Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-02
MANSION FOR THEM
White House Home for VIII
sons Best Money Affords.
UNCLE SAM NOT STINGY
Allows $4,000 Yearly for Furnish
ings and Care.
ANY CHANGES SPEEDILY MADE
Army Officer Detailed to See That
Executive Residence Suits Tastes
of "First Lady of the Land"
ANY CHANGES SPEEDILY MADE

become the mistress Of a mansion the
furnishings of which are as elegant az
those of any palace, and which have. in
many instances. a history that dates back
even to the days Of Washington. Adams
| and jefferson
Mrs. Wilson will find in the White
| House home that is as spick and span
as money can make it and a system for
! the management of the household that
! works with the regularity of clockwork
| But should she desire to make any
changes in the furnishing of any of the
rooms of this historic mansion she has
but to call on an army officer whose chief
duty is to see that the home of the chief
executive of the land Is kept In repair
and arranged TO suit the taste of this
| first lady of the land
Congress makes an appropriation each
year of about $4,000 for the sole purpose
of furnishing and caring for in other
ways the Presidents house and his wife
any changes she desires will be speedily
ay changes She desires will be speedily
made.
1t has been a tradition of both political
parties that the Presidents abode shall
look splch and span that none of the fur
niture shall show a scratch or worn
spot, that none OF the draperies or decora-
>tions in use shall be allowed to fade or
all of this, for it is the desire of every
American that the White House shall
always present an appearance that de-
fies even the most critical criticism.
Historical Furnishings.
While Mrs. Wilson will see that the
living quarters of the President and MEM
bers OF his family are arranged to suit
her tastes. it is doubtful if she will in
I ,,,ly, i
of any of the more important chambers
on the main floor of the building In
| these she will find furnishings of the
greatest value because of the history
which attaches to them.
In the east room which is familiar to all
| visitors to the White House. she will find
| the magnificent gold grand piano, a
| splendid instrument entirely covered with
| gold leaf, and valued at SD 800. On the
| inside of its cover is an oil painting of the
muses. executed by famous artist. 1t Is
! used in the concerts so often given in the
| east room during the season. In this
| room are also to be found two beautiful
blue Sevres vases which were presented
| in commemoration of the laying of the
| Franco-American cable during President
| McKinley's administration They are
valued at 5000 each.
The window draperies in this room are
| of heavy yellow silk; the banquettes are
! silded and carved and are covered with
| tables with marble tops also stand in this
| room.
Chandeliers Are Peerless.
| The chandeliers in this room are said to
| be the most magnificent ever manufac-
tured. There are three of them and each
| contains $500 pieces of crystal
In the state dining room, the walls of
which paneled in richly carved oak.
Mrs. Wilson Will find two rare tapestries
of Flemish workmanship Of the seven
teenth century. In the red room adjoin-
ing she will find the oil portraits of some
of the Presidents and one of Martha
Washington. hanging from the walls. A
richly carved Japanese cabinet. gift to
Mrs. Roosevelt from the japanese lega-
ton. is also to be found in this room.
In the blue room is to be found the
massive gold clock presented by Lafay-
cite to George Washington. The clock Is
kept running every day and is said to be
an excellent timekeeper. The furniture
in this room is i'm white and gold, uphOl-
stored in blue and gold. Portraits of Lin
coin, Adams. Harrison. Johnson and
Jackson adOrn the walls of the green
room. The fire screen in this room,
beautiful piece Of work in a delicate shade
of silk. was presented to the White House
by the Austrian government in 1876. Two
Japanese vases which are to be found In
this room We're gift of the japanese
government to the White House during
y II.
There is also handsome Japanese cabi-
net in this room, which was presented by
the first Japanese minister to the United
States in 1858.
The floor above that on which the red,
green. blue and the east rooms To-
Gated, is devoted to the living rooms of
the Presidents family.
Presidents Private Office.
At the head of the stairway Is the
Presidents private office and study.
which was formerly used and known as
the cabinet room. The Presidents desk,
OF richly carved mahogany and fiat
topped. stands nearly I'm the center of the
room, around the walls of which and in
the spaces between the windows are set
low. open bookcases.
A beautiful marble mantel. with open
fireplace. stands in the room The
mantel bears the following inscription:
This room was first used for meetings
of the cabinet during the administration
of President Johnson. 1t continued to be
used until 1907. Here the treaty of peace
with Spain was signed. \ door from
the study opens into a library.
AS on the main floor. the family
floor has a large corridor. richly car
peted, running east and west connecting
two large sitting rooms. and communicat-
ing with the bedrooms. There are seven
of these, each with a bath adjoining A
narrow stairway leads from the north
west corridor to private dning-rOom
the floor below. A noiseless electric ele-
vator, running from the basement to the
attic. adjonS this stairway.
In all the rooms on the family floor
Mrs. Wilson will find the finest of fur
nishings. The furniture has been selected
with the greatest of care. the bed and
other linen As of the finest texture and
the carpets are the richest to be had. Not
single detail has been overlooked. AL
though she select for these rooms fur
nshings of different design and shape
| no finer quality can be found. for every
thing is the best that money can buy.
! Unique Feature of Furnishings.
One of the most unique features of the
| furnishings of the White House is the
! table service. 1t differs from that found
| Ill the homes of men of wealth in that
| every piece of it has a history attached
| to IL and is. therefore, of great value.
| Each new mistress of the White House
| provides, from an appropriation made
| for this purpose, all or part of the china
| service in keeping with her own tastes.
and III consequence there are in the clos
cts today no less than parts of six or
| seven distinct services, representing ad-
| miniStratiOnS far back as that of Lin
| coin. Some of these services include
many pieces. and the style of decoration