Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-15
MRS. HARRIsON's HOUSEKEEPING.


and took sleep over it.
MRS. HARRIsON'S HOUSEKEEPING.
Recognizing the Domestic Economy of
the White House.
THE TASK WHICH SHE HAD TO UNDERTAKE WHEN
SHE BECAME FIRST LADY IN THE LAND-THE
DAILY ROUTINE OF THE HoUsEHoLD-How HER
ENERGIES HAVE BEEN TAXED
Mrs. Harrison, in going to the seashore for
two weeks. and thence to the crests of the Allie
ghanies for the remaining days of the summer
season, will receive much needed rest after
the cares of organizing the domestic admins
tration of the executive mansion. There has
been considerable fanciful writing about the
internal arrangements of domestic matters in
the home of the President. But few persons
understand the many cares, responsibilities,
and perplexities which the wife of the Presi-
dent is compelled to undergo. The people at
large, and particularly those who bask in the
| sunshine of executive favor. imagine that the
position of the first lady Of the land is one of
exemption from the narrowing details of house
Keeping, and is confined simply to what some
people might call having good time" This
view OF the situation is far from the actual ex-
perience of a person who is such thorough
housekeeper and thoughtful wife Mrs. Harri-
son.
REoRaANIzINa THE HOUSEHOLD.
As soon as the President took charge OF the
executive mansion, while he was overwhelmed
by the congratulations of politicians and i'm
portunities of office-seekers, Mrs. Harrison
| turned her attention to a careful investigation
OF the entire domestic economy of the mansion
and its convenience and comfort for four years
habltatlon by her family. Her first trouble
began In the servants department. Here she
| found twenty or more men and women,
| it is claimed, who had become fas-
! tened upon the Presidents private establish
ment regardless of the changes of politics or
individuals. They were feasting on the fat of
| the land with their friends at the Presidents
hold work to be shiftlessly done or to go by de-
| fault.
| SOME DIFFICULTIES MET.
Mrs. Harrison had made up her mind to conduct
her domestic affairs in the executive mansion
with the same rigid discipline, economy and re-
sponslblllty which she had shown in the thrifty
| care OF her household when her husband was
struggling along, young man with small in
come, at the bar, and when left alone with the
care OF family during the ANXIOUS periods of
| country.
In connection with the reckless state Of affairs
| IN the kitchen and laundry, Mrs. Harrison, it
Is stated, found the housekeeper's department
equally unsatisfactory. The household furni-
ture and bedding were not in condition for rest
| ful nights of siumber. In the southwest apart
! ment, which was arranged as boudoir for Mrs.
| Harrison. was another evidence of the manner
| In which the of the mansion had been
looked after. 1t became necessary to remove
| temporary linen and wooden closet erected
! about fifteen years ago. 1t was discovered that
| the closet was built upon the carpet, no care
| having been taken by the engineer in charge
at that time to have this carpet removed The
fabric was filed with moths and had evidently
propagation.
1t did not take many days for Mrs. Harrison
| who is one of the best housekeepers in the land
70 see that an entire reorganization of the do
mestlc management and roofing out OF worth
| less servants and others responsible for this
| dlsgraceful condition of things would be neces-
sary before she could expect to place the house
| hold administration upon the efficient basis
she had been in the habit Of applying to her
| domestic affairs in private life As a sagacious
housekeeper she knew by experience that a
vigiiant direction of affairs was more impor-
| tant than any physical labor which she might
! bestow out OF her own energies. She therefore
| so systematized the household economy that
this important branch will not be neglected in
the future, as it has been in the past. through
the presence of irresponsible and Indifferent
| servants.
| THE DAILY ROUTINE.
The meal hours, which constitute the basis
OF well-ordered household to suit the Presi-
] dents convenience, were arranged as follows:
Breakfast. in summer, at $50, and in winter at
| o:45 o'clock. The lunch hour was fixed at l 80
except on cabinet days when the adjournment
OF the council OF ministers would fix the time.
The dinner hour was set for $50 O'Clock,
In the morning, after breakfast or about half
past o'clock, Col. Wilson, the engineer-in-
charge, calls at the executive mansion and re-
celves his directions for the day from Mrs. Har-
| rlson. She mentions any improvement, repairs,
or alterations desired in the interior of the
| mansion, her wishes for any entertainments
which require floral decorations and consults
with him in regard to improvements which are
contemplated to put the apartments in proper
condition for the season of gayeties. After the
| departure of the engineer-in-charge the stew
ard of the household is summonded. Mrs Har-
| rison gives him her directions in regard to the
number OF guests expected for luncheon or
dinner, makes suggestions in regard to special
articles OF diet, and receives his reports re-
| specting the general condition of the household
| effects, for which he is responsible, and sup-
! gests matters OF reform in the kitchen or laun-
! dry. After disposing of the steward the house
/ eeper Is summoned and receives her directions
| IN regard to the sleeping apartments which are
under her special care. The parlors and apart-
! ments on the first floor are under the direction
Of the engineer-in-charge. The stables are un-
der the personal direction of the President,
through bis private secretary.
NOT AN EASY TASK
1t will be seen from this simple narrative of
Mrs. Harrison's experience, since she has been
presiding lady at the executive mansion, that
her task has been no easy one The neglected
condition Of the domestic offices and economy.
through incompetent and shiftess servants.
imposed the severest burden upon her, added
to the excitements due to the official and social
conventionalities which follow an Inauguration.
The laborious task Of household reform and
the arrangement OF the domestic adllinstra-
ton imposed an unexpected task upon Mrs
Harrison's energies. Her frequent indisposi-
tions since she entered the White House are
easily explained by the exacting labors inn
posed upon her. Mrs. Harrison having practi-
cally reorganized the domestic service OF the
Presidents household has gone to the seaside.
which she will follow with sojourn Of several
months in the noun tains for recuperation and
rest, in anticipation of a renewal in the autumn
OF domestic cares, augmented by the de-
mands Of the state Inequalities, which will
characterize the first fashionable season of the
administration. DEB R.K.
Saturday Smiles.
1.-THE loathliness Of the sticky" is a good SUBJ
ject to discuss in this weather.-N Y Tribune.
''The manner in which the English are buy
ing up our breweries is getting to be q serious
rnaftar ~