Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-17
At THE WHITE HOUSE
President Roosevelt Saw Few
Callers Today.
OFFICIAL CHINA SHOW
EXHIBITION OF EXECUTIVE GER
AMICs NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC.
Gen. Wheeler Tells Why the Japs
Should Win From Russia-To
Label Park Trees.


o'clock in the morning until after luncheon
in the afternoon and did not have oppor
tunity to see and talk with visitors. Mem
bers of Congress were at the Capitol to at
tend the Hanna funeral ceremonies, and few
of them were at the White House before 60
ing to the Capitol.
Baron w. "A F. Gevers, who has been here
a number of years the minister of the
Netherlands, called upon the President this
afternoon and paid his farewell call. He
has been transferred to the Italian post, and
is about to depart for that country.
Senator Beveridge, who has been in Indi
ana on business, talked with the President.
Senator Burnham of New Hampshire called
and introduced a friend William G. Edens,
prominent official of the Chicago post of
flee, called to introduce q relative, Lewis A.
Hicks of Berkeley, Cal.
White House China on Exhibition.
Some of the historical china of the White
House has been placed on exhibition in
the hallway of the basement of the White
House, and may be seem by visitors who
pass through on their way to the east
room, the only room of the executive man
sion that is open to the general public.
The two cabinets now in place are to be
followed by others. One of the closets has
been placed on the south side of the hall
way in the basement and the other on the
explaining the contents. The closets do
not contain the full sets of the historical
china of each administration in the past,
but merely specimens. The entire sets, in
many cases, will be placed in glass closets
in the future. The two cabinets now on
exhibition contain china from the follow
ing admnistra tions:
The north cabinet: Upper shelf-Lincoln
dish, one small compete. Second shelf-ae-
served for Roosevelt china. Third shelf
Mckinley china, three plates. two cups and
saucers, small bonbon dish in shape ma
tonal flag. Fourth shelf-Grant china,
large open-work fruit dish, smaller COM
pote, two plates, long fish platter, small
butter plate.
South cabinet: Upper shelf-Hayes china
|-tfrom ffe Theodore Davis decorated set,
turkey platter, bear and honey salad
dish, gravy boat. ice cream plate, cup and
saucer, dinner plate, plate with painting OF
house in which Mr. Davis made the designs
for the dishes. Second shelf-Arthur china,
six plates from the "gipsy set' two cups
and saucers. Third shelf-Cleveland china,
four plates, tea cups, gravy boat. Fourth
shelf-Harrison china, cut glass, two plates,
cup and saucer cut glass ice cream plate,
goblet, finger bowl.
Mrs. Roosevelt has taken deep interest
in the exhibition of this china, and has
extended her original ideas to plan that
will mean the accumulation of some of the
china of each presidential family since the
government of the United States was form
ell She has asked Mrs. Abby G. Baker,
who has written number of magazine
articles in past years of White House
china, to assist in arranging and collect
ing the china. Ali the china that has been
used in the White House since the admin
istration of President Lincoln has been
carefully preserved, but prior to that time
the officials of the White House did not
preserve any of it, and it passed into pri-
vate hands.
Very Old Relics.
Some of the china used by Washington
when he was President. as well as a few
pieces of some of the other first Presidents
of the country, exhibition at the
Smithsonian. 1t is probable that these will
soon be transferred to the White House.
There is in Massachusetts a considerable
collection of the china used in the White
House by the Adams family
1t is thought that owners Of china of
various administrations before the civil war
may donate some of their pieces to the
White House, inasmuch as there are no
funds for purchase and 1t is not likely that
Congress will make an appropriation for
this purpose. No fancy prices could there
fore, be paid for White House china in pri-
vate hands, and much will depend upon the
generosity of the owners themselves wheth-
er some of the china of each administration
will ever be collected into a splendid exhi-
bition at the White House, where it proper
ly belongs.
The government supplies each administra-
tlOn WIN a new SET VI ClIlid, anu WESl lit0
administration goes out it is left In the
White House. Before Lincoln S time the
china went to the presidential family and
did not remain In the White House
Park Trees to Be Labeled.
Col. Thomas w. Symons, superintendent
of public buildings and grounds while at
the White House today, said that he has
made plans to mark every tree in every
park and public place in Washington He
has had 1000 labels made to begin the
work. These will be placed upon trees,
the records of which are in the office of
the superintendent of public buildings and
grounds. In some Of the parks there are
groves Of trees of the same variety. In
cases of this kind only few trees Of each
variety will be marked. The labels will
contain the popular names of each tree in
large letters and beneath this the scien-
tific name in small letters.
Heretofore, in some of the city parks,
where flowers, pond lilies, etc., have been
labeled, the scientific name only has been
used. This has been objected to by the
great mass of people, who are not familiar
with the scientific names. Colonel Symons
realizes this and will use the popular names
in such way that the variety of every tree
will be known to all who can read.
The work will require some time and
many more than 1,OO0 labels will be neces-
sary, but that number of labels represents
the number of trees that are known by
Colonel Symons Office. Some historic trees
will be labeled The work will commence
In the spring. when the trees begin to bud.
Gen. Wheeler Favors Japan.
Gen. Joseph Wheeler is most deeply in
terested in the struggle between Russia and
Japan. He called upon the President to-
day. and. on leaving the White House, said
he could not see how the Japanese could
fail to win in the end unless Russia be-
came determined to succeed in her plans at
the expense of her entire resources. Gen.
Wheeler said the Japanese would be able
to put sufficient men into Manchuria to
overcome the Russian armies at various
points and then attack and destroy the rail-
road which is so important to Russian re-
lief. He declared that many thousands of
men would be required to keep the railroad
open so that Russia could obtain more
troops and supplies. With Japan in COM