New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
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" NSHRINED in memories Of the past,
u the White House appeals more strongly
to the Imagination of the average
American than any of the nations
historic monuments. With the incoming of
each new administration, there is always a
revival of interest in this old mansion which,
like many another old mansion, has been the
setting Of SO much Joy and grief, so many
history making epochs.
Closed during the war, and for two years
afterward, it is once more thrown open to
the public, and. under the new regime, has
taken ON an air of frjendliness like unto the
Old days when any citizen could. hitch his
horse in front of the, Presidents house and
70 in TO pay his respects. Situated between
tte two great government buildings, the War
Deqg.tmeut and the Treasury, its broad, front
walks serve as thoroughfare for the throng
leat on business there. while thousands Of
agrsts pass through its lower corridors and
rooms and gaze with undisguised admiration
ca its decorations and furnishings-the chan
ilers with their ropes of glittering prisms;
tic gold piano: the tall windows topped with
Git eornices with the United States seal, from
TEeh fall heavy draperies, rich in texture
asd hue; the oil portraits of past Presidents
ieok'Hg down from the velvet paneled walls
ihe old marble mantels, brought by ship from
London, and the glass cases filed with china
gsed BY Waite House mistresses from Mrs
Washington to Mrs. Wilson-the whole per
yaded by an air of stately simplicity it mas
taken century and quarter to achieve.
Just that long ago Mrs Abigail Adams, the
lrst inmate Of the new White House, sat at
Ae OF the south windows, where the passing
and repassing Of the ships to Alexandria could
@ seen, writing to her daughter in New Eng
and: Although surrounded by forests" she
sad, 'can you believe it, wood is not to be had,
because people cannot be found to cut and
4 cart It. 4 few cords only have we been able
4 get to keep the fires going to secure us from
4 aslly agues. To assist us in this great
4 sstie bells are wholly wanting. We
4 aa9e not the least fence, yard or other con-
'emence without, and the great unfinished au-
aience room make drying room of to hang
8 apthe clothes in. We have indeed come into
lew country"
It's far cry from the first to the last new
MISTRESS Of the White House, who, when asked
she did not find it hard to get adjusted to the
q ug mansion and achieve a honey atmosphere,
q replied: mot at all. There isn't anything
empowering about the White House; it's just
Mssomfortable, substantial house, in which to
q useful and happy And with flowers every
Rnere l already feel perfectly at home"
q Back of this Comfortable, substantial house"
saich Mrs. Harding finds stretch many years
controversy, the history of which it is in
~ efeStlnp tO CIop0ee vyaTa m ado with
ach amazing perplexity it was hard to keep
4 Y with which room was which, each new mis-
seSs ordering the decorations and furnishings
SUI her own individual taste, and in accord
q 'aee with the prevailing style.
70 matter what was done, however, the pub
d was never satisfied. The Presidents house
rs either object of pity or of ridicule.
sme thought it ought to be simple, as be-
4sang young and struggling republic; others
MA$gnitcent, as beftting the chief executive Of
n nation.
congress was called "niggardly'' if it did not
MP0roprlate large sums for the annual re-
safatlon and upkeep of the mansion, and
'Ao'y extravagant if it did. During the IA
0uS Log Cabin" campaign one of the watch
4 ~ OF the Treasury described the Presidents
'use as "a palace as splendid as that of the
ssata and as richly adorned as the proudest
sauc mansion" although, up to that time
a!or years after, the wives of the Presidents
sss reluctant to live in it because of its lack
s0niorts and conveniences.
,ehowing the inauguration of President
- IN iS45, an illuminating paragraph ap-
assa in Tho National Intelligencer (the
s. newspaper published in Washington, to
NJ. The White House to Let. We heard
= good authority yesterday that Mrs Polk
4 1saing arrangements for a private resi-
'4ss u Washington. The 10000 appropri-