The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-27
OLD WHITE HOUSE CHIN.
COLLECTED AND SAVED
Mrs Roosevelt Secures Some Of the jefferson Dinner Set
Half the Presidents Are Represented in the White
House Collection

or officers, but that there is record of
a purchase Of certain ware from the
ship Pallas, which had come into Balti-
more for China. The set thus acquired
is described as containing 'stone white
cups and saucers and other dishes bear
ing the arms Of the order of the Gin
cinnati'
ct believe that this is the Cincinnati
set which Miss Lee now possesses. 1t
is dull white in color, and each piece
has gold border, edging wide band
Of blue, over which runs the oriental
design of confused leaf and scroll
pattern. Around the bottom Of the
plates is a row Of stars, and in the
center of each is the figure of winged
hand the badge of the Cincinnati and
with, the other holding trumpet to
her lips.
while Miss Lee has the largest col
lection of the Washington china, sew
eral other collections are to be found
in this city. The Lewis collection at
the national museum. purchased by the
government for $4,000, includes some
| important relics, while the Mount Yer
non Ladies' association has brought to-
gether at Mount Vernon many things
which were there during Washington IS
lifetime.
"Of the Adams china there is but
little record. Of the Jefferson china
there was also little record until the
discovery that almost an entire dinner
set had come into the possession of a
gentleman in Massachusetts; The Mad
ison china, a finely painted Lowestoft
set, with the initial M in the cen
ter, was destroyed when the British
burned the White House in 1914, but
| some pieces were saved and are now in
my possession.
"The Monroe china was French ware.
severely plain, with coffee-colcred
band running around each piece. Ira
dition says. that jackson used heavy,
in gold, with a clumsy shield in the
center, but Mrs. Emily Wilcox, who
| was born IN the White House, and
| who was living in Washington a few
| years ago, resented having that 90
down into history as the china of her
grandfather s collection. Her mother
was Jackson's daughter, and presided
Fyears of his incumbency. She frequently
told her daughter that little while
before he stepped down and out of
the presidency he ordered for his family
use set of the finest French china that
could be made in those days. 1t was
white ware, outlined with deep yellow
| bands, and Mrs. Wilcox had two of the
|
In the early, history of the country,
congress twice year appointed a COM
nnittee to visit the White House. look
thru it's cupboards and closets, and re-
ceive the steward S report of breaka ges.
In this way it was supposed that. the
china would be kept intact. but the SOL
emn inspection of the Legislative: com
mittees from time to time was no safe
guard against wear and tear, nor could
it prevent the duplicity Of servants,
who were willing for consideration
to transfer specimens to the cabinets
of private collectors; -. i. !:
"a nick, crack or blemish of any sort
has always been sufficient cause for
discarding china from the president s
kept thru each administration, until,
with the advent Of a new mistress, it
was sold to- the second hand dealers of
the city. :. In this way, much of the
presidential china has reached private
TNtTwenty or, thirty years ago there
we're we're few who valued this presidential
ident Cleveland's second admin
istration it was in no great de-
mand. A quantity of ware more or
less damaged, but Invaluable in that
it could not be replaced. was gathered
up in 1898 and sold to the secondhand
men. l bought cracked Lincoln
pitcher in this way for $3.50, and
plates bearing the historic seal [ Sc
cured at 81 each; These pieces are now
almost beyond value. Should Mrs.
Roosevelt ever permit; sale of, this
sort, the pieces would command 5fabu-
louss prices, ~, =. .....
every piece Of broken, nicked or other
wise injured china, must be turned over
to the steward, who in turn places it
in the custody of the superintendent Of
buildings and grounds. Heretofore dis
carded china was passed upon by a
committee composed of members of the
| White House force. appointed for that
purpose, and then sold at auction Much
that was worth preserving crept into
these sales, and Mrs. Roosevelt has
made UP her mind that no china is to be
| White House,