The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-11-13
For the Improvement Of the white
House.

Congress at IDS next session should
add a cOmmodiOus and well lighted
amusement hall to the White House. At
present it suffers from the limitations
of the East Room. Generators Of tradi-
ton who remember how that apartment
has been used for weddings, receptions
and other semi-Ofiicial functions are
rather scandalized when the East Room
is used for any sport more robust than
pingpOng. Their scruples must be re-
spected. But although it may be true,
as they aver, that Mr. JEFFERSON never
had tumblers and acrObatS in the White
House and JOHN QUINCY ADAMS is not
known to have invited opponents of the
art of selF-defence to entertain him there,
the proclivities of Presidents who patron
ize sports and statesmanship impartially
should receive consideration.
The suggestion that a stadium and
gymnasium be attached to the White
House. with stands and galleries for
friends Of the President TO witness such
sports as shall be ordered by him, may
DO dismissed as too ambitious and ex-
pensive. A hall large enough for the
reception Of celebrities distinguished for
excellence in games Of strength and skill
would meet the exigencies of the case.
There should be a movable platform for
boxing and wrestling, and beneath it a
tank for swimming. deep enough for fancy
diving and long enough for water polo.
A gallery at each end with a dais for the
President would provide seating accom-
modations for his invited guests, and the
gallery being above the arena the floor
might be thrown open for rough riding
or hurdle jumping by removing the
platform and boarding over the swim
ming pool. Basketball, hockey on roller
skates and other winter sports by college
teams might be added 20 the Presidential
schedule Of entertainment by the Master
Of tbs Revels. The floor could also be
used Tor indoor tennis and squash. A
walking track might be put in for con-
stitutionals OF rainy days.
II will be- allowed that great athletes
and strongarmed men would not have
to be paid out of the annual appro-
priation for Presidential sports; there
would be honor and glory enough for
them ALL and they would profit by the
advertisement OF appearing before the
President, Cabinet, diplomatic corps and
invited guests. Attendance at receptions
to wrestbers, pugilists and sword swal-
lowers in the East Room is necessarily
limited 20 tennis players, familiar dip
lomats. Rough Riders and private sec
retaries. This exclusiveness, although
unavoidable, looks like discrimination
and engenders jealousy and pique. II
the President were provided with a
Hall OF Sports. which would obviously
become a Hall Of Fame in course Of
time, ne could invite all his friends, ad-
mirers and satellites. including Bishops,
sOciolOgists, cowboys, bear hunters,
guides, naturalists, and trust busters.
As admission might be by card, "unde-
sirable citizens army and navy officers
on the blacklist, and members Of the
Ananias Society could be excluded.
To this plan of making the White
House more attractive TO Presidents who
are not milksops or mollycoddles there
a be no objection except the expense;
and even in a time OF retrenchment and
thrift that ought not to be regarded as
naVnaroh1o