The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-07
WHITE HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS.
Plans TO Get Rid of the Crowd ut
Presidential Receptions.

fians TO Get hid OF the crowd at
Presidential Receptions.
Washington. July 6.-Workmen are now
engaged in cutting an additional doorway
IN the blue parlor at the Presidents house
The necessity for the extra door is ap-
parent TO all who have attended the so
| cial functions at the executive mansion,
during the winter. While il may be true
that the cutting OF another doorway in
this room, made famous by the fact that
it is there the President officially receives
the sovereign people on New Years day
and at stated periods throughout each adj
! ministration, may sacrifice the beauty and
/ graceful proportions OF the apartment, the
| alteration is made in the interest of the
! comfort and convenience of those who
assist the President and his wife at the
/ public festivities
| Since the white house was constructed
| the blue parlor has been regarded as the
most exquisitely proportioned room in the
| mansion. Greater sums OF money have
| been expended upon its decorations and
| furnishing than any other of the state
/ apartments, and 1t is surrounded with an
| atmosphere of romance. for in IL the
| President and Mrs. Cleveland were mar
| ried. Foreign representatives and other
dignitaries are there presented officially
with embossed light blue satin and the
ceiling is delicately frescoed TO harmonic
with the walls. The furnishings are light
blue and gilt, and altogether il is the rich
est and most symmetrcally proportional
room in the house. Heretofore there have
been four doorways leading to and from
the room. One communicates with the
red parlor, through which the guests pass
before being presented to the Presi-
dent. Opposite is another doorway lead
ing into the green parlor. Then there is
center door through which the presi-
Dental party enters on state occasions.
At the south end of the room is an exit
thrOughtthe window out upon the portico
leading to the South grounds. 1t was
through that window that the late Sem
ator Nances step-son, Harry Martin,
tried to gain an entrace to the mansion
one night during the Harrison admins
tration. Up to the present time IL was
supposed that the original designers Of
the mansion had made ample provision
for the ingress and egress to the blue
parlor.
The necessity for the new doorway,
which is to communicate with the red
parlor. is said TO be for the convenience
of those who are specially invited to
assist the President and his wife at the
public receptions. When the average
crowd is assembled at either the diplo-
matte or army and navy reception, the
members Of the receiving party, who
happen to come late, or those who desire
. to withdraw early, have terrible time
reaching the blue parlor or making their
exit from the same. 1t is said that on
several occasions last winter, persons of
marked social prominence were late in
reaching. the white house on reception
nights. and II was impossible for them to
make their way through the dense crowd
a the various doorways leading to the
por ic
the exclusive use of members of the re-
ceiving party on state occasions.
Col. Wilson of the army who is in charge
of the white house improvements will
also endeavor TO provide for the comfort
of the general guests who attend the So
cial festivities at the mansion. For many
years there has been terrible crush at
the doorway leading to the red parlor, on
reception nights. Last winter several la
dies had their handsome and expensive
gowns torn and their flesh bruised in the
triangular push that invariably occurs at
that point. An effort will be made next
winter 10 regulate the crowd differently
so as to prevent the blockade at the red
parlor. Various suggestions in that con.
neetion have been considered but Col.
Wilson still has the subject under advise
ment. The presidential receptions have
grown to such immense proportions OF
late years that it is difficult to dispose of
the crowd without provoking criticism,
more or less unjust to those in charge of
the arrangements.
There are always present certain per-
sons who imagine that they are entitled
TO greater privileges than their neighbor
and they not only demand that discrimin-
alton shall be made in their favor, but they
frequently push themselves into reserved
places without waiting for the proper in
vitation. Positive rudeness is not an I'M
known quantity at a social gathering in
Washington and at the white house en-
tertainments the ''pusher' is always in
evidence. An effort will be made to sub
due that class of visitors next winter.