Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-11

has adopted the reverse policy. and pros
porous business is conducted today In stores
and ofices which for decades had no occu-
pant. But the greatest Of Mr.. WIZARDS
improvements consisted In tearing down the
historic WIZARDS hotel, which sheltered
during its days statesmen and soldiers by
the hundreds. Upon half the site there
was first erected a modern. hreproof. up
to-date hotel, ten stories high. which has
been filled with guests from che day II was
opened. and now the remaining portion Of
the site is being adorned with an additional
structure which, when completed, as It will
be within a very few months. will give
Washington what II has never had before
ar absolutely hrst-class hotel. Governor
Willard is also interested in a company
which proposes TO erect a new S1,OO0.OO
hotel in the vicinity OF the union depot
soon to be erected within a few blocks Of
the capitol.
h Tom Walsh Il Doing.
The other benefactor is Thomas r.
Walsh, a Colorado millionaire, who brought
his wealth to Washington some years ago
and has been spending 1t in identifying the
city ever since he came. Mr.. Walsh al
ready has one of the most beautiful resi-
dences in the fashionable northwestern
section. Today he is pushing to rapid COM
pletion a hreproof office building within n
block Of the treasury and quite recently
he has acquired by purchase title 10 an
other old hotel site with the property ad-
Joining, which, as soon as the lease ex-
pires, ne proposes TO improve by erecting
thereon still another up-to-date hotel with
all the conveniences, but which will be Less
expensive for visitors than the Willard.
In other words, Mr.. Walsh saw an oppor-
tunity to give the travelling public the very
latest In the way OF hotel facilities at me-
dunn prices, and within the next FIVE years
Washington will in consequence be pro-
vided with better accommodation in this
direction than n city of its size in the
country.
Joseph e. Willard and Thomas F. Walsh
are comparatively young men. II is to be
hoped that 1t will be very many years
before the citizens Of Washington will be
called upon to pay tribute to the memory
of either Of them. But there are no private
citizens In the national capital today who
are more entitled to the praise Of their
fellows than these two gentlemen, who
have invested their means to such good
purpose In the Improvement Of the char
acter Of the architecture Of the city of
Washington.
Popularity of New Chinese Minister.
The indications are that the new Chinese
minister will very soon be as popular in
Washington as his predecessor, Mr.. WI
Ting-fang. Sir Chen Tung LANG has won
the hearts of the people wherever he has
appeared in public. He speaks English
with even greater facility than did Mr..
WI, and he is mixing with the Americans
In every possible way. His children as
sociate with American boys and are al
ready popular among them. The members
of his encourage are like wise acquiring
American ways as rapidly as they possibly
can, and the public schools OF Washington
have enrolled among their scholars quite
a number of Celestial children, who, while
unable to speak the language OF their
playmates, are rapidly learning EnylisH
words and acquiring the knowledge i'm
parted in the kindergartens. One of the
amusing sights these spring mornings is
the receptions which are daily held by the
Acknowledged little girl. perhaps 9 years
of age, who attends one OF the pubic
schools in the vicinity of North Fourteenth
street. At first this little lady was ac-
companied by a Chinese gentleman wear
ing the costume of a mandarin. Now she
goes alone, and before she gets within a
block Of the school house she Is sur
rounded by a small army of youngsters
of about her own age, all eager to do tho
honors of the morning. This little Chinese
lady has already learned all the indoor
games with which American youngsters
are familiar, and IL she keeps on as she
g going at present, she promises to be-
come an expert at the American game of
base ball, as she has developed great fond
ness for and some proficiency in that sport
of the American youngster.