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THE WHITE HOUSE, NORTH VIEW.

CHAPTER III.

THE WHITE HOUSE-ITS HISTORY-DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING-THE GREAT STATE APARTMENTS-THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES.

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HE residence of the President of the United States is officially styled "The Executive Mansion," but is universally known "The White House." As the home of the chief executive officer of the nation, it is an object of absorbing interest to all citizens. There is a personality about it that is lacking in the Capitol, for the work of Congress is the result of the deliberations of bodies of men, and no one person can be held accountable for good or evil consequences. But the acts of the President are done on his own individual judgment, and he alone must receive the praise or bear the blame. In the White House dwells the one man whom the whole people unite in selecting, and whom, as their chosen chief, they delight to honor. The President is the embodiment of the power and sovereignty of the nation, and represents it among the powers of the world.

The White House was the first public building erected at Washington. As soon as Congress had determined the site of the Capital, the Commissioners issued a call for the submission of designs for the "President's House," offering "a premium of $500, or a medal of that value, at the option of the party." Of the many plans submitted, the one selected was that of James Hoban, a talented young Irishman, who had been for some time settled at Charleston, South Carolina, and he was charged with the construction of the building. Hoban's plan followed very closely that of the Duke of Leinster's palace, at Dublin; and this, together with the fact that the building would far exceed in size and splendor any private dwelling at that time existing in the country, created considerable opposition to it. The ideas of the French Revolutionists in regard to "Republican simplicity" were beginning to have a strong influence on America, (73)

and many sarcastic remarks were made about the "President's Palace." Appropriations were frequently refused by Congress, and it required all the influence of President Washington to enable the Commissioners to obtain the funds necessary to complete the building.

The corner-stone was laid October 13, 1792, amid imposing Masonic ceremonies, and in the presence of President Washington, the Commissioners of the District, and a large number of eminent men. Notwithstanding the various delays, the building was so far finished by 1799 as to be ready for occupancy, and President Washington had the satisfaction of knowing that his successors in office would be suitably accommodated.

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The White House may be said to have made Hoban's fortune, for his success with it led to his employment as the architect of some of the largest and handsomest buildings erected during the early days of the city. He was a man of admirable social qualities, and was greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He died in 1831.

The vast supply of fine white marble, since so much used in the construction of public buildings, was at that time unsuspected, and Hoban selected Virginia sandstone as his building material. To preserve the stone from the injurious effects of the climate, and to

prevent it acquiring a dingy appearance with age, the building has always been covered with heavy coats of white paint. It is doubtless from this fact that the popular name has been derived, although some have attributed it to the circumstance that the home of Mrs. Custis, before her marriage with Colonel Washington, was known as the White House. As Lady Washington never lived in the present Executive Mansion, the tradition has very little foundation.

On the removal of the seat of government from Philadelphia to Washington, in 1800, President John Adams and his family took up their abode in the mansion. Although the building was finished it was but partially furnished, and Mrs. Adams has left in some of her letters a graphic account of the inconveniences the family experienced. There was not a bell in the whole house, and the great East Room, since the scene of so many brilliant festivities, was bare and desolate. As no attempt had been made to lay out the grounds and no grass was to be seen anywhere, Mrs. Adams used the East Room for drying the family washing. During Jefferson's administration the furnishing was completed and the house became a suitable home for the President.

The White House suffered the fate of the other public buildings when the British captured Washington in 1814, being set on fire, but, owing to a heavy rain, the damage done was not very great. The advance of the enemy was very sudden, and there is a ludicrous story told of an interrupted dinner party. Mrs. Madison had made arrangements for a grand dinner, and although the President had cautiously retired to a place of safety, she determined to have her dinner, not expecting the British until next day. At the moment the guests were sitting down to the table, word came that the invading forces were at the Capitol. Away rushed the guests, but Mrs. Madison refused to leave until she had cut from its frame the large painting of Washington now hanging in the East Room, and made arrangements for its conveyance to some secure place. When the British arrived they found the dinner ready on the table and the wines cooling on the sideboard—a very pleasing sight to hungry soldiers. No doubt they did full justice to the banquet before they fired the building. The Federalist wits made great merriment over the incident, and all connected with the Administration came in for a

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