The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-02
WASHINGTON LETTER


rope, I0ere are Wttnln u lew pVCAs oA
the White House, beautifully trim in
its immediate surroundings, large
areas where rubbish, filth and tangled
masses Of wild brush growth abound.
To many visitors to Washington it
would be hardly believable TO think
that almost within a stones throw of
the spotlessly clean White House there
are big piles of ashes and trash,
wide area of sluggish marsh land and
a matted wilderness OF trees and scrub
undergrowth. Yet this is the fact.
Ugly Spots Ia Capital.
Although a hundred years have
rolled by since the White House was
built, although civic Improvement So
cieties have been hard at work In their
efforts to bring reform in the beautih-
cation Of our American cities and al
though the national capital has had
handsome improvements made In some
directions as far away as five miles
from the White House." said well
known official the other day, "yet on
to the southwest, just beyond the site
where the palatial home OF the bureau
Of American republics Is fising In the
air, there are views which for insight
illness would be hard to surpass.
Great Piles Of Rubbish.
Great piles OF old water pipe, old
wagons and long piles OF manure add
their unsightliness to the neighborhood.
IF there is any part OF the District
which should be kept handsome not
merely for the sake Of cleanliness 1t
self and the health OF the citizens OF
the District, but more especially for
the sake Of creating with foreigners
and other visitors a favorable impres-
sion OF Americas great capital, 1t is
that section OF the city within a short
radius Of the White House"
Senator Smiths New Home.
Senator William Alden Smith OF
Michigan has had the old property
which he purchased few months ago
at the northwest corner Of Sixteenth
and L streets northwest remodeled 80
extensively that 1t looks like an en-
tirely new house.
! The entrance hall extends across the
front of the house on the basement
isoor, back of which is large stair
hall, with broad stairs leading to the
main floor. Across the front of the
main floor is a spacious drawing room,
finished in elaborate decorative plas-
ter work.
The dining room, on this floor, back
of the central stair hall, is finished In
mahogany, the paneled wainscotinG
reaching almost to the ceiling, which
is beamed in mahogany. The library,
which is Immediately back of the cen
trail stair hall on the basement floor
is to be finished in oak.
To Pasteurize Milk Supply.
In view of the definite tracing of the
outbreak of typhoid fever in George
town to the owner of a dairy farm,
the health officers of the District of
Columbia and of the federal govern
ment have renewed their efforts to
have all milk pasteuriZed, so as to
make it safe for use as food.
In the case of Georgetown it was
found that the germs OF the disease
were conveyed to the milk by wom-
an who had typhoid fever eighteen
years ago and whose body still gives
off virulent typhoid germs.
Surgeon General Walter Wyman of
the public health service says that it
was established that at least . per
cent of the recovered cases of typhoid
were bacilli carriers for longer or
shorter period and that if they han
died milk they would infect it, but
l-;1 Aa
Laundry War Planned.
The war which has been waged
against unclean lunch rooms and lodg-
ing houses by the District health Office
for the last several months is to be
turned in a new direction. Announce
ment has been made by the officials
that a crusade against the violators of
the regulation which requires all per-
sons conducting laundry establish
ments at their homes to register with
the department will be started.
The law was framed some weeks
ago and is now in effect. 1t is esti-
mated that 10000 persons in the Dis
trict each week take to their homes
soiled linen, which is washed, ironed
of these have registered with the
health Office and obtained permits to
conduct such a business.
Buds to Dance.
All society knows in respect Of Ethel
Roosevelt's coming out is that she will
be presented TO it on Dec. 2S at little
dance which is TO be one of the most
exclusive affairs of the season. Few
married folk will be present, the ,eX-
ceptions, outside the parents Of the
debutante, being Admiral and Mrs.
Cowles, the Douglas Robinsons Of New
York and Representative and Mrs.
Nicholas Longworth. Almost all the
Invitations are to be restricted to the
seasons buds, a few OF last winter and
several close friends OF the presidents
daughters who have been out two OF
more years.
Wild Geese on the Potomac.
Several flocks OF wild geese have
been seen on the river by the officers
10 CHI,