Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03
A NATIONAL. HOTEL.
The Hosiery Of Which Mrs. Grover
ClsVsland Is Landlady.
FIRST mrsrnsss OF WHITE HOUSE.
The President and Hts wife To-Day
Keep House In Very Much More
Splendid Style Than Did Mrs. Abigail
Adams.
Correspondence Of the pispatch)

WASHINGTON. February 2-when the
young Irish architect, James Hoban. de-
signed, In 1872. "a mansion" for the PresI-
dent Of the United States. after the
dublin palace" built by the Duke of
Leinsier, the housekeeping for presidents
was quite simple.
The fair and stately mistresses, beginning
with Mrs. Abigail Adams. ordered din
ncrs and suppers with all the dignity OF
their position. served by maid and men
servants, according 70 need but with
her house In a wilderness, the weekly
washing dried In the East-room. there
was little Formally in household manage
ment .
DOLLY MADIS0N'S REIGN.
The gifts. graces. and successes of
.'boautiful Dolly Madison" while In the
White House have gone down into history.
Her cook. maids. and "Ole Black joe"
who provided for his "han-sum mistress
all the southern dellcacies. were famed
FOR service. Fabulous sums were paid for
produce and market-day was the event
Of the week. -hen heavy coaches Jolted
from Alexandria 10 the capital, when
1.-The gentry" came TO meet the foreign
ships and add TO their stores precious
Jars. India fruits, and old England's
choicest treasures.
Lafayette. in 1928. pronounced the White
House IAN American home of eminent
social and intellectual elegance"
1.-THE lovely Emily Donaldson" hostess
OF the jackson reign, entertained royalty.
officially and socially. The four or five
following presidents dispensed generous
hospitality. Mr.. Buchanan's chef came
from Baltimore. and Miss Harriet Lane
revived the splendor and fashion of
Courtly service Their entertainments
were elegant and expenses enormous.
President Tyler lived simply, but his
sulcps in summer and eggnogs in winter
used n good share of his salary. Mr..
Pierce was popular, dining everybody.
Grandfather Harrison went 10 market
and needed no steward.
MRS. LINCOLN'S DOMESTIC PER-
PLEXITIES.
To no other President. TO no other mis-
trcss OF The Peoples House." could
home the peculiar perplexites and bur
Bens of housekeeping as TO our beloved
Abraham Lincoln. From attic to cellar,
through the grounds, the corridors. places
public and private. was the confusion of
war. Little Tad. with his democratic
at the area steps. and day and
night the tramp Of soldiers. officers. and
passengers everywhere. To Mrs. Lincoln
II was new. confused, and untried. TO
MIR. Lincoln months and years were
wholly self-forgetful. Indifferent to the
expenses and waste comfort or discom-
Tort Twenty thousand dollars was spent
Turing his first term. Silver, ornaments,
hnd valuable furniture were stolen; costly
hangngs cut 10 pieces.
Tho family pf Andrew Johnson with
reaseless pains and patience, renovated
the house. Their state dinners were cost
y and official duties exact
A MERRY REGIME.
with the Grants came merry children.
hosts Of jolly friends, and great social
freedom. Their steward. "Melah." was
beloved Of diplomats. princes, and officers
who dined at the White House.
one hundred and thirty-fve thousand
collars were used I'm Johnsons time: the /
sam" In Grants first term: the second. /
HOOD $1,000 was used on the new |
greenhouses
Great improvements We're made during /
Nrs. Hayes's reign. The jewelled screen /
a the vestlbule cost $3.50 Congress gave |
hr. Cleveland $4,000; Mr. Harrison, $685. |
~ president Arthur was the prince of |
inner-givers," His liquors were his /
hat President Hayes spent greater sums
m beautiful entertainment and decora-
IONS than any other President except Mr..
Arthur.
UNCLE SANS OBLIGATIONS.
The White House is often called a
big hotel" and the President is landlord
II Is housekeeping on a large scale-the
expenses divided between Uncle Sam and
bis servants. The Executive Mansion"
Is official and private home of the Presi-
dent and his family; and one can hardly
,redit the small. uninterestlng routine of
!aily work within It's walls, which is
.ranticaily sought after and rushed into
PRINT. Tho house has cost over 100000
ana SlZ5,Vo each year is for the Presl-
tents salary and expenses Silver. china.
glassware. linen for table and bedrooms.
,nd necessary furniture belong to Uncle
sam.
All personal service is paid for as by
my gentleman in his own house. Gov
.rnment laundrics the house linen and |
attends 10 the house cleaning: but at
he beginning Of a new administration
I'D servants are retained or dismissed |
Is the mistress sees fit
The steward is directly responsible for
III valuables lie gives bond of $4,000.
md receives a salary of 1850. He is APP
pointed by the President, and all United
states property put into his charge The
old silver service Of the Monroes. the
,old spoons and forks of the Van Burens
pieces OF the Lincoln china. parts Of the
decorative service made for Mrs HAYES
ire stu in use, and stands on the ma
loSany buffet In the private dining-room
Quaint urns, pitchers claret jugs. and /
elics Of value grace the buffet. The sill
Ter IS marked Presidents House." the
inen embroidered "U. S" The steward
elieves the mistress OF all care, has
harge OF the under servants, who attend
o the entire homework.
IRIS. HAYES THOUGHT IT MAGICAL.
The first time that we called upon Mrs
layes, informally. some one asked: "And
ow goes your new housekeeping, Mrs.
Iayes%'
Her handsome eyes twlnkled as she re-
He'd merrily: 81 like 1t. Everything in
his house moves as If by magic. Every
ody is so good, and does so much for
s." The state dinners are given at the
residents expense. He gives 10 the
toward sum Of money. the expendi-
are Of which Is supposed TO be In pro-
ortion 10 the official rank and grandeur
Z the invited guests.
The government furnishes TO Cabinet
lhcers horses, carriages, and coachmen,
az the Presidents are personal property
The flowers of the White House are its
ride and glory. There Is no room TO tell
the wonderful decorations, the roses
lolets. pansies, and orchids. each the
lvorite Of its beautiful mistress: nor OF
he pretty hooks and corners. arranged
ON one administration TO another by
ie Wife and mother for the comfort and
easure OF her little ones, her husband,
nd many guests
The old house is sacred for Its century
associations: and inside It's busy walls
cry like to happy American homes.
here the dignity OF the high position is
essed with love and content. Not ruled
y kings. nor queens. but by man
losen by "the people"
MARGARET SPENCER.