Evening star., 1925-07-04

formal room of the presidential resi-
dence and does present a certain
amount of splendor, such as could be
afforded by carrying out the decora-
tions and furnishings of the French
empire period, will be touched up
here and there, but is not to be
changed otherwise. This room is the
only one in the White House which
could be described as being typical
of the French empire period. 1t is i'll
this room that the President receives
foreign rulers and potentateS and
the diplomatic representatives and
other official visitors from all parts
the world. Also, it is within this
room that the President and his lady
receive during formal receptions and
other functions at the White House.
The red and green rooms serve as
anterooms to the blue room, but are
widely different in their decoration
and furnishings.
1t is pointed out that it is only
natural that President Coolidge
would want the colonial touch in
evidence in the interior of the White
House. Besides his native pride in
all things tpyically American, it is
explained further the Presidents s
sense of the artistic would prompt
him in having the interior of the
mansion conform with the archi-
tectural period presented by the ex-
terror, which is in the general sense
colonial.
East Room Period Unknown.
This same authority called attention
to the fact that there is nothing about
the private or state dining rooms to
suggest the empire period. The latter
is typically English. AS for the his
toric big old east room. IL would be
difficult, according to this authority,
TO say just what period 1t does repre-
sent. The chandeliers, which were
undoubtedly about the most wonderful
things of their kind in Washington in
the younger days of the republic, are
described as being French, but as for
the rest of this room, it would be no
easy task to make an estimation. This
authority was told recently by one OF
the sons Of President Garfield, that
the room was kept closed most OF the
time they lived in the White House,
and his brothers learned to ride their
bicycles upon its wide smooth floors.
The story also is told this author
ity that the east room has from time
to time during the administrations of
the past served as storeroom, trunk
room, and a place to hang the family
wash in bad weather.
In the other principal rooms in the
residence the walls. ceilings and
mantels are the only suggestion of
the empire period. Peculiarly enough,
the handsome marble mantel in the
blue room, which is supposed to be
typically empire, was made in Eng
land. Here and there throughout
other rooms there are pieces of fur
niture of the empire period. The
empire furniture, according to this
authority, unless of the more exag-
gerated style, lends itself more easily,
possibly, to state functions. AT least
more so than does the stiff high-back
furniture of the early English and
colonial periods.
The authority does not believe the
President will get greatly excited over
the published concern of the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects. At any
rate. the plans made by the commit
tee of experts and approved by Mr.
Coolidge just before he left Washing
ton for his vacation will be carried
out. and unless he already has done
so Secretary Kemper of the institute
, will be notified to that effect and
will be assured that the blue room,
which is believed to be causing the
principal concern, is not to be
changed.