The times., 1899-01-16
NO WHITE House AUCTION
Eager Relic Hunters Suffer a
Disappointment.
FURNITURE NOT FOR SALE
Effects Plain But Substnntiai-IInye
Seen Long Scrvicc-Thc Seat in
Mr.. CIcycIand's Mammoth Chair
Historic Pieces Have Disappeared.

There is no truth in the published state
ment that the annual auction sale OF
discarded White House furniture will
take place next Thursday. There is no
such function as an annual sale, auction
or otherwise, OF Executive Mansion ef-
fects. and never has been, except on one
occasion years ago.
Col. William H.. Crook, the executive
clerk of the White House, has immediate
charge of the furniture and furnishings of
the mansion and has filled that position
for many years. He stated yesterday that
most of the furniture now in use has been
in the house since General Grants first
term as President. Since that time the
office furniture has been added to-, said
Colonel Crook, but none has been sold
The White House is thoroughly demo-
cratic in the matter of office furniture. 1t
is all plain. but substantial. The gaudy
and glistening furniture and decorations
in the offices of many $500 or 1000 per
annum bureau chiefs in the departments
would utterly put in the shade the p ain,
unpretentious articles of mahogany and
oak in the official apartments of the Pres
ident's house.
The framework of the Executive Mansion
furniture. while homely. is substantial,
and that is why there has been no neces-
sity for annual or semi-annual auction o.
private sales. This solid framework in
stead of being thrown aside, has been
upholstered and re-uphO!stered in leather
from time to time, but 1t is never disposed
of and will last for many years to come.
Many relic hunters have made inquiry
about the sale of discarded White House
property, but only In one instance did
they succeed in bringing about a sale after
persistent effort. The instance in question
was when the furniture used by President
Lincoln was sold after his death to beyy
of admiring friends who bid in the ar
ticles at very high prices, and preserved
them as menentoes of the great American.
But few of the Presidents since Lincolns
time had fayorite chairs. President Cleve-
land. whose size and weight rendered an
ordinary chair decidedly uncomfortable,
had one made according to his own design
soon after he entered upon his duties as
Executive. This chair is the one Con-
gresham Tim Campbell designated as
his nibs's throne"
1t is explained that while Cleveland was
governor of New York. he was very much
embarrassed on the occasion of a public
celebration by having the chair upon
which he sat collapse and tumble him in
a heap on the floor. After that unfortunate
but ludicrous occurrence. Mr.. Cleveland
would never trust himself on the aver
age. everyday chair but had his chair
maker as well as his shoemaker and tailor.
His White House chair was an immense
affair made of solid bent oak. and with a
double caned seat. This he used in his
office, reception and Cabinet rooms, it
being carried back and forth in his wake
by servant who closely followed his
movements.
President Mckinley has a handsome
he only uses it when convenient. In the
Cabinet room and office, he uses the
chairs which are pieces of the White
House sets. -..
It is related by old attaches of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion that President Andrew
Johnson made a PERSONAL visit to all the
furniture stores in Washington in quest
of a comfortable seat. lie failed to find
one that suited him and finally had an
old cabinetmaker on Capitol Hill named
Gates make him a huge cumbersome chair
in which he frequently took evening
nap in the quietude of his private office.
Asked what had become of these historic
pieces. Colonel Crook said he did not know.
! He was certain. however, that no White
| House effects, except those of Lincoln.
| have thus far been sold at auction or dis
| posed of in any similar manner.
| Such sale would be an innovation and
! bidders of prominence would undoubtedly
! be attracted from all sections OF the coun-
| try. But there is immediate prospect
/ of an auction sale of White House furni-
] ture.