Of official prefer
ment.
SECRETARY BLAINE's ADVICE.
One day while this knotty problem of domes-
tic comfort and convenience, with the available
nj -
of Mrs. Harrison and was engaging a share of
the Presidents thoughts Secretary Blaine hap
pened In ON imporsant diplomatic business.
The President, Mrs. Harrison and the premier
engaged in conversation on the subject
which was just then paramount The Secre-
tary OF State intimated that he could
could see no other way out than the enlarge
ment of the executive mansion by the erection
OF wing or auxiliary building for the Pres-
dents offices on the west, toward the State,
war and Navy building and the construction
4 OF grand conservatory and hall of paintings
on historic subjects associated with American
history on the east, or toward the Treasury
building, the present executive mansion to re-
main as the central building--the Presidents
home-and for public entertainments in the
suite below. This proposition was Immediately
accepted by Mrs. Harrison as an excellent one,
and since then she has given it her frequent
attention.
AaITATISa THE SUBJECT.
Very soon after this consultation, which will
be historic as the first serious official movement
to provide the President OF the United States
with home for his family commensurate with
the dignity of the Office and comfort of his
family, Mrs. Harrison brought the subject to
the attention of Col. J. NJ. Wilson. commits
sfoner of public buildings and grounds
who has charge OF the executive mansion. It is
the custom OF the commissioner to call upon
the presiding lady every morning at 8 o'clock
when in the city to receive her directions in re-
gard to the care, improvement and adjournment
OF the family portions of the mansion.
MRS. HARRTsoS's MEMORIAL PLAN
There had been agitations of the subject of q
new executive residence before, but they had
always been associated with land specuations
which at once put the stamp of disapprobation
upon the projects. The present scheme of
utilizing the existing structure in part and en-
iarging it, suggested by Secretary Blaine and
heartily indorsed by Mrs. Harrison, IL one
which meets the approval of the President and
Will doubtless be carried out by the Fiftv-first
Congress, which is the first Congress Of the
second century of the government under the
constitution, and, as Mrs. Harrison intimates.
would be fitting memorial to the growth of
the republic during the first hundred years."
The annual report Of Col. Wilson, recently
published in The STAR, reflected the suggestion
OF Secretary Blaine as sustained by Mrs. Harri-
der to put the project in motion.
WHAT MRS. HARRISON SAYS.
In speaking on the subject Mrs. Harrison
said: I'VE are here for four years. I do not
look beyond that, as many things may occur in
that time, but am very anxious to see the
family of the President provided for properly,
and while am here hope to be able to get
the present building put into good condition
and to see the suggestion of Secretary Blaine,
which is an excellent one, carried out 1t
very properly pays due regard to the historic
associations OF this interesting structure and
at the some time meets the necessities of the
Presidents convenience both for himself and
his family. Very 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 entertaining
the Prince of Wales as his guest in return for
social consideration shown himself and Miss
Lane while at London by the princes mother,
by the time the prince, the duke of Newcastle
and Gen. Bruce of his suite were provided
with apartments the President who gave I'D
his room, was obliged to occupy the ante room
as bed chamber and the rest Of the princes
suite were compelled to find quarters at the
British legation.
ONLY FIVE BED ROOMS.
Really there are only five sleeping apart
ments. few years ago the ladies of the fam
lily had parlor upstairs; now they are COM
PEELED to sit out in the corridor upstairs which is
not only dark and gloomy, although frightened
up little by paintings and lighter shade of
coloring upon the wall, but even then there is
no pleasure there, as the low temporary parti-
ton thrown across does not exclude the con-
fusion OF sounds from persons entering the
library by the private corridor Just beyond the
partition. There is really
NO FEELING OF PRIVACY,
and cannot be under the circumstances. The
red pGrlor down stairs has been used for a
family parlor, but that is inconvenient. 1t is
properly an ante room to the blue parlor, and
we are often interrupted by persons who have
permission to look through the parlors. This
cannot be stopped entirely, as there may be
occasions when the rule must be relaxed So
that really the ladies Of the executive mansion
have no suitable place to receive callers in
formally"
NO HoUsEKEEPING CONFERENCES.
"Besides this there are no conveniences for
housekeeping, There is not linen closet In
the whole house. In am now having one con-
structed in portion Of the building which
will not trespass upon rooms available for other
purposes. The basement ia the only place for
the kitchen Offices and that is damp and un-
healthy. l have just been comforting with Col.
Wilson In hopes OF being able to remedy II,
There are many things which must be done and
intend to have them done, 30 that the Presi-
dents family may be as comfortable as ACCOM-
dationa nj han 1xvil adrn; .b.tt L.