The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-09-21

UNCLE SANS HIRED MEN
The Manner in Which, They Are
Housed During Their Stay
in Washington.
Simplicity the Rule, Although
Ease and Comfort Every
where Manifested.
President CLEVELAND Desk Has
an Historical Interest Cons
nected With 1t.

1
nected With 1t.
! Uncle Sam takes such good care of his
officials after they reach washington it
| is no wonder they are loath to leave
| their comfortable and attractive quarters
after once tasting the sweets Of office.
Every contrivance which can possibly
| add to their comfort is found in the
apartment they use for the transaction
| of business, and electric fans in summer,
| with cool mating on the floor, and open
! frep1aces in winter, with rosy-h1led rugs,
| make up an ideal picture, of comfort,
says Washington correspondent Of the
Chicago Tribune, se as
Probably the most uupretentious apart
1nent used by government official Is
that of the president Of the United States
| iii the Executive Mansion. 1t is large
square room, with q southern exposure,
from which 8 beautiful panorama is Wis
ible Heaven kissing hills of Maryland
and Virginia slope down to the edge Of
the Potomac River, which laves their
sides, and in the foreground is the Wash
ing Monument and beautiful green ell
lipse known as the White Lot in which
the United States Marine Band gives. con-
certs every Saturday afternoon during
the summer. With such surroundings
and amid such pleasant environments
the presidents office is always attrac-
tive
But once inside the big room in which so
many grave questions have been settled
the visitor is astonished at its simplicity.
There are two prints on the walls, the
only pictures in the apartment-ore
representing Thomas Jefferson and the
ether Alexander Hamilton, the famous
tinancier of the revolutionary period.
There is an interesting bit of history
connected with the broad, fiat open desk
at which the president OF the limited
States sits, as is shown by the tnscrip-
tion upon gold plate. This desk was
sent to the White House during the ad-
rainistration of President Hayes as q
token OF esteem from the government OF
Great Britain. On the gilded plate is
the following inscription: H. M. 3.
Resclute, forming part OF the expedition
in search Of Sir John Franklin in 1852.
Was abandoned in latitude "A degrees and
Al minutes north, longitude 10l degrees
and % minutes west, May Is, 1854.
She was discovered and extricated in
September, 1855, in latitude 67 degrees
north by Capt. Buddington Of United
States whaler George Henry. The ship
was purchased, fitted out, and sent to
England as gift to her Majesty Queen
Victoria by the president of the people
of the United States as a token of good
will and friendship. This table was made
from ller timbers when she was broken
up and is presented by the queen Of Great
Britain and Ireland to the president OF
The United States as memorial of the
courtesy and loving kindness which die
tated the offer Of the gift of Resolute."
Probably the largest cane-seat chair in
Washington is placed at this desk for
the use OF President Cleveland, who
brought it with him from his Office in
New York. AS he sits ait his desk he
faces north, the light fallign over his
shoulders from the south. This room
was formerly used by President Lincoln
as his office and council chamber, and
| it was in this apartment the emanci-
patton. proclamation was drafted and
signed 4
Vice-Presidents of the United States
have an office in the finest building in the
world-the Capitolwh up to date has
cost in the neighborhood of s$15,0O0,0Oo.
Just across the corridor from the Senate
Chamber is beautifully frescoed tiled
floor room on the door Of which Is a
Chamber. There is a fiat table covered
with red at which the vice president
transacts his private business, and from
the windows looking north there is a
magnificent view of the suburbs Of Wash.
ington, with Soldiers Home cupola and
numerous church spires breaking the
line of the horizon. On the wall at the
left of the vice presidents desk is Rem
brandt Peale's famous portrait OF the
first president Of the republic, and mar
ble busts Of vice. resident Wilson, who
died III this room, and Lafayette S. Fos-
ter Of Connecticut are conspicuous. While
engaged with his private secretary the
yice-president sits with his face to the
south, and ne can see himself reflected
In an old mirror which passed the CEN
.tlry mark and is one Of the most valu-
able relics about the great marble pile
which surlnounts Capitol Hill. q
One thing which strikes the visitor to
the large office room of the Secretary Of
[State, IN the south wing Of the huge pile
Navy building, is the absence OF the usual
array sof oil paintin ngs OF former premiers.s
Instead there are engTavings neatly
framed of former Presidents Of the United
States, and q marble med l1ion bust of
James Madison in the panel just behind
the, Secretary's desk IS q novel ard rare
ornament. Three lar, " indoWs lead
out on a granite gallery from which :the.
|,secretarysof state can Ohta ID aT splendid
view Of Arlin gtnn, Yer AIexaaadri
ana ana the Potomac 81 so IL oak desl