White House Renovation

Proposition to Restore Mansion to Its Colonial Simplicity.

It is said that as the result of the recent conference between Architect Charles F. McKim and Mrs. Roosevelt a number of important changes are to be made to the interior of the White House, says a Washington dispatch to the New York Times. The Tiffany glass screen will be removed, throwing the vestibule and lobby into a grand court, upon which the blue, red and green rooms will open. The white marble mantels in the lobby will give way to carved mahogany. The floors will be of inlaid wood. Mrs. Roosevelt proposes to wipe out all modern features and restore the mansion to its original colonial simplicity.

In the east room, which will be transformed to a state dining room, cherry will be the prevailing color. It is also intended that this room shall serve as a ballroom, something the White House has lacked. A handsome stairway from the center court is also designed. This will cause the removal of an old stairway. The wood in this flight is the only original timber remaining in the mansion. All the rest was destroyed when the British burned the White House.

The room now designed as the state dining room will be enlarged. Inlaid floors will be put down, and colonial sideboards, china closets and other furnishing of black walnut will be added. Mrs. Roosevelt hopes that congress will allow her to purchase a complete table service of china, glassware and silver.