The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-24
Presented to President Mckinley. {:
{:
Christmas, 1897. {:
1t is an odd-looking piece, and there is

1t is an odd-looking piece, and there is
no telling what is inside of 1t, but 1t has
been said that it holds political etfigy,
Outside OF this curiosity shop are sew
eral other stOrerOoms. One contains all
kinds of musty old documents sent up
from the different offices of the executive
mansion, when there is no longer room
or use for them.
A cedar room holds, during the summer
the winter clothing, and in the winter
the summer wearing apparel of the presi-
dent and his family.
In the east wing of the garret is stored
a miscellaneous lot of furniture of styles
ranging from the war times Of 1861. There
are two antique walnut bedsteads in the
light and dark grains of the wood These
two pieces of furniture were in the White
house during Lincoln's administration,
and since that period, as the fashions
have changed, they have gradually work
ed themselves from the guests chambers
to servants room and servants room to
the garret. Many of the statesmen Of
years gone by have dreamed out their
political victories IN these old discarded
beds.
There are several delicately built ma
hogany chairs Years ago these were
used in the east room. The upholstering
is badly worn and the cOloring faded un-
til it is almost impossible to discern the
original pattern and shading. It may
have been old rose, or, as the style indi-
Gates it's birth in the days Of lavender, it
is more than likely that the colors were
in that dainty court shade.
The handsomest piece of furniture IN
the attic is a large inlaid cabinet. The
groundwork is of rosewood, with roses,
lilies and fOrget-me-nots, all sprouting
from the same root and inlaid in mother
of pearl and silver. This piece is very
much out Of repair, and as 1t was not
needed in any of the drawing rooms it
was consigned to the old attic.
In the summer, when a great many i'm
provements were being made in and
about the White house, lot of stuff was
sent up to the garret, among them rolls
of half used carpets, useless chairs,
boxes Of curtains and some mirrors and
pictures. Some of the last were views
of Washington, several photographs and
few engravingS.
An antique bookcase and writing desk,
formerly used in the presidents Office,
but having been replaced by more modern
fixtures, has been stored here. Battered
file cases and cumbersome newspaper
files are there, with some winding desk
chairs of the style of about twenty years
ago. All sorts of banged-up odds and
ends of furniture are piled in order.
Everything is as clean as it is possible
room full of old newspapers. Once a
year this room is cleaned out and its
contents sold by the wagon load as old
newspapers.
At the south side of the garret is a
little barred door BY its side is a large
pine box, and an American flag is spread
over it. The box contains about two
dozen sucn flags, which are used for dec
Grating on holidays The last time these
flags were unfurled was to honor our
greatest hero, Admiral Dewey.
The little barred door leads to the
roof of the south portico, and from there
by steps to the top of the house, where
standing beneath the fagpole, one gets a
magnificent view of the nations capital
The custom of storing away presents
sent to the presidents found it's origin
during the infant days of our govern
ment, and each successive president has
consigned some treasure to the locker in
the attic. Toward the close of each ad-
ministration the contents of this locker
are sold, and thus this old storehouse is
emptied and replenished.