The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-06
BANG OF HAMMERS
IN WHITE HOUSE
Residence of Nation Chief is
Undergoing Repairs.
CAPITOL HAS A DESERTED AIR
Chief WiIkie Breathes Freer Since Pres
dent Has LeftTemporary Residence
Where Work Of Assassin Might
Easily Be Accomplished.
CAPITOL HAS ADESERTED AIR
fsnec;al D,spatch to The Tines.)

where he will spend the entire summer.
not returning to Washington until late
in October. Washington seems like
,destrted village to those whose work and
deserted village to those whose work and
eminent AT the Capitol, where for sew
eral months past, there has been so much
life, only a few committee rooms and
document rooms and the officers of OF
hcials connected with the Supreme Court
show any sings of ACTIVITY. The corrl-
doris and stairways OF the great build
ing, which, during the session OF Con-
gress are fairly alive with Senators ana
Congressman. visiting politicians, ONCE
seeking constituents, lobbyists, he"Spd-
per men and many other specimens OF
humanity, whose business. curiosity OF
pleasure leads them to the haunts OF the
legislator are now almost entirely de-
serted save for the never-ending flow or
sight-seers. who, guide-boo1 in hand, go
wandering around The pubic PARKS ana
buildings of Washington at all seasons
of the year.
HAMMERS BANG
At the other end of Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. like quiet would reign wero 1t not
for the fact that the White House has
been turned over to the workmen, VINO
are making the interior changes tTesl-
dent Roosevelt has requested All tue
offices of the Executive Mansion nave
been moved to a house on Lafayette
SQUARE lust across the street from the
White House. and there the President
has been doing all his work for some
time. OF couse, the Executive Mansion
proper will be at Oyster Bay during the
summer. but a large force OF clerks IN
charge of Assistant Secretary Barnes
will remain in Washington to look after
the work at this end of the line. and the
temporary quarters will be kept open to
be ready for the President should ne
find 1t necessary at any time TO return
to Washington
It may be added in regard to the present
temporary Executive Mansion that Chlet
Wilkie. Of the Secret Service. breathed
a sigh Of relief last Thursday when the
President left his new office. Ever since
President Roosevelt and his StaH nave
been in the house on Lafayette Avenue
the local detectives nave been IN a hiSli
state of nervous excitement on account
of his being so much exposed. Hardly
a move was made by the President while
there that could not be seen from one
of several windows of the houses on II
Street and it would have been an easy
matter for assassin to station MINI
self in one of these back Wlndo"s ana
pick Mr. Roosevelt off with a rife ball.
making good his escape before the police
could find out whence the shot was fired
IS NOT AFRAID.
1t must be said Of Roosevelt. however.
that he seems very little afraid OF that
sort of thing. for he walks and rides
about Washington and the surrounding
country with perfect freedom and ap-
parent unconcern. He and General Leo
nard Wood are intimate friends. and
both being fond of outdoor life they ride
and walk together constantly. Some
times they are accompanied by a groom,
but frequently they go unattended. once
in a while President Roosevelt drives
aross the Potomac into Virginia. where.
leaving his carriage. and ordering the
driver to meet him at some point sew
eral miles distant. he strikes out across
the fields for a good walk alone lie is
a very strong man physically, ana seems
to possess an inexhaustble supply OF
vital energy After a hard days work
Ia saams to desire nothing better than
an afternoon of vigorous exercise, which
he saws. refreshas him and enables MIN
to enjoy his dinner and to procure
good nights sleep.
Miss Alice Roosevelt who is naturally
quite slender, Is following in the 1907
steps of her father; ana mas &C. 49,, ~" -
athletics. In addition to her regular
r,dinr and driving she has gone IN Tor
indoor exercises with the dumneis ana
cI,,hs with the result that she has. &C
cording 10 her intimate friends. gained
fifteen pounds in the last rev n1oiit's.
Ia I
>o+ tho least interested in the changes
| nat ore being wrought i'll the Nhlts
| tIonee are Mrs Roosevelt AMI the rest
| ~ tho Presidents household. HARD. IN
| Tae6 is the lot of the family OF any
| ol,h,ic man in Washington. ana 1hat ol
| tnn family Of the President Is, @: course
| tnnfold harder than the lot OF any othsr-
| In addition to the actual work OIL .ie
river Lady of the Land. which is harder
of the average
hi,ei,aes man. there is q. deplorapie lack
~ nrivacy in her daily life and That OF
l,nr family The whole front OF the mite
| ur,1se under the order of things that mas
existed I'D to the present, was always
thronged throughout the day with poll
tjcians ant! sight-seers, ana While the
FAMILY did net come into actual contact
With the never-ceasing now Oh Fisilofs'
the effect was necessarily felt
n Mrs or Miss Roosevelt wished to go
for drive she had to run the gauntlet
of the curious gaze of the gaping crowd
from the time she entered the main nail
c,f the White House. where the greater
ruu.her of the visitors usually consregate.
Until she stepped into the carriage at
the portico. On the second floor the
Presidents offices took up half the room.
so that it was even worse there than
on the ground floor. This will be entirely
RENE died by the changes that ale now
being made. for under the new regime
the Executive offices will be removed
from the White House, and while sight
seers will be allowed the same privileges
they now enjoy. with regard to sGils IN
ara out of certain rooms Of the White
House between the hours of 10 and :. the
Prt sident and his family will have the
entire second story to themselves.
NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICE.
IN the meantime the work On the W mite
House will be pressed forward. and 1t is
the intention of Colonel Theodore A Bins-
ham superintendent of public buildings
ond grounds. to have everything IN read
ines for the President and his familE
by the first of October.
In addition to the remodeling OF the IN
terror of the White House there IS 10
he built an executive office building Tor
the use OF the President. his secretaries.
clerks and stenographers and all the
working corps of the White House Inns
will be located in the White House
grounds. southwest of the White House
itself, near the driveway that runs pc
tween the State. War and Navy Depart
nent building and the White House IhlS