Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-07-25

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house, crowded to bursting, does not
accommodate the throngs which fire.
quent the public receptions to-day.
How to deal with these great crowds,
each year becoming larger, Is serious
question, and unless some remedy Is
found the presidents hospitable doors
will have to be closed to the admiring
public.
The annoyances the public suffer in
their efforts to pay their duty to the
president cannot be exaggerated. But
they are only occasional. The family
Of the president, and his secretaries
and clerks, on the contrary, are daily
Inconvenience on account Of the limit
ed space and other shortcomings Of the
old mansion, on which, to keep it in
any condition, the nation spends thou.
sands Of dollars yearly This matter Il
frequent subject Of conversation at
the capital, and is constantly exploited
in the newspapers Congress is collec-
lively and individually cognizant Of 1t,
and cannot plead ignorance Of the ex-
isting neel Of legislation in regard to
the presidents house. The Clevelanda
have solved the problem OF their own
comfort by their homes at Gray Gables
and Woodley. But 1t Is not always ex-
pedient or practical for president to
maintain several establishments, Tho
nation should either provide proper
home Tor him or none at all, and there
should be an end to the undigniAed
crowding and jamming at public func-
tions. Lack Of public spirit and that
great bugaboo in American politics.
'our constituents" are responsible for
much that is left undone. Few mem.
bers care to be the pioneers in any
move that through lack Of being
understood, is unpopular at home.
There are too many private bills,
too many axes to be ground, too many
fences to keep in repair. The millen-
mum will probably come before any
thing Is done to make the white house
more convenient and inhabitahle, In
the meantime plans are being discussed
with as much vigor as though it were
the intention Immediately to begin I'M
provements, The Oldest and most ap-
proved plan is to convert the present
building into Offices, which would be
none too large for the present official
needs, and to build a residence for the
president. The hill at the head Of Six
tenth street is the popular choice for
the site. Sixteenth street bids fair to
be the most beautiful boulevard in
town, and from the hill which rises at
the boundary 1t makes direct sweep
to Lafayette square, In front Of the
white house. This idea is not bad
one, but many people object, for senti-
mental reasons, to changing the presi-
dents home from where 1t was located
when the seat Of government moved
here. And this objection deserves SYM
pathy. The classic old house Is filed
with "reminiscences and is haunted by
the spirits OF brilliant statesmen and
gracious women. Noble and clever
Abigail Adams, beautiful Martha JET
ferson, bewitching and graceful Dollie
Madison, the stately wife Of Mr.. Mon
roe and their more or less attractive
SUCCESSORS have left influences behind
them which still live. 1t would be a
pity, surely, to convert the interior
where their graceful roles were played
into prosaic office.
Mrs. Harrison felt not only the In
convenience to herself during her resi-,
dence at the white house, but was i'm
pressed with the disgrace to the nation
Of so poor house for its chief execu-
tive The matter occupied much of
her time and thought, and the plan as
developed by her seems to possess many
points OF advantage over every other
that has been suggested. Mrs. Harris
sons idea was to build wings on either
side of the present structure OF equal
size and similar design, These wings
were to be at right angles with the old
house and parallel to each other, con-
nected on the south side BY conserva-
tory, the four walls inclosing n large
interior court. The chief and really
the only objection to this plan is that
1t might alter the present lines of the
white house, or by increasing its size
detract from Its beauty. These obiec-
lions seem to have been noted and over.
come by the architect who sketched
the plans under Mrs. Harrison's in.
structions. The wings, classic In de-
sign as the original building, are con-
nected with 1t by graceful colonnade
OF Ionic pillars, and enhance rather
than diminish Its architectural value
The interior arrangements are excel
lent, and the ground plan could hardly
be improved upon. The present build.
ing is retained as the presidents resi-
dsnce, The west wing is devoted to
official needs and the east wing Is
planned for a national gallery of art.
The detailshave been carefully thought
out and show woman's fine iudg.
ment. Various othar nlnns hava ham
suggested, but none as original and
as the one originated by
Mrs Harrison. m Y. Tribune.
Injured by Runaway HorseA
CARTHAGE, NO., July ia--G. L. St