Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-17

A good deal of valuable Information Is
being collected in the government depart
ments here IN relation to the care OF large
palms outside of hothouses. In which arti-
fetal conditions for their growth can be
made practically perfect. Several years ago
a large number Of these palms were taken
from the Botanic Garden and placed In the
court of the pension office building. Later
big palm was housed in the hall at the
F street entrance of the patent office and
still later dozen fine samples Of the palm
family were placed around the top Of the
iron and glass roof which covers the first
floor of the city post office building. The
idea was conceived that II this tropical
growth could be made to flourish in public
buildings a fine ornamental feature would
b. added to them. 1t was regarded as
doubtful whether this experiment would be
attended with success, the good results
which have been attained having quite
equaled the expectation fthose who have
devoted their attention to the work. The
effect of draft on palms has been shown IN
the patent office, where a solitary plant
was lately yellowed after few months of
uncertain existence there. The impossible
ity OF keeping the court of the pension Of
flee building at an even temperature during
the winter months has made 1t difficult TO
get the best results, though the plants
about the big fountain flourish fairly we'll.
The collection in the city post office build
ing IS now suffering from dust from the
several galleries that falls upon the spread
ing leaves. and work Is now under way for
making the glass roof waterproof so that
the plants may be sprinkled with gar
den hose and so kept clean. What Is being
decided by this culture of palms In the
public buildings will determine what care
is necessary to make such varieties -four
ish when they have not the moisture and
equable temperature which is secured only
in a hot hOnSa After q while some one
Will be able to make a collection of the
successes and failures that have attended
these experiments so that househoioerss
may be benefited by them and perhaps all
the public buildings can be beautifed with
a luxuriant growth of tropical green.
x u X
Up on Pennsylvania avenue, Just in front
of the northeastern gate that opens to the
north grounds Of the White House. the
other day a crowd Of nen and boys were
collected and there was every evidence that
a fight or something unusually lively had
taken place. Very soon policeman fastened
from across Lafayette Square and brusque-
Iy asked the trouble. Well. dis Niger
hyar gifts right In my way and won't glib
me de right OBJ way said the driver of
dump cart, which was standing there Fur
Their inquiry revealed the fact that negro
driving an ash cart had come east on the
south side of the avenue, while a street
sweeper was going west on the same side
of the street. Neither would get out Of
the way for the other and there they both
stopped. obstinately waiting for one or the
other to give in. Their discussion of the
question which had the right of way led
to hot words, and finally they were both
using strong and threatening language to
each other Somebody went for an officer.
who was disguised when he took in the
situation. Get on by here he said to
the street sweeper. land do it fast" Move
aicng here or I'll pull you." he said to
the driver of the ash cart. and the crowd
OF people passed away II they had really
found satisfaction in witnessing such a
petty quarrel.
c. o. L. Cooper, private secretary to
Attorney General Knox, has had long
and varied experience as a shorthand re-
porter of legal hearings, speeches. etc. and
IS ranked as one CT the best men In that
business in the country He has reported
legal arguments Of hundreds of prominent
men. among them Mr.. Choate the present
ambassador of the United States to Eng
land. Mr.. Cooper talking the other
day about the many changes made by men
in their speeches after delivery. Il report
ed the argument Of former Attorney Gen.
eral Griggs in the insular cases before the
Supreme Court" said MIR. Cooper. and
do not believe that MIR. Griggs changed
over one hundred words when he revised
the argument for publication. l never saw
so few changes IN a speech in my life. Mr.
Griggs talked to the court two hours one
day and about two hours another. so you
see that he spoke many thousands of
words. Often in speech man uses words
that he changes when the remarks put
in print. Sometimes the argument or
speech is changed that 1t would not be
recognized by the body before which it was
delivered. Mr.. Griggs. however. is man
who has splendid vocabulary and great
command of the English language. 1t is
rare for him to make a change in the
words of argument. In straight dicta-
ton In the way of letters 1t Is seldom that
he thinks OF a change"
y
Occasionally is heard nowadays ex
preston OF wonder as to where all the
bicycles go when they fall out of their
first use in favor of newer makes. They