Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-24

| as TO make the work a. attractive but as endur-
ing as possible. For her own room she Sc
was made from il. In July Of 1891 the room
was finished and when she returned in the
autumn she was greatly pleased with the re-
I suits The room lie q blue room, very dainty
and light in all its treatment. The wall paper
is OF blue and silver, the papered ceiling is
fecked with the same tin.s and lines of Blue
and pink border the frieze, which is looped
rose garlands. All the wood work in the room
is finished in blue and all the little Access
series conform to the same silvery and
blue tones: Over the old-tashioned
white marble mantelpiece several pieces
OF Mrs. Harrisons own work are hung.
| They are paintings on canvas and porcelain,
some OF the White House flowers being thus
perpetuated by the gentle mistress Of the house.
| The furniture in the room is not unlike that in
the other chambers-solid mahogany, rather
| ponderous and old-fashioned. Mrs Harrison
in the early period Of her occupancy had the
stately canopy bed removed and substituted
| for it two low brass bedsteads. She had also a
few wicker rockers and easy chairs substituted
| for the older pieces Of furniture. A carpet In
which dull silver and blue colors prodominated
| covered the floor.
MRS. HARRISON AS SHE ApPnARnD TO Az 1xr1-
MATE FRIEND.
Mrs. John Y. L. Findlay of Baltimore. whose
husband is a cousin Of Presiden, Harrison, and
who has enjoyed an intimate acquaintance with
Mrs Harrison. entertaining her at her own
home and visiting her at the White House, said
recently Of Mrs. Harrison:
my acquaintance and frindship with Mrs.
harrison began about ten years ago. as Mr..
Findlay was q Congressman at the time that
| President Harrison was living in Washington as
| Senator. In those years the more saw and
learned Of Mrs. Harrison the more was l i'm
pressed with her worth and the genuineness Of
her character. think this was the impression
m On nno vhn laor al 10 Evn hov
intimately. Mrs. Harrison was always what we
would call true friend
"Her position in the White House has been
somewhat different from that Of many Of the
wives Of the Presidents. She went to the
Executive Mansion not as a stranger, but as
one having friends Of long standing in WASH
ington, whom she had met during her residence
| there as Senator Harrison's wife. These earlier
| friends have always been her friends, for she 10
| a woman who preferred few close friends TO
the crowd and hustle OF ultra fashionable life,
although she was exact in fulfilling the social
duties Of her position.
"She has always been fond of social life, but,
as have said, 1t is the more informal gather
ings that give her the greatest pleasure. be-
lieve, though that she entered too much into
the functions Of society. for her health broke
down under the constant strain Of such an
active life. Her days have been filed with
duties and engagements from morning until
night, and she has often said she looked
forward to the hour she spent daily
in her painting as hour Of perfect
rest and relaxation. In this she has never been
interrupted, and could count for a certainty on
sixty minutes at least Of non-publicity. She
has been much interested in an exquisite salad
set that she was painting and which. believe
she intended as gift to one Of her children
The set contains almost innumerable pieces,
each OF which is painted With some suitable
ornamertation designed by herself The set Is,
il mistake not, still unfinished.
mrs. Harrison is fond of reading and, par
tlcularly when she becomes interested In q Ger
tain theme or question, she will follow it up
until she has mastered it, This thoroughness
is striking characteristic Of hers in every way,
whether in her social or domestic life
"She has shown herself all her life q stanch
true woman, kind Of heart, generous and affec-
Tomato. particularly toward the little grand
children over whom che has watched and in
whom she rejoices as being among the dearest
pleasures in her life. Her domestic character
Is well known, and no press Of social duties
could interfere with the claims Of the happy
household.
''She takes keen interest in the various
movements for the advancement Of women not
along the line of the 'woman's rights question,
but whatever tends toward their educational
advantage. She has always stood up for the
women.
Her charitable work has been largely CEN
tered on the Homeopathic Hospital in Wash
ington, but she has done a great deal Of good
among those in trouble in other fields Mrs
Harrlson's daily custom at the White House
has been to have the beautiful center piece
Of exquisite flowers which always adorrs
the table ut dinner sent to some one who
was sick. poor or In trouble and whenever
have been with her l remember noticing that
always after dinner, just before she left the
room, she would tell the steward to send the
MOVERS TO some particular person whom she
designated. Love of flowers is another char
acteristic element and she Is especially fond
OF golden rod. whose selection she advocates
as being the best for the national flower
Another particular favorite is the chrvsan-
themum, and when at her home In Indian
apols she offered a beautiful silver ornament
as prize at one Of the local chrysanthemum
shows. Her love Of the autumn flower recalls
visit OF Mrs. Harrison to Baltimore one
day, which illustrates her dislike Of publicity
Having finished her shopping. I suggested
the Gardeners Club then in progress at the
then Oratorio Hail. As anxious as she
was to inspect the flowers she hesitated about
going. saying that she was afraid she
would be recognized and followed as
sured her unwittingly that there would be
Harrison was delighted with the beautiful
display, which she said was the finest she
had seen, and was particularly pleased at hay-
ing escaped notice. and at being able to
ENJOY the flowers quietly and freely. like any
one else. Suddenly it became whispered about
that the Presidents wife was in the hall There
after the flowers became a secondary attraction,
and Mrs Harrison was presented with beauti-
full bouquet OF the choicest flowers by each Of the
florists exhibiting.
Mrs. Harrison enjoys going to the theater
whenever any celebrated performer visits
Washington, although she is Presbyterian.
She had not studied music. but PLAYED by ear
and would accompany the children some
times with dance music on the piano. In her
public life she is always courteous. but she
seems to care little for the exctements. the
making Of friends by the thousands and the in
terest and curiosity that such public per
sonage always inspires. To her all this is the
most trying part Of position Of whose dignity
and honor she is nevertheless fully sensible and
appreciative."