The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-11-21
WASHINGTON LETTER
IspecIal Correspondence. ]

or large cities I'm the United States, Is
n city of strong contrasts. While the
city is becoming more and more as the
years go by a city beautiful, many
places can be pointed out whore n
wretched. tumbledown howell adjoins
palatial building. Scarcely single
public building can be mentioned which
does not have within a stones throw
Of it some old dllapidated structure
which mars TO some extent the spa
cious proportions of the large building.
Handsome Public Building.
One of the most striking Of these con
trasts is TO be seen at the magnificent
new Bryant street pumping station,
not only one of the largest and most
efficient, but also one Of the hand
soonest buildings for such purpose to
be found in the United States. Every
thing in and about the building is Kept
as clean as possible. A visitor going
into the building any day will find the
floors and walls spotlessly clean and
the machinery polished until it shines
and without a spcck OF dirt or grease
where it can be kept away. The walks
and lawns outside the structure are
kept in an equally neat condition.
A Striking Contrast.
On the west side of the building,
however. only few feet from its rear
end. there stand on high bank sever
al old weather beaten frame structures
which mar the exterior surroundings
of the pumping station to such an eX-
tent that an effort was made recently
by the officials of the water depart
ment TO secure a reasonable purchase
price OFFER on the property, so that the
old buildings might be torn down.
Failing in this, the owner Of the prop
erty. it is said, asking about twice as
much as the water department officials
thought the land was worth, it has
been decided TO build a high board
fence, over which during the summer
vines will be trained, so as to shut on
as much as possible Of the objection
able view Of the old buildings.
The Trees Of Washington.
The city Of Washington has the best
ordered and best maintained trees In
America. according to J. Horace Nc
Farland, president Of the American
Civic association.
There are some $1,000 Of these trees.
all planted municipality and cared for
municipality. There has been great at
tention to the planting of proper trees
In uniform shape-that Is, certain
street Will have nothing but English
sycamores, another nothing but tulip
trees.
Massing Of One Variety.
There are whole avenues devoted TO
splendid oaks, some splendid avenues
Of elms and naples, On occasional
street showing Carolina roplars and
some more paintings Of the pin oak
| In each case it IS q solid street OF
tree. and the effect is good.
No such effect could be produced by
individual initiative, for one man
would want an elm and another a Car
ollna poplar and possibly another
horse chestnut. None of these trees
might be the right trees for that par
ticular place. and thus the following
OF the individual preference would be
making patchwork Of the street.
New Postage Stamps.
The United States bureau Of engra7-
ing and printing has completed de-
signs suggested by Postmaster Gen
eral Meyer for new issue Of United
States postage stamps The new
stamps will be of the following de
nominations: One cent, two cent, three
cent four cent, five cent, six cent
eight cent. ten cent, fifteen cont fifty
cent and one dollar. The two and Ave
dollar denominations now in use viii
not be reprinted. 1t viii be some
weeks before all the denominations
Will be put on the market. However,
the two cent stamps viii be the first
distributed, and shipments 10 postmas
tiers will soon begin.
Stamps Similar In Design.
The new issue has been desiraed
with the object OF obtaining the great
est simplicity commensurate with ar
tistic result. The profile has been
taken In each instance instead Of q
full view, giving bas-relief effect.
All the stamps are Of similar design,
containing a head in an ellipse, the
only decoration being laurel leaves on
each side of the ellipse. The lettering
IS in straight lines, at the top being
81. S. Postage" and at the bottom the
denomination Of the stamp. The one
cent stamp contains the head Of
Franklin, while all the others will bear
that Of Washington taken from the
bust by Houdon.
Thus one Of the most notable differ
enceS In the new issue will be the
minimum Of lettering. The colors are
the reds and blues of the early stamps
A Gay Social Season.
A gay winter at the White Eouse IS
assured on account Of the presentation
to society Of the second daughter Of
the president. Every effort will be
made to render Miss Roosevelts first
season a notable one, inasmuch as she
will pass but one winter in her role as
daughter Of the White House. Friends
Of the Roosevelts will wish also tc
make no distinction between the cour-
tesies extended to Miss Ethel Roose-
velt and those which marked the first
season Of princess Alice"
Miss Roosevelt VIII appear with her
father and mother at the first state
dinner Of the season given at the
White House, but her own especial
function VIII be a dance In the east
room on Monday evening, Dec. %.
This ball viii include all the younger
members Of society and Will be the
chief debutante function Of the win
ter. Mrs. Roosevelt will also give a
formal dinner to the debutantes In the
state dining room, after which cotl-
Ions, theater parties and balls in honor
Of Miss Roosevelt and her cotempora-
rles win be the order Of the day.
CARL SCHOFIELD.
Keep the little ones healthy and happy
Their tender sensitive bodies require !
general healing remedies. HOLSTERS
Rocky Mountain Tea makes baby