Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-07-13

Of every President has been no easy task. 1t
was not even easy to identify the china in the
White House. The work was begun in 1908,
when Mrs. Abby Gum Baker, who has for
some years been interested in historic Washing
ton, began to catalogue the White House ware.
Up to that time. the old punch bowls, platters,
and other antiques in the White House closets
were but vaguely associated with the past Presi-
dents. In some instances, the history OF a
valuable piece was not remembered or recorded
at all. When stock was taken, 1t was found
that a number of the administration had left
found china of only seven dining sets-those
of Lincoln and later presidents: Apparently
old White House china had not been regarded
with any eye to it's historic Importance.
! President washington set a precedent in this
the executive mansion in New York to Phila-
delphia. All the furniture and china that in
his estimation were "decayedr were sold at
auction. After that, White House sales OF
broken lots of china and of damaged ware
were customary. Secondhand dealers were the
chief attendants at these sales. That things
sold cheap is attested to by such stories as the
$3.50.
In White House china, and in the copying of it.
SO many stores in Washington were selling
Authentic White House plates by Mrs. Rose
velt's time that she put a stop to the White
House china sales.
The design Of the Roosevelt state dining set
was patented, so that it could not, like other
historic sets, be copied in cheap ware for gen
eral sale. This copying became a nuisance In
the time of President Hayes, when the most
House was designed. This was a pictorial set,
each piece bearing a scene, or some animal. pro
or fish. The idea was to represent the flora and
fauna of every state. The china was or q Deau-
tiful quality and the designs were artistic' put
when they were copied in cheap china and 500,
the Hayes dishes lost the individuality which
was their main charm.
With White House china designs so much
CAPPED that many people owned articles tney
honestly thought genuine; with the historic
White House china scattered to the ends OF the
country by sales; and with no systematic records
Ian ~ fho arfio1oS left in tho executive mansion
you can see how making a collection OF emma
used by the presidents could easily take eighteen
Luckily. presidential souvenirs have been
treasured in the families of the presidents. ana
their descendants have been generous IN uurn-
It may be said here that nothing mas peen, or
will be. bought for this china collection. Every
thing that was not taken from White House
cabinets and china closets has been donated or
loaned.
of President johnson, who cannot be located,
have been consulted by Mrs. Baker, and they
have identified as authentic the pieces OF CHINA
representing their ancestors.
Interest of Presidents Wives.
The mistresses of the White House of late
years have been eager to see the emma G9lleo.
ton established. AS far back as Mrs. Hayes
and Mrs. Harrison, a cabinet to hold historic
White House china was talked OF. Finally, Mrs.
Roosevelt started the collection and had two
cabinets made and placed in a corridor for the
first exhibits. At the same time she asked MRS.
Baker to select the most worthy souvenirs IN
me nlI0 t1OuSG LII Z dIoioo 49,
first Mrs. Wilson planned a special room FOR
the presidential china exhibit. 1t remained Tor
the the second cpadar mrs an Mlis TO- i actaIIy the Collection cole
which by that time had become really lhi-
pressive.
The china of the presidents is perhaps more
a souvenir Of the first ladies of the land than
of their husbands. From the home-lovins
Martha Washington all down the line the emma
closet has been largely the pride of the FEMININE
occupants Of the mansion. Often its contents
represented their tastes rather than those OF
their husbands. There is in the calleclon, LOT
instance. one of the Harrison plates with its
corn and goldenrod decoration reminiscent OF
Mrs. Harrison's love for goldenrod and her
desire that it should become the national mower.
On the other hand. there is a Cincinnati plate
of the Washingtcns which is certainly reminis-
cent of the general, and of his founding OF the
Order of the Cincinnati. In his time it was a
popular custom to use all sorts OF insignia on
articles Of personal use. and Washlngton naa a
dining set made with the figure OF Justice Dear
ing the badge Of the Cincinnati as us design.
Both Washington and Jefferson sent to parls
to obtain Ws such sSing things fr as oIne GouHene amo Norris,
suggests in a letter that the president may
think him extravagant for his purchases. MS
excuse was: II think it Of great Importance 10
fix the taste of the country properly, ana i
think your example will go very fr IN tha'
respect
One Of the most interesting objects in the
china collection is a fruit dish which has long
as one Of the Madison dishes, very probably one
saved by the level-headed Madame Dolly wheh
the capital was attacked by the British.
The dish is very elaborate. 1t is set on a.
pedestal formed by figures of the three graces.
The decorations in blue and gold match exactly
those on the Madison table china. An employee
of the White House remembered seeing the dish
in use in Lincoln's time. Later it disappeared.
and Mrs. Harrison found 1t in the attic IN three
pieces and had it neatly repaired.
The identity and historic. associations con
! nected with each article in the china collection
has been arranged on a series OF CARDS by MRS.
Baker. Colonel Sheriff., superintendent OF
buildings and grounds. the official custodian OF
the White House china, plans to post the cards
on a. revolving catalogue case in the center OF
the exhibit room so that visitors can conven-
| iently study the historic china Of the presidents.