The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-24
N JOHN ELFRHra WATKINS

~ HE lands first lady-elecL Is re-
voiving In her mind plans t"r
= housekeeping in our mansion -
.nansions.
Her coming task as chatelaine OF tue
Rhite House may now appear stupen~
raous, but Congress through man! de-
cades has confirmed the tradition ina.
her high station snail ever be removes
II pstty cares and responsibilities Oh
houseke eping, and II is not anticipates
,fhat these traditions Will De over
thrown during the coming four years.
Mrs. Wilson will be the hrst hrs'
lady Of the lana who in twenty
eight years will have taken up he'
abode in the house Of our Presidents
without previous experience as socia,
leader in Washington. Mrs. Cleveland
assumed her responsibilities "i'hou'
suca .xper.encc ana tr!umphed sociaHs
40 no other Presidents wife had tri-
pnphed since the days of Dolly Mad
ison. But as they did TO Mrs. Ciere-
land. the responsibilities OF presidlnS
over the social world, at the CAPITOL
must not appear much more formida-
BILE than they did to Mrs Mckinney.
Mrs. Roosevelt and Mrs: Iaft' each OF
whom had served an apprenticeship In
WA shington society and had pronted
nv many a peep behind the scenes OF
the social drama at the White House.
Gan Choose steward or HouSekeeper.
To superintend her domestic stan
Mrs. Wilson will have her choice OF
either q steward or housekeeper'
Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs Mckinley and Mrs.
Roosevelt each chose steward. who
received $500 from the government
and who was responsible for table
~are and bric-a-brac to the extent
~ his bond of $4,000. But Mrs. Tatt
mas preferred women housekeeper'
although stewards have been generally
employed for many administrations.
These were usually colored men, al
though that of General Grant was an
italian. named Melah. There are
washingtonians who still remempet
William Slade. the respected co!ore"
steward of the White house. whose
funeral during the administration 'i
Andrew Johnson was attended by that
president and his daughters. Thomas
Jefferson enjoyed the services OK d
French steward as well as Of French
nook. So JefYersonian simplicity need
NO, be outraged if the next lady or the
Wvbite House selects such function
Ary.
Precedents handed down by Democra-
Ric as we'll as Republican executives VIII
entitie Mrs. Wilson to maid ana
President Wilson to a valet. both paln
Nv the government, which will also sup
DIV the wages of two chaufeurs'
groom Of the stables. a corps OF laun-
Hresses to care for the government
owned table linen, and little army OF
other domestics charged with the walt-
ing the busting. the polishing. sweep
ing scrubbing and window Washing.
Some Of these servants are retained
from administration to administration.
Thus Jerry Smith. the colored man who
va. long known as the "official duster,
remained continuously fsom the days
pf Grant until old age overlook him a
few years ago. The prerogative OF the
MACK man to serve the white man in
side the White House is relic OF the
days OF Washington which no Presi-
dents seem to have disputed. save py
xheir selection Of chefs and stewards.
Away. Money for New Furniture.
Whenever Mrs. Wilson may wish
nnv repairs made. now furniture, new
decorations. new silver, china or cut
YIass. she need simply press a button
summon An usher and send FOR the en-
Rineer oflcer of the government whom
her husband will have appointed master
Of ceremonies and disbursing omcer OF
the appropria tons for care and main
tenance OF the mansion. This ofiicer
will be oficially detailed in charge
Of public buildings and grounds and
his appointment will give him the rank
and allowances Of a colonel. On all
formal occasions he will introduce
guests to the President. and his duties
as q whole will be those Of the lord
chamberlain OF a foreign court
Unless Democratic simplicity shall
cause Congress to demand retrench-
men,. the master Of ceremonies viii be
given a regular fund OF s53.010 year.
of which will be allowed $4,000 for the
White House greenhouses. $500 for
fuel used IN the mansaion and green
houses and $35, 900 for cave. repair and
refurn;shing OF the White House. II
Is out Of this latter sum that Mrs. wal
con CA have purchased for her any
new. furniture carpets. draperies.
china, silver or cut glass which she
thinks she needs, and there will no
no one TO say her nay. unless It be her
husband.
Cpon assuming her residence in the