The Washington herald., 1917-03-05

wrap rooms. and thence eastward
through the east terrace to their car
riages. The people in line thus make a
complete circle. those who have shaken
hands with the President passing, in
going down the divided stairs those who
are about to meet him coming up. The
arrangement works perfectly. and there
is never any confusion.
The Main Floor.
The main floor of the White House.
that floor to which the public is admit
ted when it appears at the north EN-
trance, facing Pennsylvania avenue Is de-
voted to what may be termed the state
apartments. as opposed to the rooms
given over to the family life of the Pres
ident. The only family room on this
floor is the private dining room, q small.
Observation-Disclosures apartment In the
northwest corner OF the building, into
which visitors are sometimes permitted
to peep. There IL q large pantry d.
rectly west Of the private dining room.
The visitor enters the White House
through the north, or Pennsylvania ave-
nue., entrance. AS be passes the por-
tails OF the rather small swinging plate
glass doors. where q Vigilant usher 10
always on guard, he enters the recep-
ton hall, which in itself constitutes q
magnificent apartment. A few feet from
the uOOFt set III Inc HOOElnB fO1 JOueI
stone, is the seal OF the President OF
the United States, in brass, and cir
cular in from. The American eagle, with
shield and arrows in his talons, is in
the center OF this piece surrounded by the
words: The Seal OF the President of
the United States A few feet farther
on an oval design. in brass, also set in
the floor. gives the dates of the begin
ming of work on the first White House
nd ho of nf 70 {k a..
today. This border consists OF fve stars
representing the Statea' The colors Of
the walls and ceiling are, buff and white,
and six large palms of marble impress
the eye. The spaces between these COL
umns are filled with tubs Of Istrian
stone, filled with palms and plants. and
extending the full height of the east
and west walls are two broad plate glass
mirrors set in frames Of gold.
The State Dining-room.
Passing westward through the wide
corridor, the visitor approaches the en-
trance to the state dining room. o mag
nifcent apartment in the southwestern
part OF the building large enough to seat
about 100 guests at q table. The walls
are paneled from floor to ceiling in oak
richly carved: the chandelier and wall
branches are Of silver. and heads Of
American game are used around the
frieze. The ceiling, in stucco, Is elab-
orately decorated. There Is an India car
pet in solid color on the floor, and the
chairs are upholstered in tapestry. The
draperies are in green velvet.
Two tapestries, one bearing q text from
Virgirs Eighth Ecloque." are OF Flem-
ish workmanship Of the seventeenth CEN
tury. reading:
"Nysa is given In marriagel What may
not we lovers eXpect?"
"Grinins now shall mate with horses,
and in the succeeding age the tinorous
does shall come to drink with doss."
Begin with me; my flute. Macmillan
strains"
"Neopsus. cut fresh nuptial torches
for wife is on the point of being brought
home
The state dining-room measures 4orsO
feet. is q feet from floor to ceiling, and
( Is the second largest room IN the White
House, the East Room being the largest
Two doors open from the state dining
room into the Red Room, lying directly
east Of the former apartment. The waips-
coating Is in white and enamel The
wall covering and curtains are in red
damask, but the feature OF this room is
the many fine oil paintings Of the tPresi-