The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1904-01-09
NIISSISSIPPPS HISTORIC
EXECUTIVE MANSION.
will the Legislature Do in Regard to Itp

associated with local or State history are
ruthlessly torn down and new ones put up
in order to please the fancy Of new iledg-
cd architects or add to the earnings OF
shrewd contractors. County courthouses
that were good for another half centu-
ry, and city halls tnat with small cost
might have been restored, have gone un-
der the hammer until in some section all
that is left as monuments to the past al
a few ante-bellum homes.
1t is admitted unless the mansion Is
modernized, the interior at least, con-
yeniently remodeled it should be sold or
torn down. Ii the State provides home
for the Governor itshould be in keeping
with tbs salary he receives. II is out OF
the question for Governor to 1--we in an
executive residence, do the entertaining
that is expected OF HIM, supply the need
ed furnishings, have the grounds well
kept, upon the sa.ary paid in most, il
not all, OF the States.
A State that is pretentious enough to
have an executive mansion should have
sufficient pride to keep it in perfect re-
pair. Certainly great State like Mis-
sissippi, which can afford a Si,000,000
capitol, can afford to spend few thous-
ands in remodeling and refurnishing the
home she furnishes her Chief Magistrate.
An act Of the last Legislature provides
that hereafter the Governors salary
shall be $500. No other expenditure
for his comfort will be made by the State.
He is expected to furnish fuel. lights
and what household effects that may be
needed to make his temporary home ha-
Ditable.
The mansion has double parlors, din
ing room, library connected by folding
doors, large hall, back hall ,,nd to,.
bed rooms downstairs. Upstairs are al
80 four bed rooms and one bath room
Adjoining the hogse s,a kitehea and SER
yants' reem, opt il the yard the sta
oies in far worse condition. The pres
- furnishings consist Of az In complete
parlor set, shabby hs,I sst, an old ma
nogony dining table, unpretentious side
board and plain dining chairs,
The bed room furniture Is very plain
and neees "doing over" The carpets
are anything but fresh. There are too
few chairs Ia all OF the rooms. The back
parlor is in Dad state Of dilaridasion--
unfit for the eyes Of stranger guest or
visiting friend. The back hall Is insight
iy. The downstairs bedrooms are in
such order as to be unfit for use, There
is scarcity Of table linen and beddine-
The china Is insufficient, much OF it 50
badly matched any woman who feels a
pride in her table furnishings would
blush to use IL en Estate occasions .
The glass for the table is common and
insufficient. AS for silverware, there is
not piece OF sterling silver belonging
TO the mansion. There are several dog
ems OF plated knives, forks and spoons,
all so badly worn, many bent and almost
too decrepit for further creditable SER
vice. An old plated copper urn COM
pletes the States so.calIod silver service.
Like battle-scarred, manned old SOL
dier, 1t has seen its best days ana should
be retired,
The "woman's touch" of the present
mistress Of the mansion has as nearly as
possible kept tho States belongings in
apple-pie order. TO make her family
comfortable she, however, has oeen fore
ed to use much of her own household
goods, To hSB taste Is due the neat de-
sign OF the last china and glassware pur-
chased. The set is plain white china,
simply marked with sc. M" executive
mansion) in god letters and the few doz-
ems Of pieces Of glass have the same let
ters cut. BY using her own, the limited
supply Of state linen has "held out"
through the last administration,
For the wife Of the Governor to pre-
side over the mansion in the condition
the writer recently found it Is heavy
tax upon her physical strength and pa
tience, for which her exalted position
furnishes posr Compensation, insyiew q
the noblcSse obligo she y eyer bound i9
observe. Fora woman oil taste and iudg
ment Is mortified TO be asked to bring
into the mansion visiting dignitaries.
When heard Admiral and Mns,S ,Schley
were guests there / wondered what the
hero Of Santiago bay and his wife must
have thought Of a State which so mea-
gerly provided for her Governors com
fort? Only woman Of Mrs, Longlno's
executive ability and cleverness could
have hidden from prying eyes the shab-
biness Of tho residence provided for the
Governor by the State,
The money appropriated by the last
Legislature for the mansion was judi
ciously expended in repairs and the pur-
cI s$e Of such things were absolutely es-
sential to the health and comfort of the
household.
The goyernNsof the future are ex-
pected TO t. mlh the mansion which
means that hs gho hereafter occupies
the GubernatSs u chair will be forced to
bring his own goods and chattels."
Living expenses at jackson are high.
Servants employed ito wait about the
mansion demand exorbitant wages.
When asked why they reply cause hits
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