Evening star., 1961-03-20

SAAA 4CPA0OCO NaV k44toOC CA
pense) over and over again.
"'Nor has any account been
taken Of the Kitchen furni-
ture, as that also, except q
few of the most desirable
articles (Which will be left)
has been broke, burned out
and otherwise reduced as
above-the carpets also are
entirely worn out. All on the
floors at present have been
purchased on private
account"
An inventory of paintings
or prints" as he referred to
them, also was made by
Washington, each set down
with the individual purchase
price recorded beside it. He
further went over the entire
group of prints in two more
instances, marking opposite
each the "Size Of the impress
sion" and "Size Within the
Impression" s
Among the prints listed
were: Adonis Carried Off by
Venus, Diana Deceived by
Venus, Gainsborough's For
est, View Of the Po and many
more.
Since Washington made no
notations on the style of the
furnishings listed, the reader
can only speculate as to the
choices George and Martha
Washington selected in max
ing the Presidents House a
dwelling worthy Of the office.
It's a matter of record that
both the Washington and
Adams Administrations were
marked by a strict observ-
ance of protocol in the man
ner Of formalized procedure.
The Encyclopaedia Britain
MICA, Vol. %, takes due note
of Washington's rental of the
best houses procuIable in
New York and Philadelphia;
that he shook hands with.
no one and acknowledged
salutations by a formal bow.
Washington entertained
members of Congress in ro-
tation, with good wines and
elaborate menus which led
Senator Maclay to complain
that the atmosphere was too
solemn. Many who did not
share the Presidents formal
lied sense of fitness accused
Washington of conducting
himself like a king.
President Washington's
choice Of a coach is described
in Amy LaFollette Jensen's
book "The White House And
its Thirty Two Families"
where she writes: "The
Adamses, it is true, did not
have as snowy an equipage
as George Washington's
cream-colored coacl- in the
style Of Louis Seize, deco
rated with cupids and flowers
anc drawn by six horses"
Along with the coach, when
occupied by Washington,
there were outriders and
lackeys in rich livery.
The aforementioned facts
serve to set the tone as to
the Presidents tastes. He
chose to appear abroad In
an elaborate coach, he served
the finest foods, dressed In
elegant fashion receiving
guests with powdered hair,
cooked hat with ostrich
plume in one hand and
wearing q sword in a white
leather scabbard.
His wife, Martha Gusts,
widow Of Col. Daniel Parke
Gusts, possessed one of the
largest fortunes in Virginia.
Before marrying Washington
she lived on ar estate Soi
$4,000 acres near Williams
burg on tie York River. Her
home was called "The White
House."
The Historical Society OF
Pennsylvania has on display
today original chairs from the
era ofSWashington's residence
in the Presidents House
there. One is an elaborate
gold painted chair of Q
French design with silk bro
cade upholstery.
A visit tU Mount Vernon
today, with MAJ y of its
original furnishings woult
suggest the Washingtons die
not employ the elaborate
gilded French furnishings o.
the Philadelphia era ir theil
personal home life.
In a book by Wilstacl
entitled ''Mou4l' Vernon" i
states "The interior of tn,
mansion took on h mort
elaborate effect at this TIM
by reason of the addition o
much of the 'int furniture
silver, china, glass and othe
furnishings accumulated a
the Presidential Mansion Ii
Philadelphia"
John Hunter a merchan
of London, spent a night a
Mount Vernon and wrote Il
his diary November II, l78
that the style of Washing
toms house twas very ele
CANT, something like Primo
de Condos at Chantille nea
Paris only not quit" s