The morning times., 1897-03-03
A HUNDRED YEARS
OF THE WHITE HOUSE


ElIlIIIlu luIlIIDulllnANIlDI
President ana Mrs John Adams, writes
Joanna r.. Nichols, in Leslie's Magazine,
Travelled in a carriage all the way nom Bal
timore 10 Washington, over rough coun-
try roads, and lost their way in the woods.
PENNSYLVANIA avenue was a morass, brist-
ling with alder bushes, where the old Tiber
overflowed its banks periodically and in
undated that portion of the city. The few
Struggling private houses looked incon-
gruoas beside the new public buildings, and
the Presidents mansion was surroundedby
a forest OF trees. A confidential letter
from Mrs Adams to her daughter (the first
letter probably ever written in the White
Housel gives a graphic description of her
sensations upon entering the wilderness
city," and the bleak appearance Of the
empty castle TO which they were ush-
cred II was cold and damp, and the prin-
cipal stairs had not been put up. There
were twenty rooms, each twenty-five feet
high: but only six of these were habitable
There were no looking glasses except
sdwarfs," and the East Room, which
measured SOx40 feet, was Used to hang the
family wash to dry. Mrs. Adams sums up
the list of her grievances by saying, IF
they will put up some bells and let me have
wood enough to keep up fires, l design TO
be pleased" Although not able Ito see
wood for trees fuel was scarce, and had
risen in price from 81 TO 50 a cord
The first New Year reception was held
in the White House on January !, 1901,
ana the customary etiquette was observed
IN spite of the shiyering conditions. Itwas
the fashion in the e arly days of the republic
for the company to be seated and the Pres
ident and MS lady TO pass around the circle
with words Of courtesy and welcome Nj.
Adams family consisted Of his wife and
little orphaned granddaughter, Susanna,
who prcserved as a treasure OF memory
that she was the first child to play in the
Executive Mansion. although only three
wears old at the time The habits of this
thrifty Massachusetts President were sim
nile and abstemious. They went to church
every Sunday in spite of rain or snow.
Their refreshment for lunch was regularly
lemonade and cat cakes; and when Mr..
Adams died he left his children fortune
of 500. 600. Mrs. Adams longed for her
New England home, and at the end Of
four months relinquished without high
the chilly honor of being the lady OF the
new, barn-like mansion.
Thomas jefferson, born OF the CID II
einia arist ocracy, was more convivial in
his tastes and habits, and was constantly
getting into debt He paid his own secre-
tary, however, out Of his salary, and bought
his own library. His Southern birth ac-
counts for his preferring negro servants,
and surrounding himself with them in tie
II a IriTHIvRT his llnpN-
ter. Mrs. Martha Randolph, presided over
his / ousehold. Her twelve children romped
all over the White House, for Mr.. jefferson
was an ideal grandfather, and INDUCED
the little ones to an eXtravagant eX-
tent. James Madison Randolph was the
firstbaby hornint the White House. Probably
it was for the amusement of the children
that the President kept menagerie in the
Enclosure back Of the house, consisting of
bears, deer, turkeys and sheep. This odd
whim resulted in a sad accident, for one
day spiteful old ram of the flock attacked
and killed the little son Of Mr. keer, first
cashier Of the old United States Bank.
In the absence Of Mr.. Jefferson's daugh-
ters. Mrs Madison had often presided at
the White House receptions. Despite the
prim, hfgh-backed chairs in the nation 5
parlors, she allowed no stiffness TO mar
the cordiality OF her entertainments, and
she prided herself upon keeping bOuntiful
table In the war of 1912 Mrs. Madison
distinguished herself for exceptional bra
very By remaining at the Executive Man
sion in anticipation OF the Presidents re
turn, and when warned that the British
were approaching, fingered to save mag
nificent painting of George Washington
which hung upon the wall of the state
dinin q room, and was one OF the few
ornaments OF the mansion. Panic had
Teigned throughout the city for a week,
but only one-fifth of its inhabitants re-
manned to witness the culminatiOn-the Cap
itol. the White House and other public
buildings in flames and terrible eXplo-
sion at the Navy Yard. AS if heaven itself
wcpt over the prevalent devastation Of
ourbeautifulcity deluge of rain descended
upon the flames. This rain storm was fol
lowed bv q tremendous hurricane, unparal-
leled in violence. Roofs flew, and the
darkness was rendered more appalling by
the roar Of thunder and the crash OF falling
houses. Cannon on an eminence were
actually lifted and carried several feet
90 the rear: and thirty soldiers were buried
beneath the ruins of some of the few build
ings which they had spared The British
in CONSERVATION evacuated the town after
twenty-nine hours Of memorable occupa-
ton.
The furniture and decorations Of the
White House parlors as restored remained
the same from the time of Monroc's adj
ministration until 1856 The oval room
blue RoomD Glowed with crimson silk
on chairs and sofas; the carpet was inter-
Woven with the arms Of the United States;
the stars Of the Republic were sprinkled
abundantly over the wall paper of the vari-
Gus parlors, and a cOrnice of these stars
hordered the lemon-colored hue of the
East Room, while the American Eagle, in
gilt, held in place the yellow draperics of