Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-01-09

school he got salary OF s25 month
and boarded round. Andy johnson's
empty stomach tapped against his back
bone many time before he filled it with
the rich things OF the White House
Kitchens and Ben Harrison lived in mar
row quarters at Washington boarding
houses, even when he was United
States Senator. None of the presidents
| venture had softer beds at home than
they got in the White House. Those
used now are OF the finest hair resting
on springs which give at every turn OF
the body. The old bedsteads oil mahog.
any which have been told were dam
gerousy alive at times with unmention.
able insects have long since been dis
placed by bedsteads OF brass, and the
White House today is as clean as pin
and as comfortable as any home OF the
country. Mrs Harrison was splendid
housekeeper and SO is Mrs. Cleveland.
Mrs. Cleveland, | am told, watches
everything about the Executive mansion
herself and sees that things are kept up
to date and in good order. The house,
you know, is cleaned every spring. 1t
takes about 200 people to do the clean
ing, and SO you need not worry about
any lady OF the White House being
overworked il she has enough executive
ability to know what she wants and tell
others how to do it.
THE WHITE HOUSE IN 1897.
But let me tell you Just how the White
House looks in this year OF our Lord
1897. 1t is bigger than it seems, Tor it
covers the third oil an acre. You do not
see the basement as you look at it from
the street, and the basement is almost a
house in itself. Its rooms are high, and,
with its recent improvements, 1t is now
as dry as bone. The White House is,
you know, some distance back from the
street. A big park surrounds it, and 60
ing up to the front door you walk about
drive which leads in the shape OF a
halt moon to Pennsylvania avenue. On
one side OF this drive there is flag
pavement, and in coming into the side
of the yard nearest the treasury you
walk halt the length OF the building be-
fore you reach the front porch. AS you
do this you can look right down into
the basement and see the servants at
work. The room below you is devoted
to the laundry, and you may see colored
women here almost any day OF the week
rubbing away at our presidents shirts
or ironing the pretty white dresses which
the White House children wear. Pass.
ing these you reach the large porteco.
chere. The columns which uphold this
are rs big as the biggest oak tree. and
the stone platform within them is so
large that regiment OF soldiers could
be stationed upon it and have room to
spare. You reach this platform by
stone steps and stand at last before the
front door OF the White House.
THE FRONT DOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Stop moment before you go in. Do
you realize where you standl You are
at point where the great miracle in
the history Of nations Is enacted every
four years. Within few weeks through
that door will pass out forever the king
OF what is one oil the greatest peoples OF
the world and at the same time new
king will step in.
Without jar, without the s,oppage OF
single wheel, in the twinklin. of an
eye the government OF seventy millions
OF people will be changed, and our ma
tional machinery will go on as smoothly
and as irresistibly as it has since its
beginning. Think again where you are.
You are at the goal OF the Americans
ambition. AT the door of the White
House, the point where thousands are
ever striving 10 enter as masters but
where few succeed. Look back over
the procession which has already passed
in, and in your minds eye ,picture the
disappointed faces of some who have
gone out. Note that little tat man in
gorgeous coat, knee breeches and
CATERS. How his bald head shines and
how he swells and puffs as he walks
through the door. That is John Adams,
the first president who ever lived in the
White House. His great ability was so
leavened with vanity that he thought
himself superior to George Washington.
Look again. 1t is four years later and
Adams is about to depart. How his
face ffowns. He leaves the White
House with regret. and now at midnight
on the 3rd oil March his coach is at the
door, Tor he cannot bear to see his cue
cessor inaugurated. Now it is morning.
A new President stands upon the stone
steps under the great porte-cochere.
This imam is big and raw.boned. He
with ireckles. See how democratic he
is and how his blue eyes smile on all
those about him. That is Thomas lei
ferson. He feels proud and rich as he
enters the Executive Mansion. 1t is
eight years later, and he also is about to
depart. He has been denounced and
illuminated during his reign, and the
iron OF bitterness is in his soul as it was
in that OF John Adams. He has during
his term spent more than his salary.
His VINE bills alone have cost him more
than ST., 900 aud now at the close he
finds himself going back to his Virginia
home almost bankrupt. He sees that
he is destined to be pinched for the rest
OF his life, but he does not yet realize
that he will have to sell his magnificent
library 10 Congress for song, or that
his estate will eventually be disposed of
by lottery that enough may be gotten to
support his children.
MORE WHITE HOUSE GHOSTS.
The next party that comes is a little
old fellow with a jolly young wife, who
makes the White House ring with the
fun which goes on about her. 1t is
pretty Dolly Madison in her high turban
cap and her sober. old husband, who is
tied TO her apron strings. Then comes
Monroe and John Quincy Adams, and
behind them see the handsome and
stately Andrew Jackson, with his