Evening star., 1925-07-10

Where doctors disagree, who shall
decide?" The redecoration of the
White House, by authority OF an act
of Congress appropriating $50, 900 for
the same and the authorizing of the
President to accept donations of early
American furniture looms in impor-
tance almost with the great issues of
economics and statecraft. The situa-
ton has potentialities equal to the in
citing cause of the Trojan War, which
war would never have been justified
by modern standards of beauty. Art
lists concede that beauty is a matter of
taste, and there is no accounting for
taste"
In the early days of the United
States the people were sharply divided
between the French party and the
English party, and the lines of de-
marcation applied not merely to poll
tics, but to every phase of life. Prior
to the Revolution practically all inn
ports of furniture came from England,
but the bitterness of the war stopped
English trade for a quarter of cen
tury and the enthusiasm for the coun-
try of Lafayette stimulated admira-
tion for everything French.
The continued war between England
It
possible, so that Americans were
forced to rely upon American-made
furniture. With English models and
patterns American cabinetmakers
gradually developed a style in furni-
ture not English, but heavier and
stronger than the graceful but weak
English Sheraton. 1t was this Ameri-
can furniture which first furnished the
White House-largely, but not wholly
the property of the successive Presi-
dents.
The impression that all furniture in
the White House was private prop
erty until Monroe's administration is
erroneous. Official records show that
in 1897 Congress appropriated $14 900
for White House furniture, and au-
thorized President Washington to sell
such pieces already in the White
House which, in his Judgment, were
unfit. Hence, the old furniture to be
discarded must have been public prop
erty.
In 1900 an appropriation Of $4,000
was made for similar use; in 1905,
$14, 900; in 1909, $4,000, and with each
term of the presidency appropriations
for refurnishing ranged from $4,000 to
$40, 600. In the years 1888 to 1887 the
furniture appropriations amounted to
sac, 900, and thereafter up to the days
Of Lincoln, each administration fresh
ened the furnishings with appropria
tions usually about 1900.
In 1856 Congress gave 900 for
the purpose; in 1867, $4,000, and 1869,
S25 ,0OO-a total of $4,000 in three
years. The total appropriations for
White House furniture up to 1873
amounted to $529, SALTS. The signifi-
cant incident in the Monroe admins
tration was the radical change from
English to French style, for Monroe
had been Ambassador to France before
his presidency, and upon his return
home he brought great shipment of
furniture, which he put into the White
House as his private property, and
later sold to the Government. This
produced a mixture of English, Amer
lean modification of English models,
and French, from which, it is now
contended, the Executive Mansion
never recovered until the general
overhauling in the Roosevelt admins
tration, % years ago.
According to the standard history of
the White House, by Esther Single
ton, during President Roosevelt's ad-
ministration, the historic mansion has
undergone complete repair and resto-
ration-so complete, in fact. that the
kvAx ed Ouesffop of N anpropriate home