AMERICAN ESTATES AND GARDENS 



exterior, of which it is hardly too much to say it has no rival in stateliness of efifect and simple 

 loveliness among the great mansions of America. The straight lines of its fronts are broken 

 only b}' the semicircular swelling of the south front, enclosed with a gracious colonnade of 

 similar form, and the great portico of the north front, which serves as a porte-cochere as well 

 as for visitors arriving on foot. Since the recent restoration a new entrance has been added 

 to the end of the east terrace, where guests alight under a spacious porte-cochere, and enter 

 a corridor formed by the terrace, with boxes for wraps and dressing-rooms in the main building, 

 and where a stairway conducts them to the main floor. This arrangement has simplified the 

 handling of the great crowds that throng the White House at receptions and on other festival 

 occasions ; for more than any other house in America this building is the scene of great functions, 

 bringing together immense numbers of people, that call for broad passages for their coming and 

 going, and enormous rooms for their entertainment. 



The famous screen of colored glass, placed by President Arthur between the vestibule 

 and the main corridor, has been removed, and six white marble columns, grouped in pairs, 

 substituted for it. The keynote of the interior is thus set by the pure Colonial treatment 

 of the vestibule and the main corridor, the latter with pilastered walls and round arched niches, 

 with electric light standards of beautiful design. The walls are painted Colonial yellow, and 

 a dull red carpet is laid on the center of the stone floor. 





Copyright by B. M. Clinedinst. 



THE WHITE HOUSE— THE MAIN CORRIDOR. 



[41] 



