The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-06
TIE WHITE HOUSE GUESTS.
History Of The Room Which Mark Hanna
is said to Occupy.
DOES not CLIMB STEPS TO BED.
Twin Bedstcads Invite the Occupants To
Choice aud "sieopy Hoilows" Lul
Him TO Sleep Distinguished
People who Have Slept There.


cupy the spa-s chamber I'm the White
House during the heated term after his
family had left town. why in the
world should -" ne shouted at a reporter
who asked him about the truth OF the
report. but why in the world shouldn't
your" is what the reporter shouted back.
For many years the Presidents Of the
United States have made a practice OF
inviting 20 the White House those whom
they particularly desired 10 honor They
were asked 10 come and make visit.
Queen Victoria has long done this at
Windsor ana no foreign mission has
ever been thought 70 be a complete sue
cess unless the bearer had the honor Of
being summoned 10 Windsor. grip In
hand prepared 10 stay until morning.
Among those who have lately visited
Windsor in this way were Ambassador
and Mrs Bayard, Mr. and Mrs. White
law Reid. Nine. Albani. Henry Irving
and Chauncey NJ. Dcpew. Instead OF
being revilod for doing so. they came
away with n glorious expression and
walked in the world as persons singu-
larry honOred.
The Presidents Of the United States
have acted similarly but with n slight
difference. IL would have been thought
ridiculous for Mr. Cleveland 10 sum-
mon Secretary Lamont from his home
IN Washington 90 tarry all night at the
White House But when the Secrctarys
family was away nothing was more
natural than that he should make his
home there. The same with Richard
Watson Glider. The Glider trunk botook
St. way up the winding paths Of the
White House rear grounds very often,
and tho well known editor became zone
Of the family" The same with the Bene-
diets who went further and almost IN
variablv took one Of the Cleveland family
away with them. So with Joseph Jcifer-
son. and 50 with Henry Irving n he had
had time and had wllled Il. for the Pres
idents Of the United States arc as varied
and az broad i'm their friendships as the
Queen OF England.
7, IS understood that the rumpus made
over the Hanna report by Senator Hanna
himself Is not so much on account OF
the rumor that he would Join Mckinley
as the manner in which he would do so
The report. which. by the way. happened
20 be on the best Of authority, and IS
still believed by many. said that the
bed which the Senator would occupy
was so tall that he would have to mount
81 by steps and pun red silk curtains
around him for canopy. Now, the spec
tacle 81 himself climbing fight Of steps
10 his bed and lying framed In scarlet
was what infuriated Hanna.
The Guest Room in the White House
Is not the room which many think It
20 be- The Prince Of Wales bedroom
which was also the room where Gar
field Law. Is not the chamber ordinarily
given 10 guests. The real guest cham
her is a smaller room and much mort
destitute OF history. It's main points are
that Nellie Grant slept I'm it and that
Nellie Arthur had Il for a play-room.
in the Hayes days IL was used i'm very
doubied-up way by the family. which
was Obliged 10 accommodate itself with
I'm the small confines Of the house.
The room which Senator Hanna occu-
pies. or will occupy If he carries out
his pct plan OF sleeping in the White
House "to avoid of1ce-seekers," is a
large one and one that would be known
in hotel parlance as double one
Against the wall stand two small brass
bedsteads with snowy coverings. and
scattered around it are large stuffed
easy chairs dvans. tables and rockers.
II IS bedroom and dressing-room in
one. a parlor and a boudoir The cano-
pied bed. II ever there was one there.
has been banished TO the rooms Of the
White House curiosities. and the bed
eteps have gone likewise.
The White House has been the scene
Of many a Damon and Pythias friend
ship Damon Mckinley and Pythias
Hanna are only two II the end of n long
run Of them. Conkling and Arthur were
the Damon and Pythias Of the White
House sixteen years ago; Grant and Sher-
nan came before: Pierce and jefferson
Davis before them. and there were Tracy
and Harrison.
For many administrations past the
ladies Of the White House have begged
Cleveland cited and recited her woes at
having three small children and their
nurses 10 stow away In cramped quar-
tcrs when guests arrived. and she is
said 20 have pettishly declared that Eula-
lie and her ladies would have 10 sleep
three i'm a bed" If entertained At the
White House. As yet Mrs. Mckinley
hasn't uttered her protest but when
the Washington season begins and guests.
family and diplomatic, flock to Washing
ton. then the same old wall will rise from
the four walls Of the old housc-'not
enough room for mpanyN'
Tn the history Of the White House
strange things have been done TO make
the guest chamber habitable. When the
Prince Of Wales visited here before his
marriage a large room was cleared out
FOR him and profusely decorated with req
sllk. that being the fashionable color
Of the year and the most expensive deco
ration then known. Tapestries I'm the
sixties were thought poor and old-fashion-
cd.
In later years Il was decided by the
mistTesscs Of the White House that the
guest chamber could be made interesting.
and straightway 70 became sort Of hu-
reau OF relics Mementoes Of dead and
gone Presidents were placed there-little
things that belonged 10 the cver-lamented
wife OF Andrew Jackson and the kerchief
worn by Tippecanoc Harrison I'm his
brief period. Soon the guest chamber
became a chamber 81 horrors and guests
fed from II in the morning. declaring that
no haunted chamber ever affected them
in the like wav. Then IL was cleared
and left bare But finally the later mis-
tresses have placed modern furniture In
81 and Il now resembles the spare room
OF any large country house. with perhaps
more Of a touch Of antiquity. for some OF
the anciontness fingers around II yet
in the valance around the couch and the
Sleepy Hollow chairs purchased in the
early Grant days.
Senator Hanna might have a warmer
place 10 visit and a worse one. And II
he Is spending a few weeks there before
Joining Mrs. Hanna and the girls ne
would better come right out and own
up 10 II. and consent 20 be enrolled among
the famous people who have been guests
OF the President or have SLEPT in the
Guest Room OF tho White House
Forest Hill Last Night.