The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03
Old Conservative Washington
Army Officer Glad to Escape Gothams Vulgar Display

are the handsome terraced steps which
lead up 10 1t from Decatur street. The
whole idea OF the house was doubtless in
fiUenced by Mr. Walcotts many trips 10
Mexico. Just above It Is the famous old
Decatur house, which, when Il was Occu-
pied by the famous admiral, was regarded
as d country seat; now It Is distinctly in
town and will soon be center of the
most fashionable part of the city.
Mr.. Carerre, of the firm of Carerre &
Hastings, Of New York, who were the
architects for Mrs Townsend's house,
which is By all odds the handsomest
private residence in Washington. the Sen
ate and House OF Representatives annex
here, the Public Library in New York,
and many other buildings Of more or less
Importance. is a frequent visitor TO Wash
ington. where much of his work lies, and
is an interesting and distinguished igure.
He is tall, finely formed, and what
would be called handsome, with great
charm of manner; one Of the most sue
cessful of the Americans graduated from
the Ecole des Beaux Arts. Another nota-
BILE architect recently IN town was Don
Barber, who claims New York for his
home, although he was born in Washing
ton. his mother. born Miss Williams, hav-
ing been a native Of the Capital
Mr. Barber has one of the largest and
handsomest ateliers in New York, ana
follows the foreign method in MS inter
course with his students, visiting them
every few days and putting them through
a serious course OF criticism. That this
system has been wonderfully productive
Of good is shown by the number Of
scholarships won by the young men from
his studio.
The people who live just beyond sberi-
dan Circle are very grateful to the powers
that be for the paving of Massachusetts
avenue, but they miss very much the
visits to that locality OF the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt, and others who rode with
them. vino We're wont TO take their horses
just beyond the little triangle west Of the
circle and 10 dismount there on their
return from their galIOp through the
country Nothing is more inspiring than
the healthy, lusty. enthusiastic way the
President goes in FOR outdoor sports and
10 one who has not seen him jump on
his horse. canter off. calling back pleas
autries 10 MS companions, has seen him
at his best Secretary Root and Senator
Lodge are the Presidents most constant
companions, but he is often Joined IN his
rides by Secretary Taft Assistant SecTe-
tary Bacon, and other equesJrians. who
belong 10 the Official circle.
There is no secrecy IN the world" said
a wealthy man from the West, as he sat
in the corridor Of one Of the largest hotels
in town the other night. There is no
way Of losing oneself, no matter what
pains you take TO be tncog. I am tired
out. and I left all my business affairs
ia statu quo 10 come 10 Washington for
a little vacation. I didn't register, and
instructed the clerks that no cards should
De brought 10 me- and that Il any one
found out I was here 7 sl8uld visit my
bitter ire upon them. Now, listen q mo
mCnt. and hear that deyilish kid with 81
telegram roaring out my name Why. to-
morrow morning ] viii have calls from
not only a lot Of business people whom /
I ought 70 see, but gang Of poor rela- !
uves viii descend upon me. I utterly re- I
fuse. 20 accept that telegram. and intend 4
70 preserve my incOg. as long as possible" /
"WiI you take a message from me TO I
the Department Of State?" asked a wo-
man who recently arrived from the other /
side, where she had been staying for
couple Of years for the purpose Of edu-
eating her children, 10 a Senator from her
State. 4 would ike to make them IN
derstand how necessary a passport is 10 /
any one going abroad. It makes no diff /
ference whether they are simply there
travelling for a short time, or whether
they are domiciled in some foreign coun-
try. they need a passport. Now, when
went over three years ago. in response
TO a very polite note I wrote to the De-
partment Of State asking If passport
was necessary. 7 was informed very cour-
teously that it wasn't, that one could go
all about Europe without meeting any
annoyance because they failed 10 have
this important paper. but my experience
has been 50 utterly different. had been /
less than a month in Berlin. for instance, /
when the police came 70 view my pass
port Humiliating though It was, I had
to confess that had none. The officer /
went out all smiles and good humOr. and
I thought the incident closed, but he came
the next day. and the next. and il ended
bassy to have one made out. Bear in
mind that for the very shortest stay in
Germany a passport is necessary. In /
Austria and Italy, the latter country /
especially. which does everything in its /
power to inspire foreigners 10 travel |!
there, one might do without il, but even /
there il is a disadvantage not to be !
equipped with this document which is a /
passport literally, and simplifies matters /
for the traveller
"A very rich woman Of my acquaintance, /
who was travelling in Europe. once in /
crossing the frontier between Germany
and France, was required to show her 4
passport by the customs officer She had 4
none, but she had sick child in Paris 4
to whom she was speeding. and it threat /
ened that she would be detained over 1
several trains until her identity was es-
tablished. Happily in her handbag there
was a letter from the Secretary Of State /
This she drew out with great dignity and /
pffered it 10 the bureaucratic official, with /
the explanation that this was better than 1
all passports since 1t was signed by the /
premier in America, and was n guarantee /
of her position at home. Not being able /
70 read a word Of English. the officer al
lowed her to 60 on, but fancy how en-
barTassing il would have been if-the man
could have read English.
Just before his death Gen. Spinner, the
Treasurer Of the United States. said: Il
don't claim that I have done much good /
in the world, but my success III intro
ducing women TO government employ
makes me feel that 1 have not lived in
vain" and again. The fact that I was
employment in the offices Of the govern