The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-11
White House of Paris
Mansion of Prince Murat Being
Prepared for Reception of
President Wilson.

Paris, Dec. 1.-THE town house of
Prince and Princess Joachim Murat
placed at the disposal Of President and
Mrs. Wilson during their stay in Paris,
at the request of the government, will
soon be completely renovated and
ready to receive the American chief
executive and his wife.
The Rue de Monceau, in which the
house is located, while one OF the
most fashionable neighborhoods OF
Paris, contains all sorts OF houses.
Adjoining the Murat house on the
right is the Stemarie Institution,
large school for children, consisting of
many buildings and a playground.
Across the street lives a woman artist
and a, doctor and there are group
of Offices and a butchers store. On
the corner there is the familiar little
French cafe with few iron tables ana
chairs on the sic walk in front where
signs announce that wine and beer
are for sale.
Although the Murat mansion is
rapidly becoming known as La Mai
son Blanche de Paris" it is not white.
but a dull brown tint. The house 1t
self is hidden from the street by
stone wall ten feet high in which
there are two narrow wooden gates
and. in the center, big double door
for vehicles.
Inside the gates is a large gravell-
ed space Here the guard OF honor
will be stationed. A low, ornamental
iron fence on the side away from the
school separates the court from the
spacious grounds and gardens stretch
ing away for half a block and inclos-
ed by a stone wall giving complete
privacy.
Broad. gravelled walks wind
through green lawns under trees OF
great size A stroll around the gar
dens gives a view of elaborate conser-
vatories at the rear Of the house AT
the rear. also are the servants quar-
ters, the garage and other outbulld-
inss which are reached by passage
way under the house at the side near
est the school.
In the house itself an army or
vorkmen and servants were busy to-
day cleaning and replacing furniture
paintings, portraits and beautlIul
marble statuary. The carpets ana
rugs were rolled up in the great hall,
which is considered one OF the most
elaborate in Paris. There was a smell
of fresh paint and soap everywhere
American soldiers were doing all
sorts of things in the mansion. Great
lorries rolled up and unloaded switch
boards, telephone instruments and
big reels of lead covered cables The
president and his suite will have their
own private telephone exchange as
we'll as private telephone wires.
On the lower floor of the mansion,
in addition to salon, ball room, DIN
ing and breakfast rooms, there are
private study, which the president
will use, and Offices for his personal
staff. The upper floors contain great
high ceiling sleeping chambers ana
other rooms wonderfully decorated
with priceless collections of antiques. !
In the sleeping chambers are enor-
NOUS four poster beds, some OF WHICH
REQUIRE little steps to enable the oc-
cunants to climb in. Stern old gen
tlemen. some in the uniform of the
davs that are past, and many beau
tiful women in the costumes Of the
times in which they lived, look down
from nearly every wall. Golden
cherubs peep from above the hand
some tapestries in one chamber
There is a profusion Of ivory NINA
lures and all manner Of vases and Or
naments gathered from the world's
four corners. Every room contains
at least three long French windows
de!icaely curtained. Princess Murat
expects that her home will be In read
mess to receive the nations guests by
December 10.