The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-04-05
MRS. HARRIsoN,s LIFE.
Private Secretary Halford Tells How u
Presidents Wife Spends Her Time.

Private Secretary Halford Tells How the
Presidents wife Spends Her Time.
The routine of the day begins early at
the executive mansion, says A. j. Hal
ford in an article on "Mrs. Harrison s
Life in the White House" in the Ladies
Home Journal. Breakfast Is served
promptly at $3.50 o'clock in the family
dining-room on the north side of the
house, adjoining the conservatory. This
is followed by prayers, either the Presi-
dent or DIR. Scott conducting devotions.
The family then separate for the day,
the President proceeding directly to his
room. Mrs. Harrison and the ladies re-
tire to the "living-room" of the house,
which Is not room at all. 1t is the
north end of the main hall on the second
| floor, separated from the office or public
| portion of the floor by a rather severe,
not to say forbidding, black-walnut par
tition half the height of the walls. Mrs.
| Harrison finds here her mail, which is
attended to with promptness and regu-
larity. So far as the work of answering
letters can be delegated it Is given over
to Mrs. Sanger, the stenographer. But a
large portion of her mail Mrs. Harrison
answers herself. Many of the letters
can be answered by means of a form
that has been composed for the purpose.
The consideration of her mail over,
Mrs Harrison receives the superintend-
ent of public buildings and grounds, at
present Colonel Oswald M. Ernest of the
engineer corps, who is charged with the
duty Of disbursing the appropriation
made for the maintenance of the execu-
tive mansion. With him Mrs. Harrison
discusses the needs of the house and her
desires, which must be made to conform
to the amount of the funds on hand.
Many and long are these conferences,
and oftentimes they result in shifting
about and repairing of the furniture and
fixtures that would astonish some per-
sons who imagine that the life of the
lady of the White House is without care
and a continual state of bliss.
After having dismissed Colonel Ernst
she devotes herself to the domestic
branch of the establis hment in confer
ence with the housekeeper. The menu
for the day is arranged during this con-
ference, and in consultation with the
steward Mrs. Harrison maintains an i'm
telligent supervision over the kitchens;
but the stories current in some circles,
representing her as devoting much of
her time to actual participation in the
work of the department, are exaggera-
tions. Although a good cook she does
not find it necessary or desirable to
usurp the functions of that individual
in the White House. And so as to tho
marketing. Having arranged in gem
eral way for the provision of the day, it
is left to the porper person to see that it
is procured. Lunch is served at 1870,
but frequently the President is detained
by callers, office-seekers or cabinet
meetings, and he does not sit down
sometimes until an hour later. 1t is
rarely the case that some one is not in
vited to join in this meal, in wholly
informal manner-a Cabinet officer, with
whom the President may thus continue
conference, or some friend who is asked
to extend his stay over the hour for
lunch.
In the afternoon for an hour or there
about Mrs Harrison receives friends
who come by appointment, and who
usually have some relative or visitor to
present. Later in the afternoon Mrs.
Harrison usually takes a drive, often
with the President, and when not ac-
companying him she takes Mrs. Mckee
and the babies, or some friend who may
be in the house. The variations from
this programme will include lessons in
hina-painting, in which art Mrs. Harri-
son displays rare talent and skill.
Dinner is served at $3.50 o'clock, and,
as was the case at lunch, almost always
the family is joined by some friend.
President and Mrs. Harrison are plain
livers, preferring the dishes of an old
Kentucky ''aunty" to the more elaborate
menu arranged by French chef.
In the evenings out of the season"
the White House is very quiet place.
President Harrison rarely has an oppor.
tunity of spending any time with his
family, except at meals, and after din
ner he is usually to be found at his desk |
again. If Mrs. Harrison Is free from any
social duty she utilizes the evening
hours by reading. Being fond of good
theatrical or operatic performance, she
occasionally graces one of the theaters
with her presence, accompanied by two
or three friends. The President has lit. |
tie taste for this class of amusement, es.
pecially opera, so is seldom seen at these
places. He is fond of meeting friends in
quiet way, and, when Mrs. Harrison is
entertaining callers in the evening, he
comes down from his room whenever
business permits him to do so, and min
giles with them in delightfully."- informal
way.