The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-01-26

"a
A friend Of the White House family
alleges that Mrs. Harrison is not more
than half sorry that the Democratic are
to control the next Congress, and ex-
plains that Mrs. Harrtson's only politi-
cal ambition has been so lnterfered
with and thwarted by the Republican
Congress that she sees no prospect OF
any woree treatment from the Demo-
crats and even has hopes the spirit of
gallantry for which Democrats have
always been famous may make her
task even easier than II has been.
Mrs. Harrlson's politics, since her
husband became President, have been
like the politics of most other folks
about Washington, exclusively In the
interest OF the old flag and an approprl-
alton. Most folks want the appropri-
alton for themselves, but Mrs. Harri-
son wants It for the White House;
The unsightly, unkempt, and UNI
healthy condition OF the White House
is an old story. The Government has
always taken more care of the building
to which the citizens OF Oshkosh or Kala-
nazoo went to get their letters than
of the building In which the President
and bis family have had to live.
Mrs. Harrison began with deter
mined effort to accomplish a reform
In this direction, an effort which has
been maintained under most discour-
aging circumstances, owing to the
tritling appropriations which Con-
gress were willing to grant for tho
purpose.
One OF Mrs. Harrison's first discov-
cries was that the system Of repair in
vogue for half century past had in
cluded the laying OF new floor over
xxrfnn
too bad for further use. In the kitch-
en- especially, the flooring was found
to consist OF several successive layers
OF rotting, not TO say rocking wood,
interspersed with which were millions
of vermin, dead and alive, with occa-
sional skeletons marking the graves
of ferrets which from time to time
had been sent into holes in search of
rats and had failed to reappear. The
food of a dozen Presidents, not to
speak of dinners for q whole genera
ton of statesmen and diplomats, had
been cooked over such mess as that.
All the floors and other decayed
woodwork about the kitchen were re-
moved, and clean, MISUNDERSTANDING
tiles substituted There was not
money enough, however, to curry tho
same improvements through the rest
the old floors and rotting woodwork.
As soon as tho plumbing was touch
ed, similar state of affairs was re-
vealed. The system of repair had been
to abandon old pipes where they were
whenever they became defective and
put in new ones. Over half ton of
this abandoned pipe was found be-
| tween the floors of the building, most
of 1t in a condition the reverse of
cleanly and healthy. .......
By the time that matters were RENE
died, there was little money left for
| ordinary repairs. Several of the
rooms, however, notably the Blue
| room, have been redecorated in a
| manner that eminently maintains the
reputation for artistic taste possessed
ny MIS-. harrison before she came to
the White House. Most of the walls
and ceilings in the rooms that have
been changed are now decorated In
bun, cream and similar cheerful tints,
and a large beginning has been made
| towards the establishment of an aItis-
tic and harmonious style of decora-
ton for the whole house.
Nothing more than u beginning was
| possible with the amount of money ap
propriated, and il the work is carried
on no more generously than has bean
the custom in the past. what has beer
done will be old and shabby before the
rest of the house is touched,
Mrs. Harrison still hopes for another
appropriation from the present Con
gress, but with little confidence, ant
her dreams are chiefly centered upon
the Democrats. She expects them no
only to help her finish the work o.
making the White House presentable
but even cherishes, II is said hope
that they may aid her to realize tn,
height of her ambition for her end Of
the Administration, that is, the begin
ming, even in n very small way, ol
work upon new building which shall
increase the accommodations of the
Presidents mansion, and make it {
structure worthy of its uses and Of
the country. or course, Mrs. Harri
son has no hope of ever occupying the
White House herself. Perhaps the Ger
tainty Of this and the comparative Ger
tainty that Democrat will enjoy the
fruits OF its generosity is one reason
why Mrs. Harrison thinks her appea
for an appropriation may lie more gal
lantly received by the next Congress
than by this.