Evening star., 1912-11-24

confirmed the tradition that her hlSh
station shall ever be relieved of petty
cares and responsibilities of housekeep-
ing, and il is not anticipated that these
traditions will be overthrown during the
coming four years.
Mrs Wilson will be the first first lady
of the land who in twenty-elsht years
will have taken up her abode in the house
Of our Presidents without previous eX-
perience as a social leader in Washington.
Mrs Cleveland assumed her responsible
tiles without such experience ana
triumphed socially no other Presidents 5
wife had triumphed since the days OF
Dolly Madison. But as they did to Mrs
Cleveland, the responsibilities of presiding
over the social world, at the capital. must
now appear much more formidable than
they did to Mrs. Mckinley. Mrs. Roose-
Welt and Mrs. Taft, each of whom had
served an apprenticeship in Washington
society and had profited by many peep
behind the scenes of the social drama at
the White House.
To superntend her domestic staff Mrs.
Wilson will have her choice of either
steward or housekeeper. Mrs. Cleve-
land, Mrs. Mckinley and Mrs. Roosevelt
each chose a steward. who received s1,SOU
from the government and who was re-
sponsible for tableware and bric-a-brac
10 the extent of his bond of $4,000. But
Mrs Taft has preferred woman house
keeper. although stewards have been
generally employed for many admnistra-
tions These were usually colored men,
although that of Gen. Grant was an
Italian. named Melah. There are Wash
ingtonians who still remember William
S.ade, the respected colored steward OF
the White House, whose funeral during
the administration of Andrew Johnson
was attended by that President and MS
daughters Thomas Jefferson enjoyed the
services of French steward, as Well as
of a French cook. So Jeffersonian SIM
plicity need not be outraged II the next
lady of the White House selects such a
iunctionary.
Precedents handed down by democratic
as well as republican executives will en-
title Mrs. Wilson 20 a maid and President
Wilson to a valet, both paid by the gov
ernment, which will also supply the wages
of two chauffeurs, a groom OF the stables.
a corps OF laundresses to care for the
overnment-owned table linen. and a lit
tie army Of other domestics charged with
the waiting, the dustlns, the ponsn,hs'
sweeping scrubbing and window washing.
Some of these servants are retained from
administration to administration Thus
Jerry Smith. the colored man who was
long known as the OHcldi 0uSleT, re-
mained continuously from the days of
Grant until old age overlook him few
years ago. The prerogative of the black
man TO serve the white man inside the
White House is relic of the days of
Washington which no Presidents seem to
have disputed. save by their selection of
chefs and stewards.
Whenever Mrs. Wilson may wish any
repairs made, new furniture, new decora-
tions, new silver. china or cut glass, she
need simply press button, summon an
usher and send for the engineer officer OF
the government whom her husband will
have appointed master of ceremonies and
disbursing officer of the appropriations
for care and maintenance of the man.
sion. This officer will be officially de-
tailed lin charge of public buildings and
grounds and his appointment will give
him the rank and allowances of
colonel. On all formal occasions he will
introduce guests to the President. and his
duties as whole will be those OF the
lord chamberlain of foreign court.
Unless democratic simplicity shall