Show ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE to the editor I 1 noticed somewhere recently I 1 would not say positively that it was in your columns an article on the white house which contained mis statements in the first place it was stated the white house v as first occupied in 1809 and that its first occupant aia president madison the fact is its first occupant was president adams who took up his residence there in 1800 a original mansion was begun in 1792 in 1814 it was b arned b the british and rebuilt in 1818 another of the errors n the article referred to was the statement that ready prepared paint ts used on the white house to make it beautifully white I 1 noticed this especially I 1 have used considerable paint ms self and wondered that canned paint should be used on s ich an im building when all painters know that pure white lead and oil make the b st paint it u happened also that I 1 knew white lead and linseed oil not read mixed paint were used on the white house because I 1 had just read a book let published by a firm ot ready mixed paint manufacturers who also manu facture pure white lead in that bool the manufacturers admitted that fop the white house nothing but the best and purest of paint could be used and said that their pure white lead had been selected above all people those who attempt to write on historical subjects should give us facts even it it is only a date or a statement about wood or brick or paint or other building material yours tor truth I 1 |