St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-07-02
WA SHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence

The residence portion Of the White |
House is closed, and carpenters and |
decorators are at work on the interior
of the historic old building. All the
furniture has been removed from the
oost room, the blue room and the red
room and placed in storage. In few
DAVIS the greenhouse located west of
+bn White House conservatory, will be
torn down to make way for the build
ino which is to be used as an office for
+he president. This building will be
completed as soon as possible, that
work may begin on the conversion of
the present offices in the White House
into rooms for the use of the presi-
dental household.
The details of the changes in the
White House have not been definitely
agreed upon, but the plans have been
outlined by Architect McKim, and the
main features in the alterations have
been made public. The basement por-
tion of the house, which is now used
only as a kitchen and laundry, is to
he utilized A large reception room
will be arranged on that floor, and q
suitable entrance to the room will be
proyided at the east end of the build
ing. This entrance will be covered by
a portico and will be quite pretentious.
One of the attractive features Of the
remodeled house will be a marble
staircase to replace the old stairway
which now leads to the offices Of the
president. The new stairway will ex-
tend from the receptions room in the
basement to the second floor.
Diplomats Seek the seashore.
The Austrian ambassador has taken
cottage at Bar Harbor, where he has
passed the last three summers and
where he and his wife are leading
members of the Washington colony.
There will be large diplomatic con-
tingent at Gloucester, cottages having
been leased by the Peruvian, Argen-
tine and Bolivian ministers and by
Mr.. del Niso. The oriental diplomats
both seek the seashore, the japanese
minister and Nine Takahira going to
Cape May and Mr.. and Mrs. WI to At
lantic City, of which resort both the
minister and his wife are extremely
fond, participating in all the sports,
from bathing to dancing The minis
ter at least seeks a partner at the no,
tel hops, Nine. Wu's tiny feet preclud-
ing such enjoyment.
The Majors Big Bass.
One of Washington's noted fishermen
is Major Dick Sylvester, the superin-
tcndent Of police for Washington and
president Of the National Association
Of Chiefs of Police.
The major went fishing a few days
ago and returned with a five pound
black bass, which he sent to the presi-
dent with his compliments.
Two Of the majors friends heard of
his catch and asked about il few
days later when they were fishing at
the same place. They met country
boy and said, as there good fishing
up here:'
Yep" replied the boy, cts fair.
Major Dick was up last week fishing
Tie caught five pound bass, un-
derstand," observed one Of the party,
land gave it to the president"
Il dunno nothin' about his giyin' it
to the president" the boy said, but
gran'pap, he caught the fish"
Social Secretaries Scarce.
Wives of the cabinet ministers, who
already are preparing for next winters
social season, report that there is re-
markable scarcity of young women in
Washington who are competent to
serve as social secretaries, In fact,
there are not enough to go half way
around, and the cabinet ladies are in
despair because they know that the
shortage means a repetition of the an
guish and humiliation consequent upon
blunders which followed them so re-
lentessly all during last season.
The social secretary is an important
parsonage in Washington society. To
be sure, she is not much in evidence
herself, but her handiwork is seen ev'
eryWhere. The making out of the In
yitation lists, the mailing of accept
ances or destinations and the Other
routine work connected with the socia
season is the small and unimportant
part of the social secretary's duties
She is expected to be a walking ency
Clopedia Of information on the ms ant
outs Of Washington society, This in
formation she deals out to her EN-
ployer as necessity requires.
who's IL Lobster?
The wife of a new congressman is in
yariably careful in looking after he
perquisites and sometimes makes her
self ridiculous by overreaching. A Ger
tain Mrs. NJ, c., hearing not long ag
that it was the custom Of the fish com
missioner to distribute fish to repre-
sentatives in congress if they cared t
have them, telephoned to the commits
sion that she was giving dinner pal
ty the next day and would be nue.
obliged if he would send up three larG
or six small Holsters. A polite repl
to the effect that the fish commission
was not a market, but that she coul
have n dozen goldfish for her aqua