The Washington critic., 1890-03-05
MRS nAnnIsoN,s DAILY LIFE.

lOOS, MI MCNIntcy is Il loClHdn worthy
of his steel.
MRS HARRIsoN's DAILY LIFE.
How the Presidents wife spends Her
Time Ia the White House.
The routine of the day begins early
at the Executive Mansion, says A. j.
Halford, in an interesting article on
Mrs. Harrison's Life in the White
House," in the March Ladtes' H1me
J0uradI. Breakfast is served promptly
at $50 O'Clock, in the family dining
room on the north side of the house,
adjoining the conservatory. This Is
followed by prayers, either the Presi-
dent or DR.. Scott conducting devotions.
The family then separate for the day;
the President proceeding directly to his
room. Mrs. Harrison and the ladies re-
tire to the living room of the house,
which is not room at all. IL Is the
north end of the main hall, on the sec
ond floor, separated from the office or
public portion Of the floor by rather
severe, not to say forbidding black wal.
nut partition, half the height of the
walls. Mrs. Harrison finds here her
mall which is attended to with prompt.
ness and regularity. So far as the work
of answering letters can be delegated.
it is given over to Mrs Sanger, the sten.
oGrapher. But large portion of her
mail Mrs. Harrison answers herself.
Many of the letters can be answered by
means Of q form that has been composed
| for the purpose.
| The consideration of her mail over,
| Mrs. Harrison receives the Superinten-
| dent of Public Buildings and Grounds,
at present Colonel Oswald M. Ernst of
| the Engineer Corps, who is charged
with the duty of disbursing the appro-
priation 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 they
result in shifting about and repairing
of the furniture and 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 having dismissed Colonel Ernst.
she devotes herself to the domestic
branch of the establishment in confer
cnce with the housekeeper. The menu
for the day is arranged during this con-
ference, and in consultation with the
steward Mrs. Harrison maintains an in
telligent supervision over the kitchen,
but the stories current in some circles,
representing her as devoting much Of
her time TO actual participation in the
| of hD sloK ,t. Mt
tions. Although good cook, she does
not find il necessary or desirable to
usurp the functions of that individual
in the White House. And so as TO the
marketing. Having arranged in Il gen
eral way for the provision of the day,
1t is left to the proper person to see that
it Is procured. Lunch is served at | 80,
but frequently the President is detained
by callers, Office seekers or Cabinet
meetings, and be does not sit down
sometimes until an hour later. 1t /,
rarely the case that some one is not in
vited to join in this meal in wholly
informal manner-a Cabinet officer
with whom the President may thus con
tinue conference, OF some friend WHIT
is asked to extend his stay over th,
hour for lunch.
In the afternoon, for an hour or there
abouts, Mrs. Harrison receives friend
who come by appointment, and wht
usually have some relative or visitor t,
present. Later in the afternoon Mrs
Harrison usually takes drive, Offer
with the President, and when not ac
oompanying him she takes Mrs. Nick
and the babies or some friend who ma,
be in the house. The variations iron
this programme will include lessons i
china painting, in which art Mrs. Han
rison displays rare talent and skill
Dinner is served at $50 O. clock, and
as was the case at lunch almost ALWAYS
the family is Joined by some friend
President and Mrs. Harrison are plai
: livers, preferring the dishes of an oil
Kentucky ''aunty' to the more elahorat
3 menu arranged by French chef.
. In the evenings out of the season
: the White House is very quiet place
President Harrison rarely has an or
portunity of spending any time wit
1 his family, except at meals, and afte
9 dinner he is usually to be found at hi
f., desk again. If Mrs. Harrison is fire
i from any social duty, she utiizes tb
!, evening hours by reading. Being fon
4 of good theatrical or operate pc
t formance, she occasionally graces on
S of the theatres with her presence, al
$ companied by two or three friend
/. The President has little taste for tn
! class of amusement, especially oper
l so is seldom seen at these places. f
is fond of meeting friends in qui
: way, and when Mrs. Harrison is ente
$ tanning callers in the evening, he com,
S down from his room whenever bus
: ness permits him to do so, and mingl
a with them in a delightfully."- inform
9 | NunN