The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-06-26
THE WHITE HOUSE CRoCKERY.

The present administration is the
first for more than half century
that has not been obliged to buy a
new set of dishes for the White
House. And the reason why is sim
ply that Congress soon after Mr..
Roosevelt became President gave him
$22, 900 to spend on an immense out
fit of chinaware imported from Eng
land, where it was made at Stoke-on-
Trent after special and exclusive de-
sign.
Up to Abraham Lincoln's time the
executive mansion was supplied with
crockery in a desultory sort of way,
dishes, plates and cups and saucers
being purchased whenever more of
them were needed. But Mrs. Lin
coin persuaded Congress to give her
money for a fresh outfit, very beau
tiful set ordered from France with a
blue border, gilt stars for the states
of the Union and an eagle and scroll
with the words "E Pluribus Unum"
on every piece.
Mrs. Grant bought another set,
tasteless and devoid Of artistic merit,
with yellow border and designs of
flowers and fruit in more or less nat
ural colors. This, or what remains
of it, is the least handsome of White
Housechina. Notwithstanding these
purchases Mrs. Hayes, wher she be-
came mistress of the mansion, found
the supply of crockery sadly deficient.
Mrs. Hayes was practical house
keeper, and she lost no time in put
ting matters straight. All damaged
crockery on hand she sent to auction,
and without delay she obtained from
Congress special appropriation of
$1,000 wherewith to purchase set of
china corresponding to her own ideas.
For three years she devoted a good
deal of her time to working out the
designs of what eventually proved to
be the handsomest service of such
ware ever imported into this country.
1t was ornamented with paintings by
American artists, representing the
native fauna and fora of the United
States.
At the time when (in Ioo2) the
purchase of a complete new service of
queensware was contemplated by Mr..
Roosevelt a careful inventory was
made of all the china in the White
House. 1t was found to comprise
143 pieces of the Lincoln set, I25
pieces of the Grant set, 81 pieces of
the Hayes set, 80 pieces of the Arthur
set, I,745 pieces of the Cleveland set,
45o pieces of the Harrison set and
321 pieces of the Mckinley set.
This was the entire outfit, barring
a few pieces left over from the Pierce,
Monroe, Buchanan and other admin
istrations, which were regarded as
curiosities, not for use, but to be pre-
served for the sake of their historical
interest.
Custom at the White House de-
mands that no article shall appear on
the table, especially on state occasions,
that is not absolute without defect.
Not merely chip, but the slightest
scratch in the gliding on the edge of
a plate or cup or the almost imper-
ceptible wearing of color design, is
sufficient to condemn the piece. II
is put aside on a shelf, and by and
by, when a number of such rejects"
have accumulated, they are inspected
by the steward and sent off to auction.
Condemned White House china al
ways brings very high prices at the
auction sales, especially pieces of the
Lincoln, Grant and Hays sets. Even
a badly cracked Lincoln cup and sau-
Ger or damaged egg cup may fetch
SIS or $50. On the other hand, a
Franklin Pierce plate in good condi-
ton is not likely to command more
than So. Washington and Jefferson
crockery is always salable az fancy
prices. But none of it comes from
the White House.
The Roosevelt china, which was
ordered from England, is white and
gold and, as might be imagined, ex-
ceedingly handsome. Each plate and
platter has the coat of arms of the
United States in gilt in the border.
This set originally comprised 5000
pieces, including cups, saucers, etc.,
and Is today almost intact, great care
having been taken OF it, so that very
few of the pieces are broken.-Carl
.Sch0feld.