Evening star., 1917-05-06

-pISc, the past few months war
HN ava minors of war have
Ill III brought many changes in the
~ capital. Seemingly the entire
,;,v has lost its usual carefree air. ana
atmosphere of foreboding apprehen-
sion has enveloped the departmental
buildings of the government Here'o
sore for SO long a time that 1t seemed
impossible it could be otherwise, 'he
throngs of ever-present sieh'seers
have wandered about the city Wherever
<heir wills have dictated, but when 'he
war rumors begun to give place 10 ac
tuaI war conditions all TINS was
changed. Closed doors, guarded oy oe-
Dartmental appointees. confroh'eo ing
visitors at the department ou'io'hss'
while in their strolls or drives they ire
nuently encountered soldiers pa'roliins
the bridges. government RESERVATIONS
and the highways
Tn no part of the city were tnese
changes so noticeable as at the Capitol
md the White House. At the FORMER
hui,dinr only the main entrances are
oman for admittance of visitors. and all
xvbo come are closely scrutinized by the
guards: At the White House even the
Grounds are closed, and all who nave
business with the President must go to
the west gate. near the executive once
building, to obtain admittance.
While the Presidents park is always
lovely early in the spring, II Is haro "
aay lust when, during the spring or the
summer season. this park is most oeau-
tiful. The fortunate recipients OF the
much coveted invitations to the White
House garden parties, which for num-
ber of years have been the red letter
events of Washington's spring soclai
season, would probably vote that the
grounds are at their zenith OF beauty
-ben these fetes take place, the last
half of May and the early part OF June
It Is then that the climbing rose pushes
cover the low trellis fence from the eA-
ecutive Office to the winding stair Oh
the south portico, and are hiled with
roses-lovely pink blossoms OF the wiid
rose. rich camellia-like petals OF the
white rose and outreaching both OF
chem and running riot in its luxurlous
1rofusion. the sweet smelling yellow
xrance as well as flower.
On the other side of the portico, the
sast- the honeysuckle and the wistaria
are always in the height of their bloom
for the garden parties. In the mower
beds at their feet. and. indeed, IN the
Aower beds of both colonial gardens
the flowers of our grandmotnsas p nd
dominate. but in the west garden. ano
hardening the Presidents walk north OF
n the monthly roses have been brought
10 state of perfection almost unsur-
Dassable. They are of numberiess va
rieties. The Presidents walk extends,
under the shadow of the west colonnade'
from the White House TO the executFe
office and the rose bushes Whlch Doroer
At have been grated onto the slender
trunks of small. hardy crabappie trees.
nroducing a scenic effect as pleasing as
N Is unusual The bushes bloom al
most continuously from May 10 NoNeih-
Yet the midsummer beauty of the
Presidents park can vie with ITS at
fractions. 1t is then that the nooie
trees come fully into sne.r o~n.
tended at the east from what is now
18th street to 18th street at the west
and from Pennsylvania avenue on the
acres in all. This area, however. was
never fenced in. The present White
House grounds cover fourteen acres.
Probably the oldest tree in the White
House grounds is the one planted by
President John Quincy Adams, 1S25-29.
It is an American elm, standing On the
east knoll in the south grounds. 1t
IN a splendid example of its species and
4 fitting monument to the man who
planted it. In the north grounds are
several other old trees. Almost direct
ly in front of the mansion, just at the
east and west curves of the driveway
north of the house. President Hayes
planted two American elms in March.
1873. They were struck by lightning
several times and were badly storm
broken, yet they both grew to splendid
height In the summer OF 1918, how
ever. when a tornado OF unusual vio-
lence visited Washington. the elm at
The east OF the driveway was complete
ly uprooted aad so badly injured that
ft had to be removed. The next fall
President Wilson planted another elm
0f the same variety in the same spot,
and 1t is now growing into q vigorous
tree. In April, 1892. President Harri-
BON planted a sweet gum tree little
To- the north on the driveway. and 1t
u now one of the most slightly trees
in that part of he park. In the second
tIation he planted a scarlet oak on the
north of the walk leading to the ex-
pcuttve office. This tree, unfortunately,
WAS placed in such proximity to a
larger tree In its rear that its growth
3as been retarded. President and Mrs.
Roosevelt each planted a fern-leaved
beech at the north and south of the
Antrsnce to the east colonnade. Despite
&ee care which was given It. the tree
8yesidsnt Roosevelt planted died, but