New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-17
NATIONAL HUMILIATION.
TUE WHITE HOUSE UTTERLY MADE
o11ATE AS A PRESIDENTS HOME

NATION A LAUGHING STOCK HAIR
RIsoN's EXCELLENT PLAN FOR EN-
LARGING THE BUILDING
OTHER SUGGESTIONS
washington. Dec l6 (SpecaD.-"Is this Jeffersonian
.,,,nlcity?" asked a foreign guest at official
cen,lon much amused at the primitive make
,r,ts which, because of lack of space and incon-
,snIent arrangements, have for years been prac-
,,sea at the White House. The foreigner
.snecally entertained by the spectacle of the diplo-
r,a,c corps. cloaked and hooded some OF them drip
hing with rain and carrying umbrellas, struggling
.hrough the window of the Red Room. arranged
=, this occasion as a special entrance, into the
midst OF the brilliant crowd of men and women in
.ronng dress. waiting Their turn to be received.
To European eyes. accustomed to the ceremonial
=, the Old World. the methods in vogue at the
presidents house must seem strange But it has
,o,g been a question to the officials In charge. not
now a thing should be done. but how it can be done
nth the very insufficient space and inadequate
means at command. and the expedents employed
,s both amusing and humiliating.
u,,ou an architectural point OF view the Executive
Mansion is the most pleasing public building at the
c,nltal II was designed by James Hoban. after the
country place of the Duke of Leinster. and is
o,.rmnsly placed in grounds artistically laid out
ord kept in excellent condition. Its lines classic
and severe. Ionic columns give 1t grace and state
u,ess and the Virginia freestone of which II Is
h,r, is painted a dazzling white, in pleasing con-
,ras, 10 the greenery which surrounds It, Abigail
Adams its first mistress wrote Of X at the begin
. ,,rg ~ the present century: THE house Is bul'
an grand and superb scale. requiring about thirty
.s-vants 10 keep the apartments in order. For
,,., time indeed. II on so superb and grand
scale that ultra-republicans criticised 1t as too
nsIatial and magnificent for the home Of demo-
cratic ruler Since then the popuat ton of the coun-
,,v has increased 60,O00O0 its official and social
needs have grown in proportion. and the superb
and magnificent" mansion OF Abigail Adams's time
,.s ,onc been inadequate for the requirements OF
81. President The official part of the house Is ex-
.c,,y in arrangement and space. as II was orig
nally built ninety-two years ago. From modern
min, of view. the rooms are badly arranged badiy
ventilated and the Improvements and decorations
,ha, have been and constantly being introduced
make a poor showing for the immense sums ex-
.raa5 These efforts az modernlzation remind one
a, the wigs paint and powder vain old woman
smnIovs 10 conceal the ravages OF time IL IL re-
gret,able that the whims OF fashion nave OBTAINED
IN this matter. and that the furnishing and deeora-
,ions do not follow the original plan The White
} ,youse eighty or ninety years ago. was a sumptu-
.us setting for the levees of Mrs. Adams. Mrs
Madison and Mrs. Monroe, but the old house
crowded 10 bursting does not accommodate the
,hronCs which frequent the public receptions to-day
How 10 deal with these great crowds, each year
Incoming larger. Is serious question, ana unless
sors remedy is found the Presidents hospitable
soors uiu have 10 be closed the admiring public
The temporary entrance for the diplomats maze
,hrourb the window in the Red Room, as gro
,esaue and undignihed as II may seem, Is a mar
90, ~ convenience when compared TO the pande-
noonum which exists at the main door. Inc one
small entrance is quite insufficient for the con
slant stream OF arriving and departing carriages
and as yet II has been impossible to invent sat
isfactory system Gray-haired statesmen, ana
women in evening gowns. faugued with "aiuhs
their turn, leave their carriages ana walk iroin
The gate Many cases OF that dread disease
,neumonia have been contracted by this ex-
rosure OF which some have proved fatal Inc
basement door is frequently called into requisiion
tv those who have found il impossible to press
their way through the crowd at the main en-
asce At OF the recent receptions well
know n official recited with humorous touches Inc
surprise the servants experienced when he. with
his VIE and some guests. trooped through their
quarters to the stairway. The departure Is as I'M
seemIy as the arrival Again the diplomats go
out Of the window. The other officials and the
general pubic make their way through the main
entrance Outside on the portco the air ~ SUI
phurous with the seedlings or those whose car
rages are not forthcoming
The ventilation. as has been said is very BAD
At these large receptions 1t seems Impossible 10
maintain the proper temperature Inc mousse u
like furnace through which sharp draughts blow
from the window In the Red Room and the 'front.'
door which is being constantly swung to and fro
In the inner corridor especially where the line
forms a stream OF cold air circulates, sending
shiyers across the bare shoulders OF the women
in ball toilets For the official receptions the
State dining-room is converted into dressing
room Pigeo1-hole boxes are arranged into which
are thrust the handsome wraps OF the women anu
the silk hats OF the men. But here. as everywhere
there is insufficient room. and wraps are thrown
in confusion
wife Of Senator deposited her turs In a
corner on what she thought was another Pile or
wraps The pile moved. and an rate sister. who
nd heoq char gng her shoes, faced the astonished
wcil.t..
The crowd from the entrance to the dressing
room forms a wedge. Many women. on reaching
the dressing-room find themselves so disheveiled
ard torn to pieces that they are unpresentable
There are no conveniences In this temporary
dressing room to repair such disorder, or Tor the
necessary last touches. and bizarre happenings
the result. 1t is not infrequent sight 10
Jerry the general factotum in this depart
ment for more than twenty-five years. who amiably
supplies the lack of maids and mirrors, putting on
slippers for some lady who stands on one foot
while he dresses the other Jerrys services are
also in demand for the "fants.' OF which there
always one or more at each reception In
the domestic economy of the White House these
unfortunaes are not considered. and as their Is no
retiring in which they can recover they inust
either lie tine floor and block the way or De
carried upstairs g., 49,.
The one uncrowded space Is that just in front
Of the receiving marty The Blue Room, back or
them. which is supposed to be reserved for ON
Gals and there friends. is crowded 10 sunocauoh'
When the room is filled 10 its utmost limit IL De-
comes necessary to refuse further Ambulance;
he majority, OF course, recognize the WISDOM VI
MS, but occasionally the ushers request 10 move
On met with scornful refusal. and dPom a,y
has 10 be employed to avoid a scene. Il would
hare you know SIR said excited woman.
whom the usher would not allow to pass into TINS
court circle that / the wife Of a judge. SIR:
and as much entitled 10 be there as any one
Poor Judge" doubtless thought the usher, Dut
he Answered only with Of those expansive !
oncial smiles which are the most eiiicacious
weapons In dealing with these cases Another
candidate TO go behind the line stated as her rea
sons for preferment that she was the OLD frehd Oh
q lately deere ed Senator