Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-06-15

hel49Ga6GI@ daughters to men
Of their choice
have taken place in the east room,
and that there great receptions have
been held, and also, lest It be forgot
ten, that there great wrestling
match took place, presided over by a
president of the United States and
looked on more or less admiringly by
cabinet officers, foreign ambassadors
and ministers-but on such doings as
these the east rooms celebrity must
hang.
At the head OF the main flight OF
White House stairs is a room which
Is historic. In 1t the Monroe doctrine
was formulated; in it Andrew Jack
son prepared for his attack on the
national bank. and In 1t he made up
his mind what to do If notification
should be attempted in South Caro-
lima. In this room overlooking the
rear grounds of the White House be-
yond which lies the Potomac. Blu
chanan thought on the approach OF
/, civil war, and there struggled with
himself on the question Of duty. There
he met Jefferson Davis and other
southern statesmen, until that time
loyal to the flag of the Union. In the
room President Lincoln drafted his
emancipation proclamation, and In it
President Mckinley spent the entire
night following the destruction OF the
Maine in Havana harbor thinking on
the awfulness of war and withstand
ing urgings that 1t should begin at
/ once.
This room on the second floor OF
the White House has been an office or
used as a study and a library OF presi-
dents since the time that the build
ing was erected. The office wing is
of recent construction, having been
completed just about the time that
Theodore Roosevelt became president
Most OF the messages which have
been sent to congress on minor and
major subjects were written in the
second-story study of the executive
mansion proper. 1t was the room in
which foreign ambassadors were re-
ceived by the president when charged
with messages of moment. There Lin
coin and his secretary of state and
the British ambassador passed twelve
| hours of one day and twelve hours
Of another in consultation, and at
times in controversy, following the
receipt of the news that the Confed-
crate commissioners, Mason and
Slidell, had been taken from the Brit
,sh ship Trent on the high seas and
had been made prisoners OF the
United States.
When the Office wing of the White
House was built the study and office
room became a study only. 1t is there
that the president passes his evening,
and 1t is there that he receives call
ers whose errands are OF such a ma
ture that they do not care to go pub
licly In the daylight hours 10 the room
adjoining the cabinet-room in the Of
fee annex. Originally it was an Of
fee. study and library. The books
on the shelves have changed with
each incoming administration, and
they have reflected the literary tastes
of the incumbent in office.
When President Roosevelt was In
the White House the study was In ma
ture that OF circulating library. He
had books upon all kinds OF subjects,
although nature books and hunting
books predominated. 1t is said, how
ever, that there was not a book on
fishing In the whole collection, for
Mr.. Roosevelt liked every other kind
of outdoor sport, but never went and
never goes fishing, a fact which has
been somewhat resented by the fol-
lowers OF the sport.
II presidents OF the United States
chose to receive gifts they could MI
the east room, the study, the blue
room, the green room and rooms or
other, colors. The presents. however
which presidents are allowed to take
are few. Certain gifts have come from
the powerful ones of the earth, for
eign monarchs whose offerings could
not be declined without giving Of
tense, but as most of them have been
articles Of an innocuous kind they
have been taken In the spirit In which
they were given. King Menelik's gift
was innocuous as long as II was kept
behind bars. II consisted of two lions
which his majesty was pleased to
have Mr.. Roosevelt accept some
years ago. The beasts are now In a
cage in the Geological Garden in Rock
Greek Park.