The Washington herald., 1913-10-13

.FIVENEW ROOMS
AT White HOUSE
Wilson's Now VIII Be Able
to Entertain More
Guests.
CHANGES IN THIRD STORY
Wives Of the Presidents Frequently
Have Been Unable to Provide
Accommodations for Visitors.
CHANGES In THIRD STORY


When Mrs. woodrow Wilson returns to
the White House the last Of this week
from the summer spent at Harlakenden,
in Cornish, N. H, she will md five new
guest rooms at her disposal for the en-
tertainment of friends of her family this
winter. These rooms have been built into
the third story OF the White House since
Mrs Wilson went to Cornish, and they
practically are completed now.
The addition OF five guest rooms to
the domestic establishment Of the First
Lady of the Land is by no means an
unimportant matter. Without doubt
they will be the means Of saving the
wife OF the President many regrets in
the coming social season. They will en-
able Mrs. Wilson or her daughters to
entertain as house guests friends whom
they wish to invite to Washington for
the social functions OF the White House,
instead of rendering them the scant hos
pitality of an establishment where the
limited supply OF bedrooms forbade the
reception OF more than two or three
house guests at q time.
Mrs. Wilson may, indeed. count herself
fortunate, when she recalls some Of the
experiences OF Mrs. Taft, Mrs Roose-
welt, and other wives OF Presidents, who.
with all the state dining rooms and
Green and Red and East Rooms at their
disposal for formal ceremonies, have not
had enough guest rooms to entertain the
members of their immediate families
when they desired to do 30.
Mrs. Taft Embarrassed.
Perhaps one Of the most embarrassing
incidents that ever befell the wife Of a
President because of the cramped do
mestic accommodations of the White
House happened last Christmas to Mrs.
Taft. Mr.. Taft Is very fond Of Col Goe-
thals, who built the Panama Canal Last
December, when he visited the canal he
insisted that Col. and Mrs GoethalS re-
turn TO Washington with the Presidential
rarty in order to be White House guests
during the Christmas holidays.
What was Mrs. Tafts surprise on
reaching Washington to find the White
House overiowing with a very modes.
number of guests whom their daughter,
Miss Helen, and their son, Robert, had
brought home with them from the col
leges they attended.
Difficult as the situation was, Mrs. Taft
found It necessary to rescind the invita-
ton to the GoetAls and to send them
to a hotel TheTafts' dissatisfaction
was lightened by the realization that Col |
and Mrs. Goethals knew something OF
White House domestic problems
Buchanan Slept in Corridor.
A story told Of a more remote emer- |
gency at the White House with regard |
to the entertainment of guests en- |
phasizes, perhaps, even better than the |
foregoing the need that has been felt |
from time TO time for eniarging the |
facilities there. This story has come |
iown from President Buchanan.
In 1850 Prince Albert edward of Wales, /
who later became Edward VII, King OF
England, visited the United States It |
was an important international incident. |
President Buchanan realized its impor- /
lance and desired to make a pleasant !
Impression on Queen Victoria through |
The entertainment accorded her son. His
zeal carried him so far that he gave up /
MS bedroom and slept in a corridor
while the Prince was at the White 7
House, according to White House tra- 4
Hilton. 1
1t was to prevent a repetition of such
Incidents that Congress at the last ses-
non appropriated $4,000 for extraor-
iinary repairs of the White House in
addition to the regular appropriation for
he repair and maintenance OF the build
ng.
Plans for these repairs were prepared
by Col, Spencer Cosby, the superinten-
lent of buildings and grounds. in the
'pring and were submitted to Mrs. Will
ION. The work of tearing up the third
tory and constructing the new rooms
vas postponed until the summer. /
The improvements will permit of the
OF a considerable number
II guests by the Wilson's for the we'd
ling of Miss Jessie to Francis Bowes
il,
lew rooms, girl friends of the Misses
Wilson can be accommodated in the
of the three-room suites
IN the second floor occupied by the VIII
ions. A number of beds are kept at
he White House throughout the year
o be used in turning these dressing
ooms into bedrooms in emergencies.
The Watson family. when they took
possession of the White House in March.
ound it just as it was after the radical
emodeling effected during President
administration. Soon after
dr Roosevelt became President in 1902
congress authorized this remodeling at
N approximate expense of $4,000.
There were six sons and daughters of
he President and Mrs. Roosevelt when
hey came to the White House to live.
hey found at their disposal Just six
ooms, including the Presidents library.
t soon became evident that such a
ramped condition was intclerable, SO
DIR. Roosevelt undertook to convince
congress that the time had come to
nodernize the Presidents home.
The architects who were entrusted
nth the remodeling were told to keep
hree purposes in mind:
Ffrst-To carry out the original plans
the architect. James Hoban, of
.harieston. 8. c., who designed the White ,
louise in 1873.
Second-To make the White House a
lore healthy place to live in.
Third-To place a larger domestic es-
ablishment at the disposal of the Presi-
ent's family.
These directions were adhered to care
ully. Bearing the third in mind, the
rchitects determined to remove the
Executive offices from the White House