The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-16
HOUSEKEEPING At THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Home Lille of President and Mrs. Mckinley
Simplicity and Comfort

WASHINGTON, y. c., Jan. Eth
housekeeping side of the White house
is a sealed book, no, only to the peo-
pie at large, the hundreds who daily
visit the president upon missions af-
fecting both nations and individuals,
bAt even TO the guests at the Resident
STATE dinners, which are the chief
events of the social session at the
capital. Constantly besieged by an
army of officials high and low, and
others who want to he. the marble
halls of the executive mansion still
form the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Mckin-
ley. And the few. principally relatives
of the family, who are admitted within
the sacred home Cirie know that it is a
home in reality.
With a host Of servants at her COM
mand, the mistress of the White house
exercises a general supervision over
The housekeeping affairs, and through
out the regal apartments there are
bright touches which show the hand
of mistress. Houseke eping, after
all, forms a highly important part In
the worlds affairs, and housekeeping
at the executive mansion is necessar-
lily carried 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 7. Sinclair, col
ored man, and The first of his race to
hold the office. Next to him comes the
housekeeper, Marie Barberv, a rather
pretty New Yorker. These two are
practically responsible for verifying.
The presidents home life is a model,
with regularity. simplicity and COM
fort as its main features. He is al
ways UP by $50 in the morning, and
Mrs. Mckinley seldom sleeps later
than o'clock. Their bed room is the
same one used by Mr.. Cleveland and
his wife Like all the living rooms in
the White house, il is on the second
floor, and looks out on the rear
grounds. The beds used by the pres
ident and his wife stand side by side.
They are medium sized, comfortable
looking, white enameled beds, with
sheets Of pure linen and covers of pa n
white Marseilles.
A private bath room adjoins the bed
room, and the first thing the president
does in the morning is to take tepid
bath. At S:45 o'clock every morning
family prayers are said by the presi-
dent in a drawing room across the
main corridor from the bed room.
Breakfast is served in the private din
ing room on the first floor at o'clock.
Immediately after breakfast the pres
are from 10 o'clock in the morning I'M
til l o'clock in the afternoon. Lunch
con is always ready by l o'clock, but
frequently the president does not sit
down to the table before 2. When his
business is urgent Mr.. Mckinley gen
orally lunches alone or with some Wis
iting friend This is especially SO on
cabinet days. Usually after cabinet
meeting one of the members will take
luncheon with the president and dis
cuss whatever may be pressing in pub
lie affairs.
During the week dinner is served
promptly at Z o'clock in the evening
aud on Sundays an hour earlier. After
dinner the president goes to his work
room and dictates correspondence.
Midnight is his regular hour for retir-
ing, but during the war it was often
long after daylight before he sought
rest.
In the language OF the Washington
market dealers, Mr.. and Mrs. McAln-
ley are good livers. but not high liv-
ers." There are many private families
IN Washington who spend more money
on their tables. but few who live bet
ter. The daily expenses of the presi-
dents private table does not average
quite $25. This is, of course, eXclus-
sive of special or state dinners, but it
includes the entertainment of over 500
guests a year. Invariably there are one
or more guests to luncheon and din
ner.
The active part Of the domestic du-
ties falls upon the houSekeeper. Her
health will not permit Mrs. Mckinley
to assume the active management Of
such a laborious household. Yet she is