The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-02
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN

Secretary Gage yesterday accepted the
resignation of a woman who has been
employed in the Treasury Department
since the close Of the civil war and who
obtained her position by saving the life
Of Secretary Seward. Her name is Mar
garet Coleman When the plot to as
sassinate President Lincoln was being
put into execution. Payne. the man select
ed TO Kill the Secretary Of State, made his
way 70 the house in Lafayette Square
and forcing his way into the presence Of
Mr.. Seward Immediately began
stabbins him. Margaret Coleman, who
was them employed by AIr. Seward, went
TO his rescue and she was badly wounded.
After her recovery she vas given d place
in the Treasury. where she has worked
ever since Her neice has been appointed
to fiji her place.
One Of the members of the Cuban Com
mission was asked after the luncheon Civ
en- by Secretary Root last week. how he
liked the reception accorded himself and
his colleagues.
oh replied the Cuban, 1T was lovely.
Very lovely, The PresideEt-he is lovely,
Mr.. Root-he is lovely. Washington-it is
lovely RepOrters-they are lovely! I can
say no more"
During the absence of Secretary Long
from the city workmen are covering
the two long 10-inch guns. which are
mounted IN the space on either side of
the steps leading into the Navy Depart
meHt. with d coating of white paint.
These are the rifles which Were captured
at Manila and found to bear the stamp
of French manufacture. As bedecked at
present with the white covering the guns
look as though carved out of wood and
it is said to be almost certain that as
soon as the head Of the Navy Depart
mcut returns he viii order the paint re-
moved This recalls the trouble had with
the two big bronze cannon at either side
of the entrance to the east front OF the
building, which are crossed by enormous
anchors. The cannon were first mounted
as they were received. Then they We're
cleaned and polished 4 little later they
We're painted white. This was not salts
factory 10 the officials and the paint was
SCraped off Then the anchors were
painted white and the comparison not
SUItIng, the anchors we're also scraped-
" hen those who noticed the frequent
changes began to wonder whether any
permanent decision would be arrived at,
1t was finally planned to leave the can
non hare and 10 paint the anchors white
4 score of iabOTcrs. clad in 0VeTaIlS. are
busily engaged at the White House Many
improvements will be made before the
President returns from his Western trip.
The stained glass partitions have been
taken down and the corridor presents a
scene of disorder The PAINTINGS and the
glass chandeliers are carefully covered
ana the furniture of the reception rooms
/ IS being removed. Visitors are still al
/ lowed TO enter the building. and the or
portunity for seeing hitherto private pOr-
/ tons OF the Executive Mansion have been
! eagerly accepted
| Mator LEnfants idea of d Mall. in
/ which the fashionable society of the city
| would promenade and drive in the after
noon has been defeated by circumstances
which he could not POSSIBLY have foreseen-
At this date it is only rarely that any
kind Of a vehicle other than a street hack
fun OF sightseers is ever visible on the
| winding roads of the big park. Few walk
I its paths. under the fine shade trees. ex-
/ cept policemen. and colored nurses. Lit
tie dirty tots from the meaner streets of
( the southwest make it their playground
/ with here and there perhaps q white
/ frocked child Of the better class. Any
I one who does chance to drive through the
| Mall at this time of the year, VIII Ger
/ tainiy realize that it was beautifully
/ planned. and that Of ali the parks IN the
city il Is the largest and best. The
/ greatest trees in Washington are there.
} ne DFos4 ItauS PISS UIfGFT 6tFGnIDS
! branches. and skirt large expenses of
/ green Ia IN But for an occasional cross
/ ing Of 4 dirty cobble street the Illusion of
! a country drive is well kept up. The trees
I and shrubs planted under the direction of
! the Agricultural Department. have thriv-
/ ed and special pains is always taken with
/ the occasional roadside flower beds At
| this early season Of the year. because
there are trees and shrubs Of warmer
/ chimes planted there. the Mall is farther
/ advanced IN its vegetation than the rest
! of the city It Is a perfect paradise of
/ bloom Many rare trees which were
/ planted eXperimentalIy have put forth
/ their flowers. and some of the bushes are
! in specially brilliant array. IN the
/ grounds Just in front of the Agricultural
| Department Building, is a clump which
/ presents rare spectacle of beauty. It IS
/ composed of several varieties of Japanese
[ ounce The leaves are not yet out, but
| the blossoms have burst forth generous
| " They form a compact mass over the
| entire bush. some a deep but brilliant
! carmine, some a delicate pink. and some
almost white In all they make an area
Of matted petals some ten or fifteen yards
/ across, that is well worth seeing
| Within 4 few weeks the-CIerks and en-
ployes in the National Museum viii have