Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17

cup of tea and biscuits or cakes are
served. the wives of senators and rep
resentatives are hidden, and are often
privileged to bring a guest from some
distant city, that they, too, may see
something of the family life of the
Presidents household
In this room is also the exqu1sltely
carved cabinet presented by the late
Dowager Empress of Japan, in which
are some rare dolls and other figures
of priceless value. There are more
portraits of Presidents in this room
than in any other.
Miss Margaret Wilson likes the oval
blue room. with its walls, richly COW
cred in ribbed silk Of steel blue en-
blazoned with stars and decorated with
bouquets of pink roses. which make a
pleasing contrast~to the blue color and
ivory woodwork. Pink chrysanthe-
NUNS are not put in this room. as they
does doe. not not ike o NUNS n All Of this suite
of rooms are furnished in the style of
the first French empire, including the
green room. which is restful in its col
oring and is usually adorned with
white flowers and lacy ferns.
But the room of rooms in the White
House is the state dining room, like
great baronial hall. with its paneled
walls of oak and its richly carved
cornice embellished with the heads of
animals from our native hunting
grounds, it's beautiful Flemish tapes
tries, it's massive chandeliers and ex-
quisite silver electric light fixtures, its
rare eastern rugs, all toned into llfe
and warmth by the blazing logs which
burn in the great fireplace. Surmounted
by a massive stone mantel. The win
dows in this room look out on the
Italian garden planned by Mrs. Wilson.
and beyond to the Washington Monu-
ment and the Lincoln memorial, In
which the whole country is interested.
When the big mahogany table Is set
for one Of the four state. dinners-for
Mr.. Taft had the honor Of adding din
ner for the Speaker TO the ones for the
cabinet, the diplomatic corps and the
Supreme Court-the furnishing Of the
room is complete. At these dinners
the table has for centerpiece the
French gilt or gold mirror in three three
mirror, or that dastardly extrava-
gance'' as it was characterized by an
economical legislator of her time The
Thousand dollar china service
bought during the Roosevelt regime.
when the seating capacity cot the din
ing room was enlarged to seat 100 In
stead of forty guests, Is used. X the
dinner be the one in honor OF diplo-
mats orchids are used in quantity IN
round or oval plaques. with standards
of American beauty roses between.
Large gold candelabrum and sometimes
dainty figures in bisque or Parian mar
Bile peer out from the foliage.
Uncle Sam is certainly Kind uncle,
for he not only furnishes the flowers
for these state banquets, but also the
china. cut glass, the silver. the table
linen. the music and some of the serv-
ants. The President must buy the
yiands and wines not alone for these
dinners, but for all entertainments
where refreshments are served.
Tho most lavish floral decorations
ever seen in the White House were for
Prince Henry of Prussia, brother of the
German emperor. This dinner was
served in the east room, under canopy
of green, studded with myriads of tiny
electric bulbs in red, white and blue.
Garlands, stretching from chandeliers
to the side walls and over the stately
mantels. glistened with other colored
lights. while fiery anchors and stars
shone above the windows ana doorWays.
The table was crescent shaped, curV1ng
served in candy seashells. upon which
were emblazoned the American and
German coats of arms. and the punch
was served in tiny boats. each flying
the flag of the kaiser.s ya leind ~, h,a
On occasions of this KIND the Dig
propagating house. ITO feet In length
by 20 feet in width. with the several
smaller houses Is by Is feet each, are
taxed to their limit to furnish enough
and weeks before se% the beea to
get ready to force the blooms. This is
for ,n every nian sh0 that ana ID
n"ss,t,Ie- that it may lend all it's
strength to the blossom o which n 1 is to
The palm house. which is one OF the
smaller houses. furnishes ;,o palms sand and
tainments. as the antique giant palms
and those at the service Of Of SCI senator's "a
representatives and other officials are
kept at the Botanic Garden, down near
the Capitol grounds.
One of the smaller of the propagating
houses Is devoted in winter to the stor-
age of the valuable bay trees which
adorn the west portico of the mansion
and the eastern and western terraces
These symetrical little trees conform to
the colonial architecture Of the build
ing. They were imported from Holland
at great expense. the larger ones cost
ing 500 each. Late in the fall they are