Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1895-04-03
HOW Their HAVE LIVED.
THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE
PRESIDENTS.
From Mrs. Adams to Mrs. Cleveiand-s Some
Have Been Lavish and Some Have
Been Frugal-The Flowers of
the Executive Mansion.

When the young Irish architect. James
Hoban. designed, in 1872. "a mansion for
the president of the United states, after the
dublin palace" built by the Duke of
Leinster, the housekeeping for president
was quite simple.
The fair and stately mistre ses. beginning
with Mrs. Abigail Adams. ordered dinners
ana suppers with all the dignity of their
position. served by maid and man serv-
ants. according to need" but with her
house in n wilderness. the weekly washing
dried In the east room. there was little for
mality in household MANAGEMENT.
The gifts. graces and successes OF beau
tiful Dolly Madison" while in the White
cook, maids and cole Black Joe" who pro-
vded for his "han-sum mistress' all the
southern delIcacies, were famed for service.
Fabulous sums were paid for produce and
market day was the event of the week,
when heavy coaches jolted from Alexandria
to the capitol, when the gentry came to
stores of precious Jars. India fruits and old
England's choicest treasures
Lafayette, in ls2s, pronounced the White
House IAN American home OF eminent So
cla and intellectual elegance"
'rhe lovely Emily Donaldson" hostess OF
the Jackson reign, entertained royalty. off,
cially and socially. The four or five follow
ing presidents dispensed generous hospital
ty. MIR. Buchanans chef came from Bal
timore. and Miss Harriet Lane revived the
splendor and fashion of courtly service.
Their entertainments were elegant and eN-
penses enormous. President Tyler lived
simply. but his juleps in summer and egg
airy. Mr. Pierce was popular. dining every
body. Grandfather Harrison went to
market and needed no steward
tress of "The Peoples House" could come
the peculiar perplexities and burdens of
housekeeping as to our beloved Abraham
Lincoln. From attic to cellar, through the
grounds, the corridors. places public or
private. was the confusion of war. Little
Tad, with his democratic visitors at the
area steps; and day and night the tramp
of soldiers, officers and messengers every
where. To Mrs. Lincoln 1t was new, con-
fused and untried. To Mr.. Lincoln months
different to the expenses and waste. COM
fort or discomfort Twenty thousand dol
lars was spent during his. first term. Sill
YER. ornaments and valuable furniture We're
stolen; costly hangings cut to pieces.
The family of Andrew Johnson, with
ceaseiess pains and patience, renovated the
is and official duties exact.
with the Grants came merry children
hosts of jolly friends and great social free,
dom, Their steward "Melah was beloved
of diplomats princes and officers who dined
one hundred ard .hlrty-hye thousand
same in Grants first term: the second,
$4,000; $4,000 was used in the new gre@n-
Great improvements were made during
Mrs Hayes reisg phS jeWs,ea screen aay IN
900 President Arthur was the prince
of dinner givcrs." His liquors, We're ms
greatest expense. The steward tells me
that President Hayes spent greater sums
on beautiful entertainments and decora-
tions than any other president except ME-
. The White House is often called big
hotel and the president us lanhiorq,
peuses divided between Uncle Sam and his
servants! The executive mansion Is the
official and private home of 1he bnrdy sred
the small, unntercsting routine of daily
work within its walls, when is ,at iranticaihIS
house has cost over 100000, and sl25,-
900 each year is for the presidents salary
linen for table and bedrooms and neces-
sary furniture belong to Uncle sam. ,
All personal sfrNiSG Is n pa'fb bonsr iSr az GOV. ny
rrnment Iaundries the house linen and at
tends to the housecleaning. bnt al me ne, ne-
ginning of new administration old serH-
ants are retained or dismissed, as the
mistress sees III. .,,
The e Is rVrs rs' bond GfsPasi9S OF
receives a salary OF 81 1900 He is appointed
10y the president and all United States
silver service OF the Monroes, the gold
spoons and forks Of the Van Burens, pieces
2f g thS a"ryc made ef%" or rs Hayes are s
in use. and stand on the mahogany buffet
in, the private dining room; a2a Saaint aii,. m,ihn.
grace the buffet, The silver is marked
cred ~, 81 The steward relieves the mis-, NJ:
tress OF all care, and has charge or the
under-seryants who attend to the entire
housework.
The first time that we called upon Mrs;
Hayes. informally, some one asked: And
how goes your new housekeeping, Mrs.
Her handsome eyes twinkled as she re-
piled, merrly: II like IT, Everything In
his house moves as II by magic. Every
body Is SO good and does so much for us.
The state dinners are given al the presi-
dents expense. lie gives TO the steward
a sum of money, the expenditure OF, which
Is supposed TO be in proportion to the OH,
clal rank and grandeur OF the invited
guests.
The flowers of the White House are its
pride and glory There is no room to tell
Of the wonderful decorations, the roses,
Vioets pansies ana orchids, each the ia
vorite OF its beautiful mistress; nor OF
the pretty hooks and corners, arranged
from one administration to another by the
wife and mother for the comfort and
pleasure of her little ones. her husband
and many guests.
The old house is sacred for its century
of associations: and inside It's busy walls
the dignity OF the high position is blessed
with love and content. Not ruled by kings
nor queens, but by man chosen by the
people,"