The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-01

hOOSE IN iCVp.n+
When President and Mrs. Adams ar
rived here, in 1900, they found every
thing connected with the establishment
in deplorable condition, which she has
described so infinitely in a letter TO her
daughter, that it is given here to show
some of the difficulties that surrounded
them.
MRS. ADAMs's LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 81, 1860
"MY DEAR CHILD
arrived here on Sunday last, and with
ont meeting with any accident worth men,
| tioning, except losing ourselves when we
left Baltimore, and going eight or nine miles
on the Frederick road, by which means we
were Obliged to 60 the other eight through
woods, where We wandered two hours with
out finding guide, or path fortunately,
struggling black came up with u.s. and we
engaged him as guide 10 extricatc MS from
our difficulty. But woods are all you see
| from Baltimore until you reach the city
which is only so in name.
Here and there is a small cot without a
glass window, :nterspersed among the forests
! through which you travel miles without
are buildings enough if they were compact
and finished, to accommodate Congress and
those attached 10 it; but as they are, and
| scattered as they are, | see no great comfort
| in them. The river which Runs mp TO Alex
andria, is in full view from my window, and
| see the vessels as they pass and repass.
! The house is upon grand and superb scale,
requiring about 80 servants to attend and
keep the apartments in proper order, and
perform the ordinary business Of the home
and stables; an establishment very well pro-
portioned 10 the Presidential salary.
The lighting of the apartments, from the
kitchen to the parlors and chambers, is a
tax indeed: and the fires we are obliged to
keep 10 secure us from daily agues is
another very cheering com fort.
TO assist us in this great castle and rem
der less attendance necessary, bells are
wholly wanting; not one single one being
hung through the whole house, and promises
are all You can obtain. This is so great an
inconvenience that / do not know what to
do, or how to do.
The ladies in Georgetown, and in the
city, have many OF them, visited me. Yes
terday i returned Is visits; but such q
| place as Georgetown appears. why our Mil
! ton IS beautiful-but no comparisons II
! they will put me up some bells and let me
have wood enough to keep fires, design to
/ be pleased. / could content myself any
where for three months but surrounded by
| forests, would you believe that wood is not
1 to be had, because people cannot be found to
| cut and cart it? Breisler entered into a
contract with a man to supply him with
wood. A small part-a few cords only-has
| he been able 10 get. Most of that was ex-
/ pended TO dry the walls of the house before
we came in, and yesterday the man told him
! it was impossible 10 procure it cut and
carted for him. He has recourse TO Goals
but we cannot get CRATES made and set
We have, indeed, come into a new country
You must keep this all TO yourself, and
when asked how like it, say that write
you that
THE SITUATION is BEAUTIFUL,
| which is true.
The house is made habitable, but there
! is not single apartment finished and all
| inside, except the plastering, has heen done
/ since Breisier came. We have not the leas,
fence, yard, or other convenience without
and the great unfinished audience-room
make drying-room Of. TO hang up the
clothes in. The principal s:airs are not vel
up, and will not be this Winter. Six cham.
bers are made comfortable. Two are occu.
pied by the President and Mr., Shaw, two
| lower rooms, one for common parl0r one
for a leyee-room. Upstairs, there is the
oval room, which is designed for the draw
iDg-room, and has the crimson furniture in