The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-22

lawns, splendid trees and cooling foun-
tains, looks like an ideal summer
home: but is already taking on a
mounrful air of desertion since Mrs.
Roosevelt and the children have gone
to oyster Bay. 1t Is closed now to
the public and-sad to say-will never
be seen again in its former state. AL
ready workmen have begun the work
of dissertation, removing the historic
pictures and furnishings, preparatory
to tearing out the famous East Room
and Green, Red and Blue parlors. 1t
is to be rebuilt, internally. on twen-
tieth century lines-and probably the
result will be as painfully incongruous
as the grand old palaces of Europe
that have received modern improve
ments" to suit some vandais caprice
and made TO look like an octogenarium
incorporating In coral beads and shout
der-knots of baby blue. The United
States is rich enough to build a new
residence for the progressive families
of its Presidents. II necessary. and can
afford to indulge itself in keeping the
old White House sacred to historic
memories. But 1t Is not to be, our
strenuous President and the economi-
cal Congress having willed otherwise
though money flows like water in other
directions toward identifying the cap
ital. BY the way. the bill aprpopriat-
Ing funds for White House repairs
has not yet passed. although II is I'M
derstood to be one of the few sure
things" before Congress. President
Roosevelt, with his customary impul-
siveness' could not wait for It, fearing
there would not be time for complet-
ing all the changes before his
nothing absolutely sure in Con-
family returns in the fall; so he gave
the order to go ahead. There IL
nothing absolutely sure in con-
gress until II is done. 1t would be
something OF joke II the bill failed to
pass after all and our strenuous Teddy
had to pay for his alleged improve
ments.
Minister WI is arranging for a, sum.
mer at the seashore. but is yet unde-
cided between the rival merits OF Cape
May and Atlantic City. He will be
accompanied to the place he finally set
ties upon by Nine. WI and her num-
erous suite. The headquarters of the
legation Will remain inss Washington.
and all it's business will be transacted
here. Preparatory to the annual fit
ting, Mr.. WI Ting-fang and all his
household made a pilgrimage last
Sunday afternoon to Mount Vernon,
the American shrine, as in official duty
bound to do, according to the Chinese
code. Besides Mr. and Mrs. WI. their
son in his United States Cadet uniform
and the two young ladies from the
Flowery Kingdom, who are visiting at
the legation, there was a retinue OF
queues and silken gowns--whether
worn by men or women IL was impos-
sible to say--and several Chinese chill
dren The latter looked as old as Chi
ma itself, being preternaturally solemn
and unsmiling, and dressed in exact
imitation of their elders. Everybody
recognizes Mr.. Wu's engaging coun-
tenance. and as his costume was topped
by a black silk skull-cap. the obser-
want on-looker took 1t for granted that
the several others who wore head-gear
of similar fashion were also men.
About half the company were bare
headed, and all-men and women alike
wore silken trousers and brocaded
shirts with flaps" outside, resembling
Il workmen's Jumper cut en- train. The
gorgeous Oriental fabrics with gold and
silver enwrought glittered in the sun
light until the sheen was almost pain
full to look upon. The predominating
colors were black, pale blue, purple
and yellow, and around the bottoms OF
the sky-blue trousers legs worn by
Nine. WI and the young ladies were
sewn stripes of purple braid. from
three to seven stripes, Of varying width
denoting worldly station to eyes versed
in Chinese etiquette. The minister's
son is a fine looking lad, in spite of
HIS thick eyeglasses; but his long Jet
black queue, under his fashionable
straw hat and tucked inside his cadet
Jacket, added touch of the ludicrous