The Washington herald., 1906-11-07
ALBANY AND IT'S
EXECUTIVE MANSION.

The new governor Of New Yoyk-and es-
pecially his family-will appreciate the
domictle provided by the State for the
home Of its executive. The mansion is
splendidly adapted to entertaining with
out sacrifice Of its domestic comfort.
The formal reception rooms on the first
floor are as imposing in number and size
as those Of the White House. and the
spiral stairway that occupies the central
space permits Of the second and third
stories being used upon occasions Of re-
ceptions and balls.
During Gov. Flowers administration of
Office the wide halls. built somewhat after
the style Of a steamers interior were
used for dancing at the state receptions.
and the balustrades on the second and
third floors were always lined with guests
who chose this place Of vantage to view
the throngs below.
Mrs Daniel Manning was a brilliant
social parsonage during Gov. HiTs incum-
bency. 1t was commonly supposed that
she might become mistress Of the mansion
at one time and her friendship was of
great value 10 the bachelor governor.
whose social gifts were not the innate
graces of a mingler in fashionable socie-
". Mrs. Manning was a leader in the
aristocratic set Of Albany. and she made
popular the functions Of the executive
mansion with such families as the Pruyns.
the Cornings, the Van Wormers, the
Bleelser-Banks. the Van Rensselaers. the
Ohvers. and such other Holland-Dutch de-
scended nabobs Of the Hudson and No
hawk valleys. Not infrequently Mrs.
Manning presided AT the governors din
ners. and altogether she was the social
salvation Of the administration.
Gov. Hill had one small pleasantly he
was fond Of introducing al these dinner
parties. When the ladies had retired from
the dining-rOOm for coffee and the men
were left 10 their half hour OF smoking.
Gov. Hill would call out TO his faithful
black servant: oh, Jeff, see II YOU can
find any Of those cigars left over from the
last campaign and JEFF would always
grin and hurry from the room with a
Yes, yes, sab, / can lay ma hands on
'em in Jess a jiffy, sah-iess iiffy"
There was one particular old fOur-post
colonial bedstead in the executive mansion
at Albany that was not only a savorite
piece of furniture with the governor. but
with all the society women familiar with
Ii as the most beautiful article IN an I'D
per guest chamber. used frequently as a
wrap room. The young kinsman. whom
the governor educated as a physician
and who is, doubtless. nearer 10 the vet
eran Democrats heart than any other
living soul, always occupied this bedstead
upon his visits 20 Gov Hill. Just how the
governor acquired the historic piece Of
mahogany when he went out Of Office Is
Hrrt e.
quently. the four-poster occupied a place
Of honor in the largest guest room at
WCOlferts Ro0st, which Hin purchased
from the elder Emmett OF yodling fame
and transformed into a magnificent place
Of residence.
Substantial dignity. rather than impos-
ing ceremony, was characteristics Of the
gubernatorial mansion before Morton's
elevation to the Office. Under the Nor
ton regime the strictest etiquette was
observed, and Mrs Morton was a verlt-
able queen. not alone as mistress of the
mansion, but as leader in Albany So
ciety.
She peoDled the mansion with an army
of English Tetainers, whose plUm-color-
ed liveries iuaugurated a fad for that
color. The house Is set upon an emil
nence IN a wide park. The line Of car
Tiages upon occasions Of official enter
tanning is even more difficult 10 manage
than at the White House functions. Mrs
Morton did not trust the comfort Of her
guests 70 the oversight OF police officers
She stationed her own men at intervals
from the entrance gates Of the guber-
Material grounds 20 the house proper.
These hunkies directed the drivers and
the course of the carriages and faciIi-