The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-05

lingtons Birthday. and also. the New
Years Day reception. Since then &C
cupants Of tho White House have
bers of Congress and another to the
judiciary, and have eliminated the
public reception on washington's
Birthday.
Among the members OF Congress
who entertained with lavish hand dur
ing the Cleveland administration were
Senator and Mrs. Calvin s. Bricc.
Buys Country Home.
During the first Cleveland admins
tration the President purchased "a coun-
try home on Woodley Lane, with about
thirty acres of ground about it, and he
and Mrs. Cleveland spent much OF their
time in II.
The visit to Washington and the
White House Of the Infanta Eulalia of
Spain was one of the most interesting
social events which took place during
this administration. She came to
teen Spanish grandees in her train. A
state banquet was given her at the
White House. Another member OF n
royal family who visited tho White
House during the last. administration
of Cleveland was Prince Yorihuito
U.
Washington Portrait Saved.
The burning OF the White House by
the British furnished the setting for
one of the most picturesque stories as
sociated with the historic structure.
Although historians disagree as to the
person who acturlly did save the por-
trait, the story goes that Dolly Madi-
son, wife OF President James Madison,
upon learning that a troop OF British
soldiers had started toward the White
House with the Intention of sacking II,
climbed upon mantel and cut the
Stuart painting OF George Washington
from it's frame.
She carried this with her when she
hurried from the White House a few
minutes before the arrival Of the sol
diers, and is said to have taken 1t to
farmhouse on the Tcnicytown Roud
where she stayed in hiding until after
the British had left the city In this
way the greatest OF all Washington
portraits was saved.
The first occupants OF the White
House got along at night with candles
and the lighting apparatus of the carly
days of the country. Gas was In
stalled in 1S4S, and a system of heat
ing and ventilating In 1853. For the
first seventy years OF the existence of
tho building, the average yearly cost
for furnishing was $4,000
Original Terraces,
The original building contained ter
races something like those now con-
nected with the building, except not
so imposing. They arc thought to
have been erected during Jcffcrson's
administration. as jefferson had his
Office in a small building near where
the executive Offices arc now located.
Congress appropriated money in 1919
to enlarge the Offices west OF the
Presidents house." 1t is supposed that
the west terrace and buildings wero
turned Into greenhouse in the sos
while tho east terrace, whore were
located the conservatory and stables,
was removed to make room for tho
extension to the Treasury Building.
The main building continued TO be both
the ocffices and residence OF Presidents
until the fall of 1902. In the spring OF
that year Congress appropriated $685.
600 for the erection OF temporary Offices
for the President and s475.00O for re-
modelling and refurnshing the White
House.
The contract was let for the work,
the stipulation being that everything
must be done within four onths, so
that the family could again occupy tile
building and the President the offices
In that tie great problems were to be
work ed out.
While the work was going on in the
Roosevelt We're at Oyster Bay. Upon
their return III September they were
duartered temporarily at 90 jackson
Place, Lafayette Square. 1t was in this
building that tho President settled the
great anthracite coal strike. In Octo-
Der Mr. Roosevelt moved into the new
executive Offices at the extreme west
end OF the west terrace. and his family
moved into the enlarged quarters OF the
White House the former executive Of
fees there having been changed into
bedrooms.
Decorations and FurnishinEs.
Since 1870 the White House has been
redecorated and refurnishcd frequent
ly, according to the tastes OF the times
and within the limits of annual appro-
nriations. varying from $4,000 To $780,
600. Until 1902 the sums available
have never been sufficient to accom-
plsh a thorough reconstruction Re-
ferrinG to Exchanges made that year.
the President in message to Con-
grcss said:
Through u wise provision OF Con-
gress at It's last session, the White
House, which had become disiiSurcd
by homogeneous additions and changes,
has now been restored 10 what 1t was
planned to be by Washington. IN max
ing the restoration, the utmost care
has been exercised to come as near
as possible to the early plans and to
supplement these plans by careful
study OF such buildings as that or
the University OF Virginia. which was
built by Jefferson. The White House
is tho property OF the nation. and so
far as is compatible with living therein
II should be kept as 1t originally was,
for the Same reason that We keep
Mount Vernon as Il originally was.
The stately simplicity OF Its architec-
ture is an expression OF the character
In which 1t was built. and Is in ac-
cord with the purposes II was designed
to serve. 1t Is n good thing to pres