The National tribune., 1899-06-22

they are furnished. decorations and furni
ture. There is a Green Room, the ceiling of
which is ornamented with garland in
which musical instruments alternate with
room are of President Huntington Of the
National Academy of Art; a portrait OF
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison. presented by the
Daughters of the American Revolution. of
which she was President; also, portraits OF
Mrs. James X. Polk and Mrs. Tyler, and
full-length portrait of Mrs. Lucy Webb
Hayes. presented by the Woman's Christian
Temperance Union. in commemoration OF
her stand in serving state dinners without
wine.
Next to the Green Room is Blue Room.
where the President stands with his party
| upon the occasion of his official receptions;
| and here it was that President Cleveland
and Frances Folsom were married in 1885.
Next to the Blue Room is the Red Room.
which was long used as areception room
| and private parlor by the ladies of the
| White House. Being in delicate health.
Mrs. Mckinley receives informally up
stairs. In the Red Room Gen. and Mrs.
Grant were accessible to their friends on
| almost any evening. and it was upon one OF
| these occasions that learned what great
man s memory can be.
had met Gen. Grant some two years be-
| fore at Reunion of the Army of the Ten
| nessee, though had but moments con-
versation with him. There were q few
friends calling, and the occasion was devoid
| of ceremony. After conversing with some
| of the gentlemen present Gen. Grant turned
to me, referred to the time and place where
we had met and resumed the conversation
exactly where it had left off. Gen. Sher-
man had the same tenacious memory OF
time, place and individuals.
In the Red Room are full length por-
traits of Presidents Arthur, Cleveland and
Harrison, and half length portraits OF
Buchanan. Van Buren, Taylor, and
John Adams; the last three by the cele-
brated artist Healy.
All these rooms open upon corridor
which runs between them and the vestibule
from which they are separated by part.
ton of glass placed there during President
Arthur's Administration. The glass is OF
stained mosaic, and the light falling upon
the gilded inches, in which are placed pal.
metto trees, creates a rich and beautiful
effect. In the corridor are portraits of
more, Tyler. Jackson, Grant; also OF John
Quincy Adams. Van Buren,. Taylor.
Pierce. Buchanan and Lincoln.
When the Presidents reception is held
| the line has usually begun to the right of
the vestibule, passing through the Red
| Room into the Blue Room thence to the
| Green Room, and the East Room. The
line is passed very rapidly through the
former rooms, but guests linger in large
| numbers in the East Room. President
Mckinley receives callers at public recep-
| tons i'm the East Room, and they are passed
raidly cut through the corridor.
STATE DINING-RoOM.
| The State Dining Room, where official
| dinners are served to high dignitaries, is an
imposing hall in the Co.oniai style, and the
prevailing color is yellow. There is a
| frieze of garlands around the ceiling from
which wreaths and vines connect with the
chandeliers. Garlands of native leaves,
vines and fruits are beneath the cornice,
| forming heavy frieze several feet in
width Great attention is given to the
| ornamentation of the state dining table, and
rare flowers from the White House con-
| servatory are used jim the amplest profusion.
| Sometimes the flowers are arranged over
| table mirrors so az to produce the effect OF
little wells of water over which nod lilies
\ and roses. The table service, the china,
cut glass and silver is of the finest make.
There is ar setIt of cut glass of over
| 500 pieces. and upon each. from the tinlest
salt cellar to the mammoth punch howl. is
engraved the coat of arms of the United
States. The cost Of this service was $4,000.
The offices of the White House are on the
second floor in the east end. reached by a
stairway leading from a hall between the
vestibuie and the. East Room. The prin-
cipal offices ARE those now occupied by
President Mckinley and his Private Secre-
tary. Porter. The Presidents office over
looks the Potomac, and from WINDOW III
this room Lihcoln!watched the Union sol.
diers as they crossed the Long Bridge on
their way to Virginia. in such proud and
majestic array; and again as they returned
in that mad and frenZied rush after the first
battle of Bull Run.
What stories of crossing and recrossing,
of disaster and of victory. that Long Bridge
bore to the waiting Lincoln. until at last he
saw his boys come home with steady and
triumphant step, Union saved, and
mighty country purged Of it's dishonor.
Next to the Presidents room is the Cabi-
net room, which is the scene of that men,
orable painting by Carpenter. Lincoln
and his Cabinet" made familiar to all
through engravings and autographs.