The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-04-21
LETTER
Especial Correspondence

considers that the presidents house
has been the home Of all our chief
executives save the first and an oc-
cupied residence for more than u cen
fury how few pieces Of old historical
furniture or furnishings are there.
The White House was built on clas-
sic lines and stands as a monument to
Washington's and Jefferson's judg-
ment in following the principles of the
masters in architecture. Its first &C.
cupants, Adams, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe and John Quincy Adams, all
were men of high culture and refined
tastes. They were familiar with the
most brilliant courts Of empire. 1t
therefore follows that the furnishings
of the White House Of their choice
must have been Of the same kind and
in the same good taste as that which
they purchased for their family resi-
dences. much Of which is proudly pre-
served by their descendants. Had
there been from early days a properly
appointed curator of the furnishings
of the presidents house it now would
contain some furnishings, at least
such as grace the old John Adams
home at Quincy, Mass, today.
White House Mahogany.
The handsome mahogany doors and
the mahogany woodwork in the state
parlors and family dining room Of the
White House were retained in the Nc
Kim RESERVATIONS. made in the summer
of 1902, and are the original mahogany
which HOban used when he rebuilt
the mansion after it's destruction by
the British in 1914. OF course a great
many furnishings of the house al that
time were destroyed in the fire, but by
no means all. Mrs. Madison knew
for some days that the British were
coming. and she tells Of the difficulties
she encountered during those days in
obtaining wagons to carry the things
she most desired to save. Everybody
knows the story of how she had the
portrait of Washington cut from the
frame and consigned to the care of
trustworthy friends, but whether it is
the large painting now hanging in the
red o is decidedly doubtful.
A Historic Clock.
On the mantel in the blue room rests
the most historic clock in the house.
1t is Of heavy French gilt, and its OBJ
long base is covered with the emblems
Of the first empire. The clock is sur
mounted with small figures of Liberty.
1t was presented by Napoleon l. to
General Lafayette, who on the occa-
sion of his second visit to the United
States gave it to the White House as
an expression Of his appreciation of
the kindness he had received from the
American people.
There is a small inlaid lacquer cabi-
net in the green room which is &C.
credited with having been brought to
President Buchanan by the first dip
lomatic representative from Japan.
Library Started by Mrs. Fillmore.
The library Of the presidents house
was started by Mrs. Fillmore, who,
with the late Mrs. Emily Donaldson
Wilcox, the daughter of q niece of
PRESIDENT Jackson, who was born in
the White House, chose the first books
which went into it. 1t is in the oval
room, on the second floor over the blue
room, and has always been one of the
most attractive apartments in the
mansion. Aside from the books it
does not now contain much of historic
Importance.
Presidential Portraits.
1t will have to be acknowledged that
the historic portraits in the White
House are not an unalloyed JOY. Tn
fortunately the best qualified artists
have not always been employed in
painting the portraits. and there has
been a remarkable disregard as to the
size or scale of the paintings or the
character Of their frames. either to
make them harmonize with each other
or to fit their architectural environ
ment. This is especially to be regret
ted. as the portraits Of the presidents
are really an official collection select
ed and purchased. through a commit
tee, of course, by congress and is an
evil which should be remedied.
An Interesting Collection.
The most historic part of the White
House-that is, the collection of pres
NANA "uAS-Ao COLluAllcu III SIX CuU-
1nets standing in the lower east corri-
dor of the mansion. Soon after Mrs.
Roosevelt became the mistress Of the
mansion she saw that there was moth
ing in it representative Of the great
majority Of the presidents who have
occupied the high office beyond their
portraits. This and the desire to save
something Of the presidential china
which was then in the White House
led her to start the collection. She
was so successful in this endeavor
that the collection now contains some
piece OF china, plate or glass which
was used by every presidents family
except those of Zachary Taylor, Will
liam Henry Harrison. Tyler, Van Blu
rem and Johnson, and efforts are now
under way whereby it is expected that