Evening star., 1932-11-06

ment and manners to which they are
indebted for these blessings"
What a wonderful impetus this might
well give to a return TO that simple pa
triotism so badly needed in the present
doubt-torn days.
Matching the desk is the chest of
drawers used by Mrs Monroe. 1t is
made of the same wood, with the same
brass trimmings, marble top and rail-
ing. Also belonging to this set, is
small marble-top table used by Mrs.
Monroe as her tea table, although SINH
lar tables were then known as wine
tables"
While they are not part Of the fur
niture brought from France, there are
a few other pieces which cannot be
passed without word since they
belong to the very few remaining me-
mentoes of the original White House.
When the British burned that edifice
during the War of 1912 they left 1t
nothing of the origina, furnishings but
some bits of broken furniture and mir
rors. Mrs. Monroe had some of these
fragments of mirrors put into frames
plain mahogany swinging frames on
stands-and they remain clear and
firm today.
Another most interesting piece is the
piano which Mrs Monroe used in her
private parlor Above the keyboard is
inscribed the makers name: &c. Astor
and Company-79 Cornhill-London."
John Jacob Astor was the younger
brother Of G. tGeorge) Astor and was
engaged in the piano-making business
with him at that time.
AS a finishing touch is handsome
portrait of Mrs Monroe, signed Ben
jamin West, 1898" 1t depicts the wife
of the fifth President as woman of
beauty and grace, with her hair piled
high and bound with one of the fash
ionable bandeaux Of her day. Her
gown is a rich black velvet. errnine
trimmed, and thrown carelessly around
her shoulders is scarf Of rich red
satin.
Law Office Restored.
Fortunately for this and future ger1-
erations, this wonderful collection,
comprising these pieces and hundreds
of others, has been handed down in a
direct line Of descent from President
James Monroe, who died in 1891 In
1927 several of his descendants pur-
chased the quaint little low brick
building in Fredericksburg. Va. in
which James Monroe practiced law as
a young man and which. oddly enough,
was built in the year of his birth
1853. They restored it and opened it
as the James Monroe Law Office Ma
tional Shrine, and on April 28, 1927, it
was formally dedicated. In it are
housed these highly priced possessions.
1t was at this house, on beautiful
Fall day, that Mrs. Hoover lifted the
brass knocker and, with few friends,
az cly QI
tourist. She entered unrecognized and
spent several hours viewing the many
possessions Of her predecessor. And
there the inspiration came to her to
have replicas of some of the pieces
made to complete the furnishings of
the little Early Federal sitting room
of the White House. Accordingly the
following week she asked to be allowed
to have the furniture copied under
adequate supervision. Consent was
gladly given and the plan has now be-
come an accomplished fact. Monroe's
desk has returned to the White House
and in front of it stands perfect copy
of his favorite chair Mrs Monroes
tables and dainty pedestal table have
again made their appearance in the
presidents House"
On one of the tables is white plas-
ter copy of the distinguished little
bronze bust of the Marquis de La
fayette, which he himself had executed
in France, and which he sent to James
Monroe in appreciation Of his lifelong
friendship.
The piano was a bit too difficult to
be reproduced, but about that time the
writer came across an identical piano
in the famous Hugo Worch collection
in the United States National Museum.
When the Museum authorities learned
of Mrs. Hoover's desire they in1medi-
ately proffered it to the White House.
Vases Assembled.
Vases and ornaments have been as
sembled to complete the room. On
the mantelpiece is pair of exquisite
Sevres vases left by the Monroes and a
terra Gotta vase, with reliefS of Apollo
and Diana. The latter was presented
to Mrs. Monroe by Robert Gilmore of
Baltimore, who brought it from abroad.
To add colorful and completing
touch, copy Of the exquisite portrait
of Mrs. Monroe has been made by Eben
F. Comins, the artist. and is now in
place on the wall of the sitting room, !"
Thus future generations of White
House occupants may well imagine
themselves back in the early days Of
our Republic, and may see at first
hand perfect copies of the exquisite
workmanship of the French cabinet
makers Of those early days. And in
passing a word must be said for the
artist who has today so faithfully re-
produced this exquisite workmanship
for Mrs. Hoover. He is Morris Walter
Dove, a native of Gomel, Russia, now
living in Washington. His early train
ing in cabinet work IS another monu-
ment to European thoroughness.
It is intensely interesting that this
accomplishment of Mrs. Hoover has
come to light while it can be most
appreciated by her contemporaries. In
a life filled to the brim with official
duties rarely cultured and farseeing
First Lady has found time to give an