The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-06-06

the reason why is simply tha! congress
soon after Mr.. Roosevelt became preSi
dent gave him S....G0U 10 sl,pna Oh i.
immense outfit OF china ware iiGp@ste;
from England. where it was lnaCr u.
Stokeon- Trent after Ii SIC ial ard G.
elusive design.
White House Crockery.
Up to Abraham Lincon's time til
Executive mansion was supplied will.
rroskery in Il desutory scft Of WAY
dishes. Plates and cups ana saucers
being pure based whenever mere q
.heM were needed But Mrs Lincoln
persuaded congress to give her money
| for fresh outfit. a very beautiful ser
ordered from France witt blue Dor
| der. gilt stars for the states of the Tn.
ion and an eagle and scroll with the
words e Piuribus UEun" on every
piece.
Mrs. Grant bought another set. taste
| less and devoid of artistic merit with
yellow border and designs of flowers
and fruit in more or less natural col
ors This. or what remains of it. is
the least handsome Of White House
china. Notwithstanding these pur-
chases Mrs. Hayes when she became
mistress Of the mansion found the sup
ply of crockery sadly deficient.
Mrs. Hayes Chisa Set.
Mrs. Hayes was practical house
keeper and she lost no time In putting
matters straight All damaged crock
cry on hand she sent to auction. and
without delay she obtained from cen
gress special appropriation Of $5.0c2
wherewith to purchase a 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 or
namented with paintings by American
artists, representing the native fauna
and fora of the United States
Historic Odds and Ends
At the time when lin 1902 the pur-
chase Of complete new service OF
queensware was contemplated by Mr.
Roosevelt Il careful inventory was
made of all the china in the White
House. 1t was found to comprise 143
pieces of tie Lincoln set, 125 pieces eff
the Grant set, 371 pieces of the Hayes
set. so pieces Of the Arthur set. 1,745
Of the Harrison set and 321 pieces of
the Mckinley set.
This was the entire outfit, barring
few pieces left over from the Pierce
Monroe. Buchanan and other admins
trations. which were regarded as curl
osities. not for use. but to be preserved
for the sake of their historical interest
Pieces Must Be Perfect.
Custom at the White House demands
that no article shall appear on the ta-
BILE. especially on state occasions. that
Is not absolutely without defect. Net
merely Ii chip. but the slightest scratch
in the gliding Oh the edge Of a plate or
cup or the almost imperceptible wear
ing Of Il co.or design. Is sufficient to
condemn the piece. 1t is put aside on
a shell. and BIZ and by when 4 mum
Der of such rejects have accumu-
lated. they are inspected by the stew
ard and sent off to auction.
China Sold at Auction.
Condemned White House china al
ways brings very high prices at the
auction sales. especially pieces of the
Lincoln. Grant and Hayes sets. Even
a badly cracked Lincoln cup and sau-
Ger or damaged egg cup may fetch
$15 or $40. On the other hand.
ton is not likely to command mere
than So. Washington and Jefferson
crockery is always salable at fancy
prices. But none Of it comes from
the White House.
Roosevelt Set Intact.
The Roosevelt china. which was or
dered from England. is white and gold
and, as might be imagined. exceeding
ly 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 mcludlng cups. SducerS, etc..
and is today almost intact. great care
having been taken of it, SO that very
few of the pieces are broken.
Censor For Public Posters.
Posters In the national capital here
after must be subjected to the blue
pencil Of the police department IN
order has been agreed upon by the
District commissioners amending the
police regulations by providing that
hereafter no placards shall be public
" displayed or exhibited which are
leWd, indecent or vulgar or which pic
torially represent the commission of
crime" The fine for violation of the
regulation is from SIS to $50 for each
offense.
New Style In Statues.
A few days ago a bronze statue to
the memory of Alexander R Shep-
herd, one time boss of Washington.
was erected in the plaza in front of