The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
HE Runs THE WHITE HOT Sc.
a Diligent and diplomatic Man Must
Major SymOns he.

Major Symons BE.
In describing the duties which fall upon
Major Thomas ". Symons who succeeds
Col Theodore Bingham as master OF
ceremonies" at the White House the Wash
ington Star says:
Major Symons comes to Washington to
assume the duties Of officer in charge Of pub
lie buildings and grounds of tho District
of Columbia. and when he takes up his new
duties he will DO entitled to the rank pay,
aud emoluments Of Colonel OF Engineers
This title however. does not give the slight
est indication Of the duties to be performed
by Col Symons,
In the FIRST place, in his new Office Col
Symons will serve as military aid to the
President. and as such he will have direct
charge of nil the social functions at the White
House. a position that has been filled for the
past Ave years by Col Theodore Bin CHAM.
1t will be Col. Symons's duty at all social
functions at the White House to assume
direct charge of all the arrangements. and
next to the President himself. he will probab bly,
be the most conspicuous parsonage in the
entire building. hurrying here and there to
zee that every arrangement Of a programme
carefully worked out In advance with trained
military precision Is carried out without a
hitch II Is the duty OF the master Of cere-
monies to introduce all guests to the Presi-
dent "a they approach him.
The social functions at the White House,
especially the large receptions. public and
otherwise, require IA large amount Of prep
uration in order that they may pass OH In
q decorous manner and without hitch This
arran cement will be entirely In the hands Of
Col SymOns who must see to the decor atoms
of the rooms To be used, must arran sc music
for the occasion an the programme of airs that
will best suit the guests to he entertained -
In fact he will IN every way take from the
the land" the entire responsibility, worry
and care O. giving an enteTtt ail 20 that
reception of guests that everything will be
as il should be had they given the details
their personal atten tion.
rainnient, tie master OF ceremonies is com
th e guests e TO to be- en,ertsinsd In the irst
con gre euted all the diplomats Of the foreign
countries. there Is a great deal OF "suckling
Is to oeial and social IA tb preSSedsanoe This
sai" shsss G'esl. ssp,s q. sasls must "' Se
representative that he has the position to
which he is entitled IN case Of DOUBT col
Symons has the state Department to fan
problems ut the risk OF giving offence.
In addition to his duties as nsfter Of oere-
monies at social functions at the White House
Col SylDons becomes the custodian of the
funds and "pnyn,aster. general OF the house
hold In ether words IT, az MONEYS appro-
hands OF Col Symons. and 1t ii he who has
TO ex2end every cent OF it. personally paying
pended from 20 cent. for '"' po"nd Of ' butter
bought in an emergency TO thousands OF
dollars for recnrpetinS ,he kxecutivs Man.
the White House he is in no way tho custodian
Of the property within lhc man ion. nor is
hs SY for Tat fSDs aes
walls of the Executive Mansion. Tho per-
sonal PROPERTY Of the Roosryrits Is Looked aitcr
for all the bric-a-hrac, urritnro, china. glass,
plato and Other articles within the mansion
thing new is rseded Col symons will be called
bnt when il arrives al TIE White House within
du.ies lie IS TIE military sia of r the Priest,
nS %Hs Sa az s When the
yatc stroIls through the streets Of the city.
rsspendent with sold loce and With atbersd
ohapeay, and take his place At the Presidents
i nama rh 1sn,on H t X. css nv %sS
being the cause that such an officer is al
ways selected for personal reasons.
tho White HOUSE, Col. Symons VIII then turn
Officer in charge OF public buildings ard
gronnds. Any attention that il needed
lv the Washin rton Monument. any OF the
numerous public buildings and the parks
Of Washington must receive his attention.
Whenever n new statue Is Authorized by
mons must attend to It's erection. He must
see that the trees and shrubb.ry In the marks
NJ the city are properly cared for. and that
the various monuments IN those parks are
kept In good condition.