The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1890-03-13
THE OLD WHITE HOUSE.
It is still Standing in Philadelphia and
was once Occupied by Geo. Washington.
By John Warwiek

On the south side of Market Street,
between Fifth and Sixth, there stood
until the year 1882, one of the most
interesting buildings in America. In
1772, Richard Penn, great great-grard-
son of William Penn, was the owner
of this house in right of his wife, and
lived there in style of considerable
magniicence. When the British army
entered Philadelphia in 1777. the best
house in town was selected for the
headquarters of General Howe. So
there in the High (Market) Street
mansion, the commander in-chief of
the British troops lived in state. The
general is described as being of ga fine
figure, full six feet high, and well pro-
portioned-in appearance not unlike
his antagonist, General Washington"
The British troops lived ia state Of
relaxed discipline and Franklin re.
marked, General Howe has not tax
EN- Philadelphia Philadelphia has
taken General Howe"
Benedict Arnold succeeded General
Howe as an occupant Of this celebrat.
ed mansion. He had been appointed
to the command of the militia at Bris-
tol, and on every part Of the Della
ware River east Of Bristol. Arnold
was obliged to use very questionable
travagant style Of living while here.
In 1880 he wa. court-martialed for
grave misdemeanors and condemned
to be reprimanded by the commander
in-chief, disgrace which he bitterly
resented and never forgot. Arnold
soon after left Philadelphia forever.
He was succeeded in the occupancy
Of the house by the Consul General Of
France. During his residence the
hnuse was much injured by fire.
Robert Morris, the Patriot fnancier
of the Revolution, caused the mansion
to be rebuilt and obtained lease Of
the same. He lived there until the
removal of the seat of government
from New York to Philadelphia,
when it became necessary to find a
residence for the President suitable
to his position. No house could be
found more fitting for this purpose
than the one occupied by Robert
Morris, who willingly removed his
family that Washington might be
properly accommodated.
The first levee in Philadelphia of
the first President of the United States
| was held in this house on Christmas
day, 1890. It vas attended by the
most fashionable people of the city,
and is described by Mrs. Adams, then
the wife of the Vice President, ~
brilliant beyond anything you could
imagine. The President held his re-
ceptions in the afternoons of every
other Tuesday, between 8 and 4
o'clock, when all respectable citizens
and strangers were received. When
the President received his visitors he
was surrounded by the members Of
bis Cabinet. His hair was powdered
and gathered in silk bag behind. He
wore coat and breeches Of plain black
velvet with q pearl colored vest, silver
knee and shoe buckles, yellow gloves,
a cooked hat in his hand and long
sword by his side. He received each
person with . grave bow but never
shook handA At quarter past the
door of the room was closed and the
President addressed q few words to
each guest. When this ceremony was
over, each visitor approached him,
bowed and retired, and the reception
was over
Washington was very sociabie with
the guests on the occasion of Mrs
Washington's receptions. At these
times be were the costume of = private
gentleman and was specially agreea-
BE to the ladies, who seized this, the
only opportunity they had, Of con.