The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-01-20

ner in all his invitations. At a point .
near Mount Vernon the gun was to be
fired, and the President was expected |
to be on deck at the time. But Miss |
Gardiner preferred to remain in the
wardroom to listen to the singing OF
a young man, a relative of President
Tyler. The President remained with
them. At last, finding it impossible
to get the President on deck, the gun
was fired-with the most fearful re-
suit. 1t President Tyler had been
where it was designed for him to
stand, there is no doubt that he would
have been blown to atoms, along with
the other prominent persons who were
killed. Among them were two mem
bers of the Cabinet and the father of
Miss Gardiner. AS soon as the fright
full disaster had occurred, and the
dead were identified, the President
went to Miss Gardiner, and his great
est concern was for the grief stricken
girl, who was taken back to Washing
ton in a half conscious condition. The
funeral of all who were killed took
place from the White House.
Within year, the President and
Miss Gardiner were married. The
wedding, which was of the uuietest
description, took place in New York;
but the young bride had one brilliant
and splendid winter before President
Tyler retired from the presidency.
She was still in her early twenties,
and enjoyed her position, and went
out of the White House, it was said,
without ever having snubbed anyone,
or made an enemy.
To the first Mrs Harrison should
be attributed the best, the simplest,
and the most artistic plan ever de-
vised for the enlargement of the /.
White House. 1t had long become
much too small for the requirements
of the business of the nation and the
needs of family; but, being classed
as one of the few perfect examples Of .
in the country, there was
great hesitation in making any
changes. 1t is a replica of the coun- !
try house of the Dukes of Leinster,
and has always been admired by
artists. Munkacsy, the Hungarian !
artist, declared it to be the finest
specimen of architecture of the sort
he had ever seen, combining, as it did,
and simplicity. Mrs Har-
rison suggested that the present build |
ing, which is oblong, be simply dupli. |
Gated at the back, making it square
This suggestion was not carried out.
In President Roosevelt's time the
present colonnades were built. One OF
these is used for the offices of the !
President, and the other for cloak
rooms and dressing rooms for recep-
tions and other entertainments, leav-
ing the house proper for the use of
the Presidents family. At the time
the colonnades were added the house
was overhauled and some parts of 1t
rebuilt, such as the main staircase.
The ceiling in the East Room was also
lowered two feet.
The salary of the President was
raised from fifty thousand dollars in
President Roosevelt's time, to seventy
five thousand in President Taft's time
but this is really the salary of the
Lady of the White House, as the
Presidents share in it consists of his
board, clothes, and travelling expenses. /
In addition to this there is a sum APP
every year for repairs and
refurnishings, which are oftener
necessary in the White House than in
a private mansion. The vast number
of guests entertained during the sea-
son wears out the carpets and fur
niture coverings. Everything there is
in use all the time, and constant re-
are needed
When Mrs. Taft succeeded as Lady
of the White House, she was already
well trained in official society. At
the beginning of her regime she had
a serious illness lasting nearly a year;
but at the end of that time she re-
covered her health, and since then
has presided with marked tact, grace,
and dignity over the White House.
Her only daughter, Miss Helen Taft,
made her debut in December, 1910, at
large tea, and Immediately entered
upon all those gaities which await the
daughter of a President. Mrs. Taft
has followed a conservative course.
However, she made a precedent by re-
ceiving the guests at one of the three
splendid Bachelors Balls, one of the
Oldest and most select social organiza-
tons in Washington. She is very
fond Of the theater, and goes often,
both with and without the President.
When the President attends, the box
is always draped with the national
colors, Mrs. Taft is also fond of at