Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-06-13

pondent of the st. |
Louis Post-Dispatch, but ne would
probably be surprised to learn that a
lady who was formerly mistress OF the
White House was living in 1t. II his
attention was called to low, sloping-
rooted, two-story brick house, the front
door Of which opens directly out upon
the pavement Of the street, he would
consider it neat, old-fashioned south
ern residence, but he would doubtless
be astonished to learn that it was
formerly the family residence Of Presi-
dent Andrew Johnson, and that its
present occupant is Mrs Martha john
son Patterson, President Johnsons
only surviving daughter.
Mrs. Patterson is pleasant-faced,
mild-mannered little lady, very slight
in figure and somewhat stopped, but
with great deal Of gentle dignity in
her bearing. Her parlor was formerly
her fathers private apartment, but the
bed and other furniture that he used
are now in her own room. Numerous
oil paintings Of her father, done by the
best artists Of the time, hang on the
walls of various rooms, while room
upstairs is specially set apart for his
library. Mrs Patterson was the eldest
child of Andrew Johnson and Eliza Nc
Cordle Johnson and was born Oct. 20,
1928, in Greenville. Her father was
at that time not quite 20 years old, and
was still working at his trade as tall
or. She was married in 1857 to David
Patterson, then a prominent young
lawyer of Greenville, afterward United
States senator from Tennessee. Her
mother was always an invalid, so that
after her fathers accession to the presi-
dency, Mrs. Patterson herself entered
upon the discharge Of her duties as
first lady Of the land. 1t is a matter of
history that, while in that position,
she took closer and more immediate
financial control Of the White
House expenditures than any
of her predecessors had done.
Naturally enough, with the war
just closing and the awful tragedy of
a presidential assassination just enact
ed, she found the White House in such
a state of confusion and disorder as 1t
had never seen before and has never
seen since.
When she left she gave to her sue
cessor an itemized account Of every
article belonging there, even down to
the number and kind of the very nap
kins for the tables.
81 thought" Mrs. Patterson remarked
to me, in the pleasantest and most
courteous of tones, that as our country
was impoverished and in debt at the
time, 1t was my duty to make the
White House expenditures as light as
possibly could. Many of my friends
and many public officials advised me
to have the whole house refurnished
from beginning to end, but I would not
consent to it. In company with kind
government official l went through
every room in the house, had every
CARPET taken up and examined, and in
spected every article of furniture to
see if my country might not be saved
| few dollars Of unnecessary expense.
When my first official dinner was given
1 inquired as to what it would cost to
entertain thirty-six guests, and was told
that it could not possibly be done for
less than $500. After it was over,
examined all the bills and found that
the dinner could be given just as sump-
tuously for only $3.50, and afterward it
cost the government just that sum. did
this not from any hope of reward for
myself but simply that my country's
money might be saved"
"What I pride myself in" she con-
tinued, sis that while was in the
White House any man, woman or child,
rich or poor, black or white who was
in Washington and sent me his card at
any hour after o'clock in the morning
on any day of the week, was allowed to
see through the whole house. Since
then have applied for admission and
been informed that only the east room
was open for inspection except on GER
tain special days"
Mrs. Patterson's. only daughter,
Martha, married a Mr.. Landstreet of
Maryland. She was a beautiful and
exceedingly lovable woman, but died
in California recently Of consumption,
at the age of go. A little daughter of
hers, Martha Landstreet, is now years
old. and is the light of Mrs. Patter-
sons home. She attends the kindergar-
ten at Greenville, and is very sweet
and winsome little girl. Mrs. Patter-
son had two sons, the older Of whom is
now dead. The younger, Andrew john
son Patterson, has recently been ap-
,ointed to a consulship in South Amer
lea.