The morning times., 1895-08-11
The Old LampIishter at the White
House-Has Climbed His Little
Ladder for Thirty Years.

The President has very tender spot in
his heart for any one who may be in bile
| on account OF his children, and when a case
OF this kind is brought To his personal notice
he never fails To act in the promptest, most
satisfactory manner. His devotion To his
own little ones is so tender and sincere that
his heart goes out at once to the man or
woman who may have suffered loss or had
serious troubles in their homes because ofths
death or illness OF their child.
Those who know the President well are
perfectly a ware OF thisphaseo ofhis character,
although never. even 10 his most intimate
friends, does he make parade OF his love
for his children.
Quite recently this was eXemplifisd in the
most lorcible manner, and the circumstances
or tie case were such that 1t seems ineX-
plicable that up TO this time not breath
or il has been waited abroad through
the press OF the country which usually
keeps well abreast OF the daily life and
acts OF the chief executive.
Among the army contingent living in
Washington is the family OF a retired
officer who recently had the misfortune OF
losing his youngest child. This child he
wished la have buried at Arlington beside
his little boy who a few years ago was run
over and killed by passing wagon. Ap'
pIicatiou 10 this effect was made to the
proper authorities al the War Department.
To the officers great surprise aud sorrow
the one 10 whom the application for per
mission 10 bury the baby al Arlington had
been made, gave a peremptory refusal
giving a. the Reason that he had noinlention
of allowing Arlington TO be filled up with
| babies.
Most men would have considered this
| decision as final, but not so the retired Of
ficer His plan Of action was quite as de-
cisive and quite as quick as that OF the
WarDepartmcnt authority. Withouta word
! Of ofexpostulaiion he turned an lett The room,
/ but he did not 90 home TO brood over the
/ refusal To be allowed the privilege uf
| placing side by side his two little loved ones
in their last long sleep at Arlington. He
went 1T once Instead to the White House.
Sending in his card TO the President
with the request for a brief audience upon
matter of Importance, the officer was
admitted TO the Presidents private office,
and once there stated the case as briefly
as possible.
listener, his heart going out to the bereaved
officer, who told of the loss of his baby
in such quiet but graphic way. When he
had finished, the President stretched out
his hand, took up a pad nf official paper
and hurriedly wrote note that read after
this fashion:
Gen. -:
Dear Sir-It is my wish as well as my
command that Gen. - be allowed To
bury his child at Arlington.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
There" he said, as he passed it over
the desk 10 the waiting officer, Il think
you will have no further trouble in the
matter"
Mrs Cleveland's taste prevails in the
matter of having at least one of the rooms
papcrcd in the White House. This is the
large guest chamber on the north front
separated only from the Presidents apart
ment by the inclosed portion Of the inner
hallway that for years has been utilized
and fitted up as bedroom for nurses oI
maids, as may have been preferred
The general tone of the large bed-chamber
Is in yellow, as with the bamboo dressing
table and bureau, The oId-fashioned heavy
bedsteads have been replaced by twin
brass bedsteads. IL is now a most attract
i've looking room, especially since the walls
have been papered according to Mrs
Cleveland's fancy.
At first even the paperhangers feared
that a failure would result from the daring
experiment, but these fears We're happily
groundless. Not only the walls, but the
ceiling as well, are covered with a paper
vic ffr
specimens OF La France and tea roses. II
is a general Dolly Warden effect, that is
altogether pleasing The first impression
on entering the room is that OF going into
a veritable bower of roses. There is no
frieze, simply a slight molding sufficient
TO hang pictures on, if desired This mold
ing is coiored a deep pink
Beyond that the roses are every where,
and the effect OF having the ceiling COW
cred with the same large flowered design
that is upon the walls is wonderfully at
tractive. Perhaps in a 10 ceilinged room it
might not do, but in one with lofty ceiling,
like those in the White House, il was GER
tainly happy Inspiration on the part of
Mrs Cleveland, who, In the face of open
eXpostulation on the part of the decorators,
held TO herp purpose and had tie eroompapered
according to her individual fancy
Many primitive customs yet linger about
the White House that Will in course of time
give way before the march of Improvement
Not the least ancient of these is the
lighting and putting out the big gas lamps
over The two gateways ON the Avenue
When those lamps over the gateways are
TO be lighted a man has to place a ladder
against The inner side of the great square
pillars which the lamps then sUrmount and
scramble up the ladder as best he may
The lamps burn all night. Then at dawn
the man has again To go through this identi-
cal performance in order to turn out the
lamps.
The tan lamps in front of the White
House poriico, those old fashioned capa-
cious lamps that jut out from tie big, white
pillars, are lighted and put out in the
same manner The man in charge has 10
climb up a ladder 10 light them and again
at dawn he once more mounts Tat same
trusty ladder 10 put them out. For thirty
years the man in charge was never changed.
Last year he suddenly died at quite an
advanced age, and his place was at once
filled. The old man who had charge Of
the " Waite House lamps for all those
long thirty years and more, was proud to