Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27
TIE FAULTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Not So Great as Correspondents Quote the
First Lady as Saying.
HOW MORE ROOM MIGHT BE HAD
WRITTEN FOR rHr p1srArcH. !

perhaps even comfort, as most lamentaDle
and extraordinary state of affairs-that there
should be the magnificent East Room, the
gorgeous Red Room, the beautiful Green
Room and the lovely Blue Room, all on the
first floor. and yet Mrs. Harrison cannot
have good social time with her friends be-
cause there is no place to entertain them but
corner of the upper hall separated from
the main portion by walnut partition only
half as high as the ceiling.
To entertain private friends socially and
talk over people and Cabinet affairs and
administration gossip in SO exposed place
must be intolerable indeed, since unawares
to the occupants of the improvised sitting
room, who knows but that there might be
somebody ''swooping around" behind that
board partition listening for items and good
stories and court secrets. To avoid sucn
danger aud secure real privacy, Mrs. Har-
rison and the other ladies, says the scribe,
are often compelled to take their friends
into their bedrooms. This is an absurdity
the cheek of every American voter. 1t is
altogether in the natural order of things
that the ears of all men, who are response
BILE, should burn also, as they contemplate
this lamentable display of smallnessi in the
Presidents house, and imagine how their
stinginess is commented upon by those who
have to entertain company in the bedrooms.
SEEMS TO BE NEW COMPLAINT.
1t isa little strange that nothing has
been heard of this distressing condition of
affairs during previous administrations.
Mrs. Adams, who first occupied the historic
mansion, found it vastly too large and
utilized the great East Room for drying the
clothes on wash day. However, times have
changed since then, as we all know, still
now, as then, only one family was supposed
to occupy it, and as Mr.. and Mrs. Harrison
have only two children instead of the old
fashioned family OF 10 or IL it is little
hard to see why, even with all the nine
teenth century desire to spread, the present
''frst lady" should have no room in the
great mansion in which to entertain her
friends. With great reception room and
three smaller parlors it seems somewhat
wonderful that Mrs. Harrison, as mistress
of the house, does not appropriate one for
herself With her brains and capabilities
as housekeeper, it is easy to see that she
could so command the situation as to take
one of these for the reception of her private
friends. ,..x
If things were in such dire condition, as
represented by the correspondent, Mr.. and
Mrs. Russell Harrison could go home to
Montana and occupy their own beautiful
house at Helena-or Mrs. Mckee and the
babies could go back to Mr.. Mckee, who
must be deplorablv lonely without them
or, this not being deemed a pleasant solu-
tion of the uncomfortable problem, the "old
gentleman" might rent an Office for himself
outside and give up his business rooms in
the White House.
A MAN Is A NUISANCE.
Everybody knows it is a nuisance to have
a man puttering and pottering around the
house all day, anyhow. Nobody can doubt
that Mrs. Harrison had nicer, quieter time
at home when benjamin" went off to his
Office, or the House, or tine Senate, and re-
turned at the proper time for his meals, and
to spend the evenings quietly with her, or
in going to church and prayer-meeting The
President could have a gorgeous suite of
rooms at the Capitol, where he could be
seen of all men and fill offices with as much
satisfaction to the country and ''the bosses
as in the beautiful rooms he now occupies,
and these could then be devoted to Mrs.
Harrison and the other ladies of the White
House.
Moreover, if this were not deemed proper,
and the worst came to the worst, the Presi-
dent could secure private house outside
for his family-that might become as famous
as Red Top" and be a paying investment
of as large dimensions as the country re-
$50. 900 for Red Top and sold it for over
$1OO, 900. The advantages of such plan,
even apart from the money profit, seem
But the gain made on Cleve-
lands home is not to be sneezed at. It was
as much as would set the Presidents family
up very handsomely when they 60 home to
But while the "meager accommodations"
of the White House are SO harassingly
dwelt upon by the correspondent, it is some
satisfaction to know that the miserable hall
corner room has been made quite comfort
able and attractive, so much SO that Mrs.
spends much time in it. 1t must
be quite fair sized place, too. we should
Judge. since it contains an upright piano, a
lounge, writing desk, table of potted |
play of pottery, bric-a-brac and q few |
chairs. Without a woman's taste and skill |
it would, says the writer, be rather "a
dreary den."
WORKING IN HER DEN.
In this "den" Mrs. Harrison looks over
her mail which, as accounts 60, is a most |
formidable one, but most of the letters |
are such as can be answered with |
a formal refusal, being solicitations
for charity, for influence. for crazy quilt |
patches, recipes. autographs and all such |
stuff. In this counterfeit sitting room Mrs.
Harrison receives the steward of the White
House, whose salary is paid by the Govern
ment, and with whom she consults as to how
ends are to be made to meet on the "beggar-
" appropriation doled out by Congress for
,he President and his family" This is de-
'cribed as most onerous task, and Mrs.
Harrison has to study over ways and means
Is vigorously, and with her forehead puck
cred quite as closely, as ii she were house
Keeper with a husband on a slender salary.
This is what one of the correspondents as
erts as true, but we venture to say there are
Millions of women who will not believe a
word of it. With a salary OF $50, 900 year,
| furnished house free--no rent-with serv-
lnts to keep it in order, with the Washing
lone gratis by the Government, with con-
ervatories to furnish flowers at the expense
VI the country, with all the arrangements
or the reception and comfort of guests
paid ior out of the public funds,
With an appropriation of $500
rear for breakage and new furnishings
t is hard to see why Mrs. Harrison should
worry over the housekeeping, and call tor
arger appropriations from a niggardly
lation.
People imagine the President and his
amily living on pinnacle of splendor,
whereas any other house in town almost
'ffers more real comfort to its occupants,
md there are hundred houses where more
Irt and luxury are found in the finish and
ittings," says this correspondent.
NO CHAIN HOLDING THEM.
This may be true, but the fact remains
hat there are plenty of people on this con.
inent with hundred times as much money
IS the Harrisons who would be delighted to
hange places with them. Mr.. and Mrs.
Harrison could 60 home to their comfort Of