The Bessemer indicator., 1893-04-29


motley throngs he gathered at his re-
ceptions The crowds wedged and
pressed him against the walls and al
most choked the life out of him; ladies
were even carried fainting out of the
building. AT last he gave up the pub
lie feeds which had become Il feature
of his administration, alleging that
they were n nuisance to himself and to
his friends all owing to n lack OF
proper accommo lations.
From that time on to the present the
discomforts and inadequacics of the
White House have been felt more and
more severely by its occupants. The
ever-increasing needs oftbe Presidents
official life have encroachcd more and
more upon his living apartments, until
now of the thirteen apartments on the
second floor six are used for the eyccu-
tive Offices and ante oms,nni two for
dressing rooms, leaving only five bel
chambers
4 memorable and rather mortifyiaq
occasion. when the cXigcncics of tn.
Presidents home We're exposed to tn.
gaze of the world at large. was during
the visit OF the Prince OF Wales to this
country in 1860. He had been invited
to spend five days at the White House.
Buchunan's family was one of the
smallest that ever dwclt in the White
House 1t consisted only of himself
and his niece, Miss Harriet Lane. Vet
he was chagrined TO find that he would
have 10 divide the Princes suite with
the British Minister The Prince him
self was slowed away in the little room
occupied by Mrs. Cleveland as q bou-
doir and more recently as bedroom by
Mrs. Mckee and her children, The
President gave up his own room TO the
Duke of Newcastle and found extern
porizcd quarters in one of the public
antc-rooMs.
Every succeeding President has SUI
fercd in something the same way,
though his sufferings have not been SO
publicly displayed. 1t WAS only by
crowding several members Of the house
hold INTO one room that families like
the Grants and the Gav.ields could tind
/ any accommodation whatever TO-
! guests. Even President Arthur found
! himself uncomiortably crowded when
exercising hospitality. 1t was a great
| annoyance for Mrs. Cleveland, n young
bride fond of company, that she could
not entertain more than two guests at
a time. What was an annoyance to
Mrs. Cleveland wnsa positive discon-
| fort to Mrs. Harrison, whose ialnily
occupied every available room in the
| building.
| One of Mrs Ilarrison's first thoughts
when she came to the White House was
to devise some remedy that might re-
lieve her successors from the trials
| which she had to undergo. She poured
out her mind to Mr.. Blaine, who
agreed that Il WIS an outrage and Il
| disgrace, that while millions of dollars
had to be spent 10 keep the National
| Capital truly representative of great
| people, not dollar lad b,cn voted to
| make the home uf thc executive
head of that people even approxi-
mrtely worthy of the dignity
which it housed. The proper
way out of the difficulty he thought
was the enlargement OF the present
building made in accordance with its
order of architecture, and the ahdi-
tion of wings on each side where the
purely official part OF the Presidents
| duties might be transferred. Something
of this sort had vaguely tloated through
Mrs. Harrison's mind. Encouraged
| by the Sccrctary's approval, she be
gan TO reduce her ideas to order. With
the assistance of Col. John NJ. Wilson,
L. S. A. engineer in charge OF public
buildings and grounds, and Mr.
Frederick D. Owens, she made series
of charcoal drawings. which were sub
mitted to Washington architect.
With these drawings as basis the
architect made design, which was
enthusiastically indorscd by Mrs.
Harrison.