Evening star., 1897-03-29
WHITE HOUSE SILVER.
Has Some of Dolly Nadixon's Table
Ware Been Melted.

About two years ago some of the old
fashioned silver ware belonging to the
table service of the White House was
melted and made up into forks and spoons
of modern size and design This action
was taken by Gen. Wilson then in charge
of public buildings and grounds hv direc-
tion of Mrs Cleveland. and was due 10
the fact that the original pieces were too
large and unwieldy for use
1t Is now said that some of the silver
pieces thus modernized belonged to the
celebrated lot always associated with the
name and fame of Dolly Madison, but it
is extremely difficult to obtain any infor-
nation this point
Cen Wilson says he doesn't know any
thing about the identity of the pieces. He
received them from the steward ,f tho
W Elte House and saw them melted into a
Trick in the crucIbe al the Treasury De-
lartment. They Were not marked in any
way, and he doesn't know whether they
we're ever part of the Dolly Madison col
lection or not. He did know however. tnat
they were too large for any practical use
d meal.
He also knew that when the silver was
melted into ingots it was turned over to
local firm of jewelers. for manufacture into
forks OF different sizes for use on the Pres
!ccnts table. The old silver is there just
the same. and is changed only in form
The same Metal.
twas specially enjoined on the silver
snilths that absolutely no other silver than
thai btained from the irgots be used in the
manufactured articles. and satisfactory evi-
dence on this point has been given The
new forks are simple. but beautiful in de-
sign. following what is known as the
chrysanthemum pattern. 1t is said that
the local dealers had them made by the
irrl of WIN X IHrriu G. of
Mass.
Mr.. Sinclair, steward OF the White House.
who was there throughout the last admin
istration, treats the matter as a foke He
said that the Dolly Madison spoons are still,
In the White House. and Will be shown to
any one who has right TO see them.
The only pieces melted down were forks
he said. but he evaded the question as to
whether there were any forks in the Madi-
son set He contented himself by replying
with the question: How could they have
used the Madison spoons, when here Were
no spoons in the lot?''
Gen. HarrisOn's View
In a recent article in regard to oilicial
receptions at the White House, ex-Presi-
dent Harrison male the following refer
eT &C 10 the Dolly Madison silver:
l. seems that when the Executive Man
sion was occupied by Mr.. Monroe after
its destruction. the United States pur-
ntture. and with it Ia small service of
plate" In 1s:s3 the most important Dur
chase or silver plate was made for the E.x-
ecutiye Mansion. and at second hand The
pieces constituted the outfit of Russian
nobieman-M- le General Baron de Tuy!I.
who had been the minister resident of Rus
sta at the court Of Portugal The total
cost wss S4.31S So The silver service con-
sisted of three hundred and thirty-eight
pieces. and there was a gold-plated des-
sert set of spoons. knives. forks eaf con-
s;sting Of one hundred and forty pieces
These gold spoons were pernicfously
active In the campaign Of 1sD. Much OF
this old silver is still ia use-aad a pisc,
or two has been added row and then nut
the White House plate is now n,eage,
compared with that To be found in tn,
nome OF many private citizen. who, wher
Mr. Ogle made his criticism, was playing
In his bare feet about the cabin door of {
pioneer The silver service recently pre-
sented by tne citizens of Indiana to tn,
battle ship of that name cost sT1s, 10
much more than the service used in IN,
W hite House.
Ought to BE More.
This Is not plea fer more: there is per
laps. enough; and the table in tire stat.
dining room. " hen tastefuliy set ard dress
ed, suggests neither meanness no. extrayI
sance- These state dinners cannot h,
wholly Invested of the repression and stiff
p1ss which are the acconIpaniments of al
sSdje affairs.
There Is no opportunity for general con
Eersation-and the chef and your neighbo
at table have your fate in their hands
But there are many other dinners an
luncheons TO which the elect and the con
gruous come. and twenty such seate
about the round table in the priye.e dinjn
room. make a goodly and a neartsomo com
pany These are the dinners that endur
the supreme test-you think well Of you
host and of the company WHEN you wax
up"