Evening star., 1896-11-28

the house. and the
| health and comfort of It's occupants, until
| now 1t may be said SO far as an old house
| can be improved. to be in the pink Of con-
| dftion. The wear and tear of the next
| three months will, Of course. be consider
able. and may change the shining appear
| ance Of its every nook and corner. but
| noticeable as this may be, 1t will not be a
! circumstance to what the mansion will
suffer during the first three months of the
| new administration.
! New things soon grow worn and old-look-
| ing during these early and trying days of
| each presidential term, when visitors come
| by hundreds, either on business or curios-
ity bent. and the White House is the Mecca
to which all eyes and many feet are turned
| That domestic virtue, housekeeping, with
| Its attendant traits is by no means a
necessary part of the equipment of a White
| House mistress. The house which has
sheltered all the Presidents save one is
mere OF public building than home in
| the str1cteSt sense of the term. The taste
| OF It's presiding lady may be manifest in
the redecoratton of room. the selection of
| piece OF furniture, the tint of q carpet
or drapery or something else in that line,
put the pest results. In the opinion of some
| are secured when these selections are left
| 70 the judgment of a professional dec
orator. who will best know how 10 preserve
naFmOnleS. Some
.iines congressional appropriations are
more easily secured than at others and II
was IN these liberal periods during the
iialrison n administration when SO much of
gel uiue restoration and thorough leaning
| up was carried on with such success IN
seeht t years. perhaps the late Mrs Har-
rison was the best exemDlification of :.
.a .iis.ress or the White House. being at the
% %ssme tme thorough housekeeper The
kitchens and basement generate nv.
pIaced IN thorough order At another time
.he ieoecoration of the halls and the blue
a.u CIV. Green pariors was carried on one en-
siie summer. and the results in an artistic
sense We're eHdnently satisfactory. and in
.nese Two parlors especially continue tn ey-
cae general admiration. The designs were
r the .r.e en.iteiy py Mrs. Harrison. who took
.nle sreate't pleasure in watching the nro
sress OF the work and In its success.
Taste of the Present sIf,tre...
During the present administration moth
ing OF importance so far as any chan ,.os
cehcernea was necessary in the state anart-
Hents excepting the red room, which
III us present appearance reflects the taste
oi us charming mistress. 1t is the parlor
most used by the President and his wife In
receiving social calls. The abartments I'M
Stars st used by the family haYe been each
.loroueniS changed In their scheme of Or
namentation during the last four wears and
WIN IN all probability come in for iust as
many more changes during the next admin
istration. The necessity for making the
ce,;soS 1i NJ, tne limited sleeping room space
caused MRS. Harrison to explore the attic
ana 10 utilize part for closet and tr,,nk
rooms. President Cleveiand's family circle
IS or smaller dimensions and Mrs. CIeve-
ingenuity has not been taxed to find
Go"iortao!e corners for each one as Mrs
harrison was often obliged to do
Beyond setting some such probleuH &c
tnese the mistresses Of the White House
90 not take an active part in its household
f1H
come there an invalid need not, therefore
initiate against her in her mana cement of
It's domestic machinery. She will have far
less to do each day. so far as housekeepfn.r
Is concerned. than she does in her more
modest establishment in Canton There is
usually housekeeper to whom the fem
mime part of the household help pays def
erence. She comes between the servants
and the mistress and relieves the latter of
the care OF managing the former
The steward, who is at the head of the
kitchen cabinet and the grand factotum of
the entire establishment is bonded indi-
vidual, who is responsible for the house
hold equipment of furniture china and
plate from the time he receives the charge
until he turns 1t over to his successor,
which may be the same hour in which the
new President takes possession. The stew
ard is not the purchasing agent however
for anything except what is used on the
Presidents table or by his servants
In Charge Of Col. Wilson.
Col. Wilson. the superintendent of public
buildings and grounds, has the charge of
the White House-its repairs and refur-
Hishing, the purchasing Of new supplies.
the linen. china, glass and silver, and all
the hundred and one things which con-
tribute to the dignity of a presidential
home and its public and private uses, All
the servants in the White House are paid
by the government, excepting the few who
wait on the family personally.
Few OF the Whte House mistresses ever
venture below stairs to the kitchens or
laundry. They relegate any duty they may
find in this regard to the steward or house.
keeper The steward has pleasant room
In the basement which is his office and
parlor during his leisure hours. and those
who have business with him seek him
there. It is said that Mrs Cleveland. like
many other mistresses of large houses, |
never knows in advance what will be serv. i
ed upon her table. She leaves these de-
tails to those in charge of them and gives
any leisure she may have to her children.
to give as much time to social matters as
her predecessorA, but at all events she
need not carry out any traditions Of the
mansion mansion IN giying personal attention to its
domestic machinery. She has hardly ever
physical conditia9 greatly inn imnrnnes ess - nes
scarcely possible sfor her to hope to do
f,1t, ttnore .nan pe ,ooker-on at such state
~
Custom .Ua Handshaktur.
There is no dofRt. however, but that she
will make the effort to take part whenever
1t Is practical. and will do all her bot1flv
strength will permit during the early dave
Of the administration, when the public
mind will be So powerfully attracted to-
ward her and her. every movement. That
she will have any relative either of her
own or of the President-elect to represent
her when she cannot appear Is highly i'm
probable. The fatigue of handshakiny was
something unendnrable to Mrs. Harrison,
and she wisely determined from the yery
start not to commence it. The sad closing
Of her life proved only too well that she
old not under estimate her store of strength.
Mrs. Mckinley, IL she takes the advice of
those whose experience gives them the
right to dictate, viii receive callers seated
and will also refrain from shaking hands.
Happiness and success are not only great
beautiflers, but they are also great cure
alls, and please Mt anticipattons OF the com
Ing four years may do wonders for Mrs.
Mckinley.
Entertaining in the White House is ideal
In many respects, as the extras required In
the way Of service. the flowers and the
musicians, are all easily available and fe-
qufre no concern beyond the order. The
anen closets will supply an the uaperv re-
oufFef1. OF exquisite uHfforrnafv. tho chSne j