El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-13
Mrs. Monroes Social Doctrine Just
As Sacred In Washington As Is Her
Husbands Famous American Policy

/ frame and intrusted it to the care OF
friends for safe keeping, while she
went to Virginia TO join her husband.
il was shown TO the prince OF Wales
when he called at the white house
When the white house was rebuilt
the walls were intact. in part. but
they had to be painted 70 hide the
charred surfaces So originated. first
as a nickname. the designation white
house. by which the mansion later
was officially known.
First official Building.
The original structure was the first
official building I'm washington.
George Washington was authorized to
select site, because he had been n
surveyor, but sentiment, rather than
topography, is thought 20 have de-
. termined his choice: for the south
windows OF the white house over
looked the Potomac toward his be-
Washington did not live In the
white house. He is said to have
walked through the rooms a short
time before his death. John Adams,
its first occupant, thought 10 ought
10 have been nearer the capitol Mrs
Adams wrote. in 1900, that "the river.
which runs up TO Alexandra. is in
1ull view OF my window, and I see
the vessels pass and repass-"
But that is ahead OF the story.
Wnen site was selected q prize was
offered. in 1872. Of $500 or q gold
medal. for a plan Capt. James Ho-
ban, native OF ireland and a resi-
dent OF Charleston. S. c.. won the
contest with a design similar to that
or the family seat Of the Dukes Of
Lelnster Dublin. Fortunately Hoban
was alive when the work Of rebuild
ing was undertaken after the fire Of
1914, and when the structure was
completed again, in 1913 il more
nearly followed the original plans
Moreover when the present wings
one Tor executive offices and the
olner Tor public corridor. were added
IN 1903. further features contained in
the Hoban designs were Included.
scarcely a congress came and went
Tor halt century without an attack
upon the alleged extravagan eUpen-
dttures OF the presidents home. The
cost or reconstruction came In for
the customary criticism. Hoban. as ar
chitect, was paid at the rate Of $500
year the clerk OF the workers re-
ceived 81 a day; and the overseer. 50
per day.
Monroe Sold Furniture.
By the time Of president 1Ionroe's
Inauguration the executive mansion
was rebuilt, but not furnished. Mr.
Monroe had purchased valuable furn-
iture for his private home while he
was in Paris This he sold TO the
government Il was transferred to the
white house for his use there and he
was authorized TO buy other pieces for
the official rooms
The idea Of a campaign orator that
the presidents home was "a uaIace
as splendid as that Of the Caesars.
and as richly adorned as the proud
est Asiatic mansion" hardly found an
echo from its early OCCUPANTS. es-
pecially the ladies' OF presidential
families.
Mrs Jane Adams. first mistress OF
the mansion wrote OF her new abode-
The lighting Of the apartments.
from the kitchen TO parlours and
chambers Is a tax indeed. and the
fires We are obliged 20 keen TO Sc
cure Us from daily aEues IS another
very cheering comfort To assist rs
in this great castle, and render less
attendance necessary. bells are
wholly wanting. not one single one
being hung through the whole house.
ana promises are all you can obtain.
This Is so great an inconvenience.
That do not know what TO do. nor
now to do. II they will put me uu
some bells. and let me have wood
enough to keep fires, I design 70 hs
pieased- could content myself ale
most anywhere three months but
Ieve that wood IS not to be had. be-
cause people cannot be found Ia cut
ana cart It, We have not the least
fence, yard, or other convenience.
without and the great unfurnfshed
audience room 7 make a drying room
or 10 hang up the clothes IN"