Omaha daily bee., 1890-02-23
MRS, HARRIsoN'S DAILY LIFE.
How h P~residenIs wife spends Hey
1imc in the White House.

~ - ~ AAh
lord, In an interesting article I" on Mrs,
Harrisons Life In The White House
in the March Ladies Home journal.
breakfast is served promptly at half
past 8 o'clock IN the family dining room
on the north side OF the house adjoining
the conservatory. This is followed by
prayers, either the president or DR..
Scott conducting devotlons. The fam
lily then separate for the day; the presi-
dent proceeding directly to his room.
Mrs. Harrison and the ladies retire TO
the Giving room" of the house, which
is not n 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 u rather severe,
not TO say f%orbidding black walnut par
tttion, half the height of the walls.
Mrs. Harrison finds here her mail,
which is attended to with promptness
and regularity. SO far ms the work Of
answering letters can be delegated, it is
given over TO Mrs. Sanger, the stenog-
rapher. But u large portion OF her mail
Mrs. Harrison answers herself. Many
OF the letters can be answered by means
of n form that has been composed for
the purpose.
The consideration Of her mail over,
Mrs. Harrison receives the superintend-
ent of public building and grounds. at
present Colonel Oswold M. Ernst of
The engineer corps, who is chxeTed with
the duty Of disbursing the appropria-
ton made for the maintenance OF the
executive 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 thew
rpSnlt in 81 shlftln nhnpf mud ~ mn ,i ~
of the furniture aud fixtures that would
astonish some persons who imagine
that the life OF the lady OF the white
house is without care and q continual
state of bliss.
After having dismissed Colonel Ernst
she devotes herself to the domestic
branch Of the establishment in confer
ence with the housekeeper. The menu
Tor the day is arranged during this con-
ference, and in consultation with the
stewart Mrs. Harrison maintains an in
tellgent supervision over the kitchen,
but the stories current in some cities,
representing her as devoting much OF
her time to actual participation in
the work of the department.,
are eXaggerations. Although u good
cook, she does not find it necessary or
desirable to usurp the functions of that
individual in the white house. And so
rs to the marketing. Having arranged
In a general way for the provision of
the day, it is left to the proper person
to see thai 1T is procured. Lunch is
served at l:3O. but frequently the pres
ident 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 hat
some one is not invited to join in his
meal, in a 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 tho hour for lunch.
In the afternoon, for an hour or
Whereabouts, Mrs. Harrison receives
friends. who come by appointment, and
who usually have some relative or visi-
tor to present. Later IN the afternoon
Mrs. Harrison usually takes n drive
often with the president, and when not
accompanied by him she takes Mrs.
Mckee and the babies, or some friend
who may be in the house. The vnria-
tions from this programme will include
lessons in china painting, in which art
Mrs. Harrison 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 "aunts"tothe more elaborate
menu arranged by a French cnei.
In The evenings out of the season."
the white house is II very quiet place.
President Harrison rarely has an oppor-
tunlty OF spending any time with
his family except at meals,
and after dinner he is usually
to be found at his desk again.
II Mrs. Harrison is free from any social
duty, she utilities the evening hours by
reading. Being fond of Il good theatre
cal or operate performance, she occas-
ionally graces one of the theaters with
her presence accompanied by two or
taste for this class of amusement,
especially opera, SO is seldom
seen at these places. He is fond
OF meeting friends in a quiet
way, and when Mrs. Harrison is enter
tanning callers in the evening, he comes
down from his room whenever business
permits him to do so. and mingles with
them in a delightfully."- Informal way.
Religion i'm France.
About the religious condition Of
France a writer in the Congregational
list says: For the last twenty years the
country, so far as its government is
concerned, has been constantly sepa-
rating itself more completely from the
influence OF the Roman Catholic church.
This has marked the decline OF all re-
ligious faith among the people. But
recently the national. leaders have be-
gun to realize anew hat skepticism not
only threatens the safety of the state,
but OF the entire social fabric, and
while they appear not to have
confidence in any belief they
seem to be convinced that my sort
OF faith is better than none,
and therefore they encourage and
foster all religions. Last year tho
national department of public worship
paid stipends to Catholic prelates and
priests, Protestant and Swedenborgian
ministers, Jewish rabbis, Mohamme-
dan imaums, and Buddhist BONES.
New Years day President Carnot con-
ferred crosses OF the Legion of Honor
on a Roman Bishop, a Protestant pas
tor, a Jewish rabbi, and a Mussulman
imaum. Even the student of the Uni
yersity of Paris, who, since the estab-
lishment of the republic, have prjded
themselves on their skepticlsm, have
begun TO manifest u new interest in re-
ligion, and many OF them, it is said,