The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-07-15
WASHINGTON LETTER


Especial Ccrfc "cudeucc.l
The residence portion OF the Whit
House is closed. aud carpenters an
decorators are at work on the interlo
OF the historic old nuudiuS An IA
furniture has been removed FROM IN
east room. the blue room and the rc
room and placed in storage. In a t.,
days the greenhouse. located west q
the White House conservatory. VIII D.
torn down 20 make Way for the build
Ing which is TO Ice used as an office 20
the president. This building VIII D.
completed rs soon as possible. tina
work may begin ON the conversion @
the present offices i'm the White Hous
into rooms for the use Of the pres
Dental household.
The details OF the changes ia Oh
White House have not been delnitcl
agreed upon. but the plans have bee
outlined 10y Architect McKim. aud IN
main features IN the alterations hav
been made public The basement Dol
ton OF the house. which Is now use
ouly rs Kitchen and laundry. is &
be utilized. \ large reception roo.
viii be arranged ON that floor. and
suitable entrance to the room Will O.
provided at The east end OF the bull,
inG. This entrance Will be covered o
n poruco and VIII be quite prctentiou.
One of the attractive features OF ID
remodeled house viii be marbl
staircase 90 replace the old s,nirwa
which now leads TO the otlccs OF n
president The new stairway viii cS
tend from the reception room in "a
basement TO the second door.
Diplomats seek the seazhore.
The Austrian ambassador has take
a cottage At Bar Harhor. where lie ha
passed the last three summers an
where he ana his Wife are leadin
members of the Washinctou coiony
There will be a large diplomatic con
tingent at Gloucester. cottages havin
been leased by the Peruvian. Arrer
tine and Bolivian ministers and d.
Mr.. del Niso. The oriental dlplopat
both seek the ScasLorc. the Janauc,
minister anu Mime. TakahIra going Z
cape May and Mr.. aud Mrs. WI 10 AT
ianuc City. OF which resort both Ill
minister and his wife are extrcmel
fond. participating ia an the snort.
from bathing TO dancing. The minis
ter at least seeks partner az the 10
tel hops. Nine Wu's tiny feet preclu.
ing such enjoyment.
The Majors his na~~
One Of Washiurton's noted Fishermen
IS Major Dies sylvester. tie sunerin
tendeut OF police FOR Washington ana,
president OF the National Associate,
OF Chiefs OF Police.
The major went nShiug few dav
ago and returned with two fouu,
black bass. which he sent o. the urcsi
dent with his compliments.
Two of the majors friends heard o
his catch and asked about it "a lev
days later when they were fishing a.
The same place. They met d couutr,
boy and said. "ls there good nshiu,
up here"
Yep replied the boy. Its fair
Major Dies was NJ last week. fishing
lie cau-ht "a 1--WE pound bass. an
der~tand. observed one OF thc party
"and save ii to the president"
Il dunno uothiu aoou, his Swim il
TO the president" the boy said. ~bu
sran'pap. hc caught the fish"
social Secretaries scarce.
Wives OF the cabinet ministers VIII.
already are preparing for next winter.
social season. report that there Is rc
markablc scarcity OF young women in
Washington who are competent "a
serve as social secretaries. I'd fact
there are not enough 20 go half wa
around. and the cabinet ladies are Dr.
despair because they know that H.,
shortage means repetition Of the an
gulsh and humiliation consequent upon
blUndcrs which followed them so re-
ieniiessiy an during last season.
The social secretary is an important
parsonage in Washington society. To
be sure. she H. not much i'm evidence
herself. but her handlwork is seen ey-
erywhere. The making ont OF tie III
vitation lists. the mailing Of accept
anccs or dcciiuati lions aud the other
routine work connected with the social
season Is the small and uuimportant
part of the social sccretary's duties.
She Is expected 10 be- a walking ency-
ciopedia of Information on the ms and
outs OF Washington society. This in
formation she deals out to her en-
ployei as necessity requires
who's n Lobster.
The wife Of a new congressman is in
variably careful Ia looking after her
perquisitcs and sometimes makes her
self ridiculous by overreachlng. A Ger
tain Mrs. NJ. G.. hearing not long ago
That 1t was the custom Of the fish com
missioner TO distribute fish 10 repre.
sentatives In congress "a they cared TO
have them. tcicphOned to the commits
sion that she was giving a dinner par
ty the next day and would be much
Obliged If he would send up three large
or six smah Holsters. \ polite reply
to the effect that the fish commission
was not market. Dut that she could
have n dozen gold lsh for her aqua.
rum II that would in any way con.
tribute TO the success of the feast. was
sent In reply to this request.
An Electric s.Xxhoos-