New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-23

MEMORIES OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Home Life Of Our Presidents from Lin
coin TO Roosevelt. Being personal rec
objections Of Colonel w. II. Crook some
time bodygusrd TO Lincoln, since then
disbursing officer of the executives.
Compiled and edited by Henry Rood.
illustrated SvO, pp. X, 3O6. Boston:
Little, Brown & Co.
Colonel Crook, who has already given
us a volume of "reminiscences Of the
Presidents under whom he has served
in the White House devotes his new book
10 the private rather than the public side
Of their lives in the Executive Mansion,
and consequently devotes the major part
Of his space TO their wives, the ladies
who have successfully presided over
the households and the social and Of
fetal functions there since the first in
auguration OF Lincoln. Colonel Crooks
enthusiastic admiration Of ell these
women in the highest place Of honor
IS convincing, and he is discreet. lie
gives us a series Of united, happy Amer
lean families, OF true helpmeets and
gracious mistresses and loved and low
able children, tracing by the way the
gradual elaboration OF the ceremonial
and the style Of living introduced by
successive administrations, IN keeping
with the development Of the dignity
and greatness Of the country. He
sketches the extreme simplicity OF the
public receptions in Lincoln's day, tells
us when the first housekeeper was en-
gagged to tighten the burden OF a Pres
ident's wife increasingly claimed by So
cial duties; he tells MS that President
Arthur was the first chief OF the state
within his memory TO employ a valet,
and the last to occupy the official sum-
mer residence in the grounds Of the
Soldiers Home, speaks Of the porcelain
services and silver and plate Of the
White House. and recalls the forgotten
days Of Baby Ruth and Baby Mckee.
He has a serious word to say, also, con-
corning the pain given TO the wives and
daughters Of Presidents by the person
al attacks made upon them by their
political opponents.
He talks Of the diversions Of our Pres
idents. Of Lincoln's walks, Grants love
Of fast horses, Arthur's more sedate
drives, and Cleveland's shooting expe-
ditlons into Maryland; Of the total abb
stinence rule of Mrs. Hayes, which was
broken only once, in favor Of two Wis
ting Russian princes; and he recalls
the change made in the traditional rule
Of state dinners when Mr.. Mckinley,
instead Of taking in the wife OF the
Secretary Of state and seating her at
his right offered his arm to his own
lie tells number Of anecdotes new
ones, by the way. among them one OF
Mrs. Cleveland. When about to leave
tho White House. OH March 4, 1889,
Mrs. Cleveland, according to this story,
told one Of the old attendants OF the
Executive Mansion 20 take good care Of
the furniture and ornaments, as she
wanted to find everything as she left
it on her return. TO the mans en-
barrassed question when she expected
to return, Mrs. Cleveland answered with
q confident smile that she would be
back on March 4. 1898
Mr.. Roosevelt, it is we'll known, was
the recipient OF all kinds Of presents
during his occupancy Of the White
House, these sometimes embarrassing
offerings ranging from books by the
10 live foxes coons and other
animals.
At one period of his Presidency the Tx
ccGtiye ONCE was igundated-if that term
is pcrmissible-with big sticks" cut from
every type or tree. I remember one such
that was - large ~ Il pumpkin
one day the newspapers told mat n dog
the President was Particularly fond Of had
been whipped in a Eight couplo
Of DAVIS later "a Roosevelt supporter ou i'm
Ohio sent 10 Washington a crate i'm which
stood big hedEy bulldog. AT the same