The evening times., 1899-01-21
WHITE HOUSE HOUSEKEEPING.
| How the Presidential Mansion IL
Managed From Day 10 Day.

(trom the 81. Louis GlObe-Deinocrat.D
The Housekeeping side of the White
House is a sealed book. not only to the
people at large, the hundreds who daily
visit the President upon missions affecting
both nations and individuals, but even TO
the guests at the resplendent state dinners.
which are the chief events of the social
season at the Capital. Constantly besieged
by an army OF officials high and low, and
others who want to be, the marble halls OF
the Executive Mansion still form the home
of Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley. And the few,
principally relatives OF the family, who
are admitted within the home circle know
that il is a home in reality.
With host of servants al her command
the mistress of the White House exercises
a general supervision over the housekeep-
ing affairs, and throughout the regal apart
ments there are bright touches which show
the hand OF a mistress. Housekeeping,
after all forms highly important part in
the worlds affairs, and housekeeping al
the Executive Mansion Is necessarily car
ried on upon a most elaborate scale.
The chief parsonage connected with the
domestic side OF the Presidential residence
is the steward. The present steward is
William T. Sinclair colored man, and
the first OF his race TO hold the Office. Next
10 him comes the housekeeper, Marie Bar
berry, rather pretty young New Yorker.
lheSe TWO are pTacIlcaIlJ responsible LOT
everything
The Presidents home life is a model,
with regularity, simplicity and comfort as
its main features. He is always up by $50
in the morning and Mrs. Mckinley seldom
sleeps later than O'Clock. Their bedroom
is the same one used by Mr.. Cleveland and
his wife. Like all the living rooms in tie
White House, it is on the second floor. and
looks out on the rear grounds The beds
D.
side by side. They are medium sized, COM
Portable looking white enameled beds with
sheets Of pure linen and covers of plain
white Marseilles.
a private bathroom adjoins the bedroom.
and the first thing the President does in
the morning is TO take a tepid bath At
S:45 o'clock every morning family prayers
are said by the President in a drawing
room across the main corridor from the
bedroom. Breakfast is served in the pri-
yate dining room on the first floor at
O'Clock.
Immediately after breakfast the Presi-
dent begins work. His busiest hours are
from 10 o'clock in the morning until l
O'Clock in the afternoon. Luncheon is al
ways ready by l o'clock, but frequently
the President does not sit down to the
table before 3 When his business is ur-
gent. Mr.. Mckinley generally lunches
is especially so on Cabinet days. Usually
after Cabinet meeting one of the mem
bers Will take luncheon with the President
and discuss whatever may be pressing in
affairs.
During the week dinner is served
promptly at 4 o'clock in the evening, and
on Sundays an hour earlier. After dinner
the President goes to his work room and
dictates correspondence. Midnight is his
tnnr q
war it was often long after daylight be-
fore he sought rest.
In the language of the Washington
market dealers, Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley
are good livers, but not high livers."
There are many private families in Wash
ington who spend more money on their
tables, but few who live better. The daily
expense of the Presidents private tables
does not average quite s25. This is, of
course, exclusive of special or state dim
ners, but ii includes the entertainment of
over 800 guests year. In variably there
are one or more guests to luncheon and
dinner.
The active part of the domestic duties
falls upon the housekeeper. Her health
will not permit Mrs. Mckinley to assume
the active management of such labori-
Gus household. Yet she is not idle a mo-
ment during the day. The quantity OF
mail she receives is enormous. and she
opens and personally answers nearly all
of it.
Charity appeals come to her from all
parts of the country. Women beg for her
influence and mediation in behalf of their
condemned sons or husbands. These pa
thetic appeals for pardons are very trying
upon her, because she is compelled to de-
cline to interfere in such matters.
The President very decidedly prefers
colored help. His steward, cook, coach
man, fCotmen and walters are all colored
William T. Sinclair, the present steward,
comes from New York. He is considered
most careful buyer. He served ex-
President Cleveland eight years, and Mr..
Cleveland recommended him TO Mr. Nc
Kinley His salary, fixed by law, and
paid by the Government, is S1,S00 a year.
He is responsible for all the property of
the United States within the White House
and is bonded for $1,000 The value of
some of this property, from an historical
standpoint is inesti5na bic. Sinclair has an
Cfice in the basement of the White House.
but lives with his family Oh Sixteenth
Street, few blocks distant.
The steward is furnished with a DAYTON
wagon and driver and generally drives to