Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-04
Changes the Custom.

cloakrooms etc. which are now found in
the extension Of the Executive Mansion
on it's east side.
Changes the Custom.
President Cleveland and his sister. and
later his wife, did away with the custom
| established by President Arthur of ask
ing wives of prominent men outside the
car:ns- "a receive with them at the big
RECEIPT; o1s q. -, White House.
| When Pxs-s:1Sy: Cleveland had been in
office only a 1:Ss;e ms than a year he
married Miss Frances F~fEom. This we'd
ding was one of the r1ost interesting
events which ever took place in the White
House. The President and his bride went
to Deer Park, Nd, for their honeymoon
The White House was renovated and re-
furnished for the bride. and all of Wash
lngton was anxious to bid her welcome
upon her return to the city Mrs. Cleve-
land proved one of the most gracious and
charming hostesses that have ever held
sway in the White House. In those days
the big receptions at the White House
We're those given for the diplomatic corps
Congress and the judiciary, the army and
navy, and "a public reception which fell
on Washington's birthday, and Also the
New Year day reception. Since then oc
cupants of the White House have given
special reception to the members of
Congress and another to the judiciary,
and have eliminated the public reception
Washington's birthday.
Among the members of Congress who
entertained with lavish hand during the
Cleveland administration We're Senator
and Mrs. Calvin S. Brice.
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 it.
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 ad-
ministration. She came to Washington
In May, 1893. with nineteen Spanish
grandees in her train A state banquet
was given her at the White House
Another member of a royal family who
visited the White House during the Ia ST
administration of Cleveland was Prince
Iorihuito komato, granddaughter of the
mikado.
Washington Portrait Saved.
The burning of the White House bv
| the British furnished the setting for on.
| OF the most picturesque stories assoc
ciated with the historic structure. AL
though historians disagree as to the per-
son who actually did save the portrait,
| the story goes that Dolly Madison, wife
| of President James Madison, upon learn
| ing that a troop of British soldiers had
| started toward the White House with the
| intention Of sacking it, climbed upon a
| 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 d few minutes be-
! fore the arrival of the soldiers, and is
said to have. taken it to a farmhouse on
the Tenleytown road where she stayed
in hiding until after the British had left
the city. In this way the greatest of all
ashington portraits was saved.
The first occupants of the White House
got along at night with candles and the
lighting apparatus of the early DAYS of
the country. Gas was installed in 1915
and system of heating and ventilating
in 1853 For the first seventy years of the
existence of the building the average
yearly cost for furnishing was 5000.
Original Terraces.
The original building contained terraces
something like those now connected with
the building, except not SO imposing They
are thought to have been erected during
Jeffersons administration, Jefferson
had his office in small building near
where : the executive offices
located Congress appropriated money
III . 1917 To CHldTSe the OInceS west
of the Presidents house. 1t is sup
posed that the west terrace and buildings
were turned into greenhouse in the 50s,
while the east terrace, where were located
| the conservatory and stables. was re-
moved to make room for the extension to
| the Treasury building.
| The main building continued to be both
| the offices and residence of Presidents
| until the fall of 1902. In the spring of
| that year Congress appropriated sos 600
| for the erection of temporary offices for
| the President and s4750O0 for remodeling
| and refurnishing the White House
! The contract was let for the work.
| the stipulation being that everything
| must be done within four months so
that the family could again occupy the
building and the President the Offices.
In that time great problems were to
lbe worked out
While the work was going on i'm the
summer of 1902 President and Mrs.
Roosevelt were at Oyster Bay. Upon
their return in September they were
tuaartered temporarily at No. -. Jack
son place, Lafayette square. 1t was in