The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-07-05

tngtOn these QenSnt1ul summer even
ings has been the porch parties at the
White House. Sometimes it is tea that
Is served, and sometimes dinner on the
south portico. the one which looks out
on the stored Potomac, with the velvety
circle and the fountains and the great
trees and the Washington Monument in
between. The White House is far from
being a mansion--in fact. plenty of $5,-
O00-a-year clerks in Washington are
fdent, yet the great big rambling old
barn of White House is so full of ten
der memories and delightful as we'll as
sorry associations that no one who en-
tiers II fails to be touched by the charm
of 1t.
Housekeeping at the White House
does not bother Mrs. Roosevelt in the
least. She never knows what comes in.
nor does she care; neither does she
know what goes out. and she cares less.
There is a housekeeper and steward
and an army of help" maids, porters,
cooks and the like. Mrs. Roosevelt new
menus for the meals. The steward. Sim
clair-not the Jungle man, thank
'heaven-but light-colored black man
who has the most CheSterfieldian man.
ners. does all the marketing. 1t Is not
probable that the mistress of the White
House ever makes a suggestion as to
what shall appear on the table except
IN very rare Instances. The best that
the market affords goes to the White
House. yet the menu is usually simple.
The Roosevelts are blessed with good
nealthy appetites and are hearty eaters.
All the china, crystal. .silverware and
table linen are Government property;
that is. the Government is supposed to
A ho full
appurtenances. both for the dining room
end the kitchen. As matter of fact,
however, each President has pieced out
with his own silver and china. When
there Is a state dinner or anything of
that kind the whole business is put in
the hands of a caterer outside the White
House. and he brings to the tables all
the silver. crystal and china The White
House linen is used: he brings all the
baked meats, the salads and all that
sort Of thing right into the kitchen, and
simply takes possession for the few
hours. The reason for this Is that the
White House menage is not run on q
sumptuous plan, and there are not
dishes Of one kind sufficient to lay COW
ers for more than so people, and the
white House dinners have run up to
nearly Zoe covers. while the banquets
are even larger So a caterer brings
enough of one kind of ware to lay COW
ers for all the guests.
Mrs. Roosevelt has gone to Sycamore
Hill. There she bosses and sees to
everything. None of the White House
servants go there with her They re-
main in charge of the White House dur
ing the Summer. Mrs. Roosevelt early
In the Spring had sent to the Sycamore
Hill home lot of fine bulbs shrubbery
and plants from the Botanical Gardens,
and 1t Is said that these are all in fine
shape to welcome the homecoming of
the Roosevelts. The President went
Saturday evening.
When at Sycamore Hill the President
fransacts just as little business as pos
sfble. and refuses himself to all except
invited guests. He considers that when
he Is off on his vacation he should not
be worried with anybody or anything
that can be put of till he returns to
Most OF all does he dislike
to have anybody break in on him down
there with political spiel" He is
pretty well guarded. and only those peo-
pie whom he wishes to see ever get a
glimpse OF him. He is the delight Of
his sons when at Oyster Bay, and they
have grand times together. They go on
long tramps among the hills: they have
nshing excursions, picnics when the wo-
men OF the house can join them. and
most Of the grub" is cooked over a
campfire.
And red tape gets a black eye while
. young officer Is getting justice.
The President has decided to send to
Lieut. Vernon w. Boiler. goth Inf, to be
First Lieutenant. and has thereby glad
dened the hearts OF no less than so
young Infantry officers. whose promo
ton has been blocked for just year
When Lieut.. Boiler originally came
up for promotion something In his rec
ord operated to prevent the Department
from sending in the nomination. Mean
while the names Of Is Second Lieuten-
ants below him in his grade were sent
to Senate for promotion. But Boiler
demanded Court Of Inquiry, and al
though the Senate had confirmed the Is
nominations the President withheld
their commissions and acceded to Boil
ler's request. The court has now found
that the officer was wrongfully denied
promotion in the first place, so he will
now be nominated as a First Lieuten-
ant. While the court has been at work
and the case has been under considera-
fion ~ other Second Lieutenants have
been held back from promotion. making
the list OF detentions just so In number,
and all of these will now move up.
Because the meat-inspection amend
ment to the Agricultural appropriation
bill was not sent to conference by the
Senate last Monday week. Senator Rev
eridge cabled to Paris canceling his en-
gagement to speak there on July 4 be.
fore the American Chamber of COM
merce.
Senator Bailey, Of Texas, ought TO
take the rest cure. He is growing wasp
fsh. Here Is a nasty thing he said the
other day which Is uncalled for, and not
Just exactly in accord with Mr.. Baiiey's
weii-known courtesy to a high office:
Il think the honor Of the Dresden
tial) office. together with the salary. is
quite enough as it now stands / did
not know that 1t Is absolutely necessary
that the present incumbent of that Of
flee should have additional cOmpensa-
tion, for that Is what ii Is. But il Ii is
necessary that anybody should have 1t,
a'robably he Is the one who needs IL. l
understand the expenses at the White
House have been increased something
like 100000 under this Administration.
OF course. l do not know that this is
true. Ii Ii Is true. all l have to say is
that the President has cost more and
been worth less to the country than
anyone we have ever had"