The Washington critic., 1890-02-02

One of the Cosicst and Most Comfort
abie Places fmaginabie-whe
the Famous Porcelain Service is
stored.
President Harrison aud his family
have one of the cosiest and most com
Portable dining rooms imaginable, and
" Is situated in the north wing of the
Executive Mansion, overlooking the
spacious park and Lafayette Square.
High ceilings are feature of all the
rooms In the White House, and the
dining forms no exception, the
walls being tinted q subdued terra
Gotta, which gives rich aspect almost
IKE mahogany cnvironed apartment.
In the centre of the dining room Is
massive round extension oak table, the
legs being moulded and carved in an
artistic manner, while leather uphol4
stored mahogany chairs are placed at
convenient intervals around the board.
Two wicker high chairs are also con
spicuous in the room, their occupants
being the diminutive members of the
Harrison household, and they are al
ways present at breakfast and luncheon
when there are mo visitors to be enter.
tained by the family.
AN INTERESTING SCENE.
Facing the east in this room is large
open fireplace, In which blazing wood
fire imparts picturesque and pleasant
appearance, especially during the crisp
fall and winter mornings and evenings
On the mantcl over the fireplace is
handsome bronze clock, surmounted by
an exquisite Antiope in bronze, and an
tique brass sconces and candelabra
are prominent on each side of the
mantel-piece. Just off from the mantel
is the china closet in which is stored
1000 pieces, composing the famous
White House porcelain service, the
order for which was given in the spring
of 1870. As 1t was to be used only for
State occasions Mrs. Hayes desired that
il should combine elegance and ap-
propriate American decoration. De
signs were furnished by Theodore II.
Davis. illustrating exclusively American
fauna and fora, and his success is best
shown in the following letter which he
received from the White House:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHINGToN.
DEAR SIR: My absence from home when
the beautiful porcelain set arrived is my
apology for the delay in sending you my
thanks. The exquisite State dinner serv-
Ice executed by Uaviland q Co.
from original designs by you is uni
versally admired by all competent Judges
Of works Of art who have seen it. 1t is a
delight to study the beautiful forms and
paintings. One almost feels as if the GER
amic art should be used for no other pur-
pose except to crafty the eye. ] congratu-
late you on the accomplishment of the task
which you so kindly imposed upon yourself
in the production of the beautiful designs
which have added fresh laurels to Amer
tgan SinQarplV w
August 2, 1880.
In addition to the Hayes dinner
service for State occasions there are two
other sets of china in the White House,
one of which, purchased during the
Grant administration, is banded with
royal purple, while in the centre is the
seal of the United States-an American
eagle with outstretched wings and hav-
ing in his talons number of arrows.
Its breast Is covered with shield,
from which is shown a streamer bear
ing the legend, '.E Pluribus Unum, !"
and over the eagles head is a constella-
ton of stars surrounding a sun burst.
Another dinner set was purchased when
Lincoln was President, and this is DIS
tinguished from the other White House
china as the gold band set, although,
like the others, the United States seal
is shown on every piece of the service.
Since the Hayes service has been set
apart for State occasions the Harrison
family eat their meals in the private
dining room of the White House, using
the Lincoln OF Grant china, as the
steward secs fit There is no danger of
scarcity of china at any entertain
ment in the Executive Mansion, for
the three sets in use number about
twenty five hundred pieces of the hand.
soonest tableware ever shown in this OF
any other country
fGLITTERING CRYSTAL WARE.
Leaving the china closet the next OBJ
ject in the dining groom is massive
mahogany buffet, upon which glittering
crystal ware is abundant, and the entire
southern wall of the apartment is con
cealed by this piece of furniture. Con
spicuous on the west side of the room
is magnificent sideboard, also of the
finest mahogany, the carving of which
is work of art, and some of the hand
soonest pieces of Theodore Davis skill
in porcelain decoration are displayed
on the ample shelves Delicate cob
weby lace curtains screen the family
from the observation of curious out
siders, and few persons vino have noted
the spry movements of half a dOzeI
walters in long room adjacent to TIL,
conservatory imagined that they have
been so close to the Presidents dining
room. A rich velvet carpet of darl
crimson color covers the floor of th
dining room. and owing to lis thickues
not sound is made by the feet of th
walters as they pass to and fro in min
istering to the wants of the Whit
House family.