The Washington herald., 1914-12-20

for that event-but for other reasons
which one easily could surmise.
Her husband and son were about to
start for a long and possibly dangefous
trip into the jungles Of Africa. and she
was looking forward to a year Of anxiety.
She was leaving a full and busy life;
she had occupied her high position for
nearly eight years, during which she
had made a host of friends. and a great
number Of them had called during the
afternoon to say farewell and to express
their deep regret at her departure. 1
know all of these things realized their
depressing effect and sympathized with
her deeply. The President and Mr.. Taft.
seconded by other guests, did their best
with stories and conversation. made as
general as possible. TO tighten the occa-
sion. but their efforts was not entirely
successful.
Expected Bigger salary.
''In fact. all White House expenses are
paid by the government. except actual
table supply bills. and Mr.. Taft is fond
Of insisting upon his conviction that the
country treats its President exceedingly
well. He was the first President to re-
C-iye salary OF $1,000 a year. and when
the subject of his nomination was upper
most IN political discussions he did not
Hesitate to say that he thought this in
crease from S0.COO vas an absolute ne
Cessity. lie did not expect to spend 80
CO.. 4 year. but he knew by careful cal
CuatiOn and by a knowledge OF President
EOOs"velt's expenditures that he would
have to spend at least SjO.N9 a year and
Ec thought he nsd a citizens riSht. even
as President. TO provide a small compe-
tence for his family, 4 thing which in
his twenty years Of poorly paid official
service ne had never had an opportunity
10 do.
H, was fifty ye1rs cid. with two sons
and a daughter in school and college,
and. as Secretary Of War at least. he
had long been working for a wage which
Vas insufficient. But the country really
IL good to its President. 1t does not make
him rich by anv means. but IL enables
him to DaniSh the wolf a fair distance
from his door If he is sensible enough
to assist its generosity by the exercise Of
a mild form Of prudence.
First Inspection.
My frst inspection Of the White
House on the evening Of my husbands
Inauguration was casual but the next
day l assumed the management of the
establishment n earnest and proceeded
upon a thorough investigation, which re-
suited in some rather disGIi-ting revela-
tIons.
Mrs. Roosevelt a. the retiring mistress
of the White House, naturally would
make no changes or purchases which
might not meet with the approval OF her
successor, 30 / found the linen supply
depleted, the table service Inadequate
through breaSages. and other refurnish-
ing necessary. There is a government
appropriation to meet the expense OF such
replenlshments ana repairs. and every
Presidents wife is supposed to avail her
self Of any part of IL she requires to mt
the mansion for her own occupancy.
Perhaps nothing in the house is -
expressive Of the various personalities
of its mistresses as the dinner services
which each has contributed. For my
pert l was entirely satisfied with thef
quiet taste displayed by Mrs. Roosevelt
and Contented myself with filing up the
different broken sets in her service to
the number necessary for loo covers"