El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-08

7ASHINGTON. ID. G., Sept. s.
MAJ Just 100 years ago this com
w inE week the white house.
after its destruction i'm war, was re-
occupied as the presidential dwelling.
Three years had been required for its
restoration.
only few weeks earlier b. became
for the first time white house
Previously it had been a brownish
grey house. its material being sand
stone from a quarry at AcQuia Creek.
Va. Anybody who visits the capitol
AT Washington can see what its color
was. inasmuch as the rotunda OF that
building is lined with the same stone,
derived from the same source. I'M
painted
1t was deemed expedient 10 paint
the mansion white. In order 10 cover
up the fire-scars that marred the
outer faces Of the walls Some Of
these scars were plainly visible only
q few years ago, when the house was
rebuilt. in the reign of the ROosevelts.
at a cost Of 100000, and when the
many coats OF paint put on it through
series of decades were scrapcd off.
as a preliminary TO painting il afresh.
Not Ready For Monroe.
But when, in September. 1917. presi-
dent James Monroe and his family
took MP residence in the newly
restored white house. IT, was really
not in fit condition for occupancy
The east room was bare as barn.
and the furnishings everywhere were
lamentably scauty. Indeed. the work
of repairing the mansion was not
fully accomplished until nearly three
years later.
The Aonroes were people Of wealth
accustomed 10 the luXuries and ele-
gances Of life. and they were rather
appalled, 10 find all sorts OF neces-
saries lacking. even to chi1aware and
quirement- congress. on the day be-
fore M. Monroes Inauguration fthe
March ( previous, had appropriated
$50. 1000 sum which met only one
third OF the eventual bill. by the way.
But TO satisfy immediate needs DIR
Monroe made an arrangement by
which his own furniture was trans
ferred 10y sale to the government I'M
der an appraised valua ton
Among the articles thus disposed or
were number of fine pieces picked
up 10y Mr. Monroe while he was
minister at Paris, and which were
nroba bly, part Of the loot Of royal
palaces. scattered during the French
revolution For additional furniture
required for the state rooms. the new
president sent orders 10 Paris But
there were ever so many other things
TO be bought and ore interesting
item i'm the still-eXtant account is OF
SIS. paid for RETAINING the portrait
Of George Washington which Dolly
Madison. at the last moment before
rer flight from the white house. had
cut out Of its frame, carrying il OF
with her in her carriage
Presidents Wife 4 Beauty.
Mrs Monroe as a young woman had
been a famous beauty. She was a
daughter Of Lawrence Kortright. an
ex-officer Of the British army. who
was a citizen of New York Her hus-
hand, when he married her i'm 1855
was United States senator. He
was rich VirEiniau. the proprietor
OF an estate OF barouisl size called
oak Hill Eight years later he was
appointed minister 10 France ard I'm
growers have song the chorus of.
which is-
Nauzrts nauEhr. fiEEer-s a fisEe-.
Al (1r the white man and none for
the Niger
Tn fact. the negro has large part
in making the cotton crop. More than
onc-third Of the cotton farms are cul-