Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-07
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
EAST MAY NOW BE CALLED THE
WHITE" ROOM.
Vast Improvement in the Terrace En-
frances, the Enlarged Dining Room
and the Grand Staircase.

Copyright, 1903, by John Elfreth Watkins, jr.)
Written for The Evening Star.
The greater White House. is at last
finished, inside and out, top and bottom
The last stroke of the decorators brush
has been made and each bit of bric-a-brac
has been assigned its place. This entire re-
Mobilization has been consummated within
six months after the presidential family
surrendered their official home to the con-
tractors. The ancient but rejuvenated man
sion today represents a total cost of two
and half million dollars expended in con-
struction and repair since It's corner stone
was laid, in the presence of Washington, in
1892. More than half million of this was
appropriated by Congress for the improve
ments made since last June. Since that
time about 50 900 per day has been expend-
ed upon the work.
The public will hereafter be admitted to
parts of the mansion in spite Of the facts
that Congress resolved to reserve the en-
tire building as a residence for executive
families. But the visitor who beheld the
Interior detail a year ago will fail to rec
ogniZe its present features and the chances
are that his bearings will be completely lost
The old north door with its familiar pro-
tecttng porte cochere Will hereafter be re-
served for the private uses of executive
families and policemen stationed at the
HoEtH gates are now Dusty engaged In d.
rectlng sightseers to the new east porte
cochere. opposite the treasury. We will
now make complete circuit Of the finished
rooms open to the public inspection and
finally l viii penetrate with YOU into the
real interior beauties forbidden the pub
lie.
A long bare corridor is first entered after
passing the inspection of the policemen
stationed inside the threshold of the new
public entrance. On either side are stalls
like those In shops. and tier after tier Of
large pigeon holes mount to the ceiling
These are the hat and cloak boxes for the
convenience Of reception guests They offer
accommodations for .. 700 people whereas
before, few make-shift boxes were rugged
up In the Presidents front hallway. We are
now inside the long white wing added to
the mansion on the east side. A similar
terrace the west connects the main
structure with that peculiar little one
story building TO which all of the office
paraphernalia of the chief magistrate was
recently removed
New Picture Gallery.
The new basement picture gallery is
now reached. door having been passed
IN our progress westward. This gallery
extends within the original foundations of
the old house. and occupies space wherein
the sculllons and laundresses of past ex-
ecutIve families piled their trade. Arrang-
% ed on either wall are complete collection
Of oficial portraits of the mistresses Of the
White House, with the sole exception OF
Martha Washington. who has place of
honor among the Presidents themselves up
stairs-but including the new portrait of
Mrs. Roosevelt. by Chartran, the great
French painter. In the further end of the
han are doors leading to dressing rooms
where guests at evening functions receive
from corps Of maids and Wallets, the Last
finishing touches of their toilets.
The grand staircase-on our rights
reached before the full length of this sub
terranean gallery-lighted by electric
AmpS-1s traversed. A rope. supported by