The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-01-18

mansion herself. and sees that things
kept UP to date and in good order The
house. you know. is cleaned every spring.
1t takes about 200 people to do the cleaning,
and you need not worry about any lady
of the white house being overworked II
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. for 1T covers
the third of an acre. You do not see the
basement as you look at 1t from the street.
and the basement is almost a house in
itself. It's rooms are high, and with its
recent improvements. it Is now as dry as
bone. The white house is. you know,
some distance back from the street. A big
park surrounds it. and going up to the
front door you walk about drive which
leads In the shape of half moon to Penn
sylVania avenue on one side Of this
| drive there is flag pavement and in com
ing into the side of the yard nearest the
treasury you walk half the length of the
building before you reach the front porcn.
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
white house children wear. Passing these
YOU reach the large Dorte cochere The
columns which uphold this are rs big as
the biggest oak tree. and the stone plat
form within them IS so large that a regl-
ment of soldiers could be stationed upon It
and have room to spare. You reach TINS
platform by stone steps and stand at last
| before the front door Of the white house.
Front Door of the White House.
"A hot pn
realize where YOU stand2 You are at
point whore the great miracle in the his
tory Of nations IS enacted every four years.
Within q few weeks through that door
, Will pass out forever the king of what Is
one of the greatest peoples of the world.
and at the same time new king VIII
step I'm.
Without Jar without the stoppage Of
single wheel. IN the twukling OF an eye
the government Of seventy millions Of peo-
pie VIII he changed. and our national ma
Chnery will 80 On MS smoothly and as ir-
rcsistbly as it has since its beginning.
/ Think again where you are. You are at
, the goal or the Americans ambition. At
the door of the white house, the point
where thousands are ever striving to enter
as masters. but where few succeed. Look
back over the procession which has al
ready passed in. and in your minds eye
picture the disappointed faces Of some who
have gone out. Note that little fat man in
gorgeous coat, knee brooches and CATERS.
How his bald head shines and how he
swclls ana puffs as ne walks through the
door. That IS John Adams, the first presi-
dent who ever lived in the white house.
His great ability was leavened with
vanity that he thought himself superior to
George Washington. Look again II IS
four years later and Adams is about to
depart How his face frowns. He leaves
the white house with regret, and now at
al J .stsh IL
az the door, for he cannot bear to see his
successor inausurated. Now 1t Is morning.
4 new president stands upon the stone
steps under the great porte-cochcre. This
man is big and raw boned. lie has red
head and his face is covered with freckles.
See how democratic he Is and how his blue
eyes smile on all those about him. That
is Thomas jefferson. lie reels proud and
rich as he enters the executive mansion
il is eight years later. and he also Is about
to depart. lie has been denounced ana
illuminated during his reign, and the iron
OF bitterness is in his soul as IT was IN
that of John Adams. He has during ms
term spent moro than his salary. His
Wine bills alone he-e cost him more than
S1I coo ana now at the close he finds him
SELF going back to his Virginia home almost
a bankrupt. lie sees That ne Is destined
to bee pnched for the rest Of his LIE. but
lie does not vet realize that he will have
ia son his magnificent library TO congress
for "a song or that his estate viii eventually
be disposed Of by lottery that enough may
toe got to support lis children.
IIore White House Ghosts.
The next party that comes is a little old
fellow with "a tolly young wife. who makes
the white house ring with the fun which
goes on about her. 1t is pretty Dolly Mad
ison in her high turban cap and her sober
old husband. who IS tied 10 her apron