Wichita eagle., 1890-03-07
MRS. HARRISON'S DAILY LIFE.
How the Presidents Wife Spends Her Time
in the White House.

in the Nnlte house.
The routine Of the day begins early at the
executive mansion. Breakfast is served
promptly at half past clock, in the famii Y
dining room on the north side OF the house.
| adjoining the conservatory. This is followed
by prayers, either the president or DR.. Scott
conducting devotions. The family then sep-
| arate for the day, the president proceeding
/ directly TO his room Mrs Harrison and the
indies retire to the Giving rocm' OF the
| house, which Is not a room at all. 1t is the
north end Of the main hall, on the second
! door, separated from the Office or public por-
| ton of the floor bv rather severe. not to
say forbidding black walnut partition. half
the height Of the walls Mrs. Harrison finds
here her mill, which is attended TO with
promptnes5 and regularity So far as the
work Of answering letters can be delegated
it is given over to Mrs, Sanger, the stenog-
,apher. But large .potvsc:n Of aer raail Mrs
harrison answers herself Many or tie 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 superintendent of pub
lie buildings aud grounds, who is charged
with the duty OF disbursing the appropriation
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 la-lg are these
conferences, and oftentimes they result in a
shifting about and repairing of the furniture
ard fixtures that would astOnish some persons
who imagine that the life of the lady of the
White House is without care and continual
state of bliss
After this she devotes herself to the domes-
tic branch of the establishment in conference
with the housekeeper. The menu for the day
is arranged during this conference, and in
consultation with the steward Mrs Harrison
maintains an intelligent supervision over the
kitchen, but the stories current in some cir
cleS, representing her as devoting much of
her time to actual participation in the work
Of the department, are eyaggerations. AL
though a good cook, she does not find it nee
essary or desirable TO usurp the func tioas OF
that individual in the White House And so
as TO the marketing. Having arranged in a
general way for the provision OF the day, it
is left TO the proper person to see that it is
procured. Lunch Is served at ! 30. but fre-
quently the president is detained by callers,
Office SeSkers, or cabinet meetings, and hs
does not sit down sometimes until an hour
later Il is rarely the case that some one is
not invited to join in this meal ia a wholly
informal manner-a cabinet officer with
'ghOm the president may thus continue con-
ference, or some friend who is asked to ex-
tend his stay over the hour for lunch
In the afternoon, for an hour or there
abouts, 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
drive, often with the president, and when not
him she takes Mrs. Mckee and I
the babies or some friend who may be in the
house. The variations from this programme
viii include lessons in china painting, in |
which art Mrs. Harrison displays rare talent |
and skill.
Dinner is served at G:20 O'Clock, and, as was
the case at lunch, almost always the family /
is joined by some friend. President and Mrs. |
Harrison are plain ivers, preferring the
dishes of an old Kentucky "auntyo to the
more elaborate menu arranged by French
Chef
In the evenings out OF the Season" the
" hite ficuse is very quiet place. Presi-
dent Harrison rarely has an opportunity of
spending any time with his family. EXCEPT at
meals, and after dinner 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 o
good theatrical or operate performance she
graces one of the theatres with
ler presence, accompanied by two or three
rIends. The president has little taste for
his class of amusement, especially opera, so
S seldom seen at these places He is ford of
Meeting friends i'll a quiet way, and when
Mrs. Harrison is entertaining callers in tho
'Tening, he comes down from his room when
'ver business permits him to DO so, and min
lies with them in delightfully."- informal
yay,--A. j. Balford il Ladies' Home Jour
lal