New-York tribune., 1871-04-07

defed taste In the interest OF utility. Lafayeie,Iuaro
OF tho prctiest public gardens TO be found pny
whcrehas grown up into rich mass OF veriure shading
the winding walks and forms charming startngpoint
for the system OF ornamental grounds which have only
Just begun 10 assume appearance OF aotuality,
and which include the Executive Mansion, the
Mall, the Smithsonian, and tho Capitol 1t is
indeed consoling TO that, In spite OF the
apathy OF the municipality and the caprcous needless
ness Of Congress- Washington Is sure TO be In time
handsome Nature will take II In hand as soon ~
the OF good will give her chance, and she never
buDges When the grounds once laid OUT all that Is
wanted few years OF energetic neglect and they will
give good account OF themselves. Time and chemistry
safer agents for beauty than any Joint Committee.
There two views Of Washington which are os-
pecialy interesting from their unkeness. They give
what the Berlinese would call the objective and subject
i've ideas OF the city. The Is from Georgetown
Hghts and best In the evening The town lies all be-
you well distributed upon Its hills the vast dome OF
the Capitol forming superb center to the picture and
the wide river winding away the horizon the
right while the leye sunshine pours over the wooded
uplands OF Virginia and the bluffs Of Arlington. leaving
the swampy banks In shadow aud the white marble OF
the public buildings In softened and 1atterng light
The other Ia from the balcony Of the Library OF Congress-
whence you may SEQ the whole town which perversey
grew behind the Capitol instead OF before IT. IN the fore
ground the massive terraces, already green and fresh
spreading fanke either side into long vistas
OF present and possible houses-where enough Is now
OF achievement to render the entire fulfment OF
the founders plan probabe-and In frontthe long ascent
OF closed by that noble south facade
of the Treasury obliquey presented, like cunning
scene OF some stage, the most superb con-
cluson to great street that know Of have heard
Gen. Jackson very unjustly blamed for ordering that
splendid pile OF granite where 1t stands OF course
will Oly he al Of
feeling in the matter But the luck which wa3ed on him
through life with him In that moment the South
Front could not be better placed. Unfortunately, the
basement was not made high enough at that end and
the North Front suffers severely for IT, being run into the
hillside shear 1t OF half its effect Not even from
the Arch OF Triumph you get clearer idea OF the
HaussmanlzatlOn OF O city than IL given from this
Library balcony The system Of rectangular streets aud
diagonal avenues which Washngtons French protege
planned for the unborn capital aud which afterward
adopted under the supervision for the infant City
OF Buffalo, Ia substantially the same as that which
the Preec OF the Seine has been applying with such
reckless and destructive energy during the last decade
to the compact and already beautiful City OF Paris The
system has It's advantages when adopted ab nio; but
seems like madness from any economical point OF view
to carry into effect In great metropolis where mil
lions OF existing value must be annihlaed by the ham
OF the demosher before the trowel Of the builder
can begin its work. The chief penalty which must be
paid by those who indulge IN this luxury or wide ana
straight streets Is that OF wind and dust. Even now'
after days as soft the Italy OF the poets the elements
grow frlsky toward evening, and f the DIR with bind
ing clouds Of dirt and powdered imesone-which some
times drift heavily the street rails that the horses,
which have the local disncDation to Oyerwork, stop
short and wait for the passengers To get out and push
the car over the dust drift this yesterday In front
OF the Presidentsthe rearing Jackson side, and
the bronze Jefferson ION the other, looking on wcl
pleased.
People who know Washington only during the lobby
Of rain and mud have conception OF the charm
which belongs to the place and It's suburbs In those
months when Nature is up and awake. Scarcely Is the
verna equinox and all the hills and woods bud
ding and bursting into green The shady and romantic
brdlepaths by Pney Branch are full OF adventurous
couples The young people walk in the little gardens
and squares and rt in the innocent and open Washing
ton manner which Il old az the city, II greatly sur
prses the ingenious youth OF the Legations, who have
been accustomed to meet modest who were
not afraid OF them They begin with extrayagant Ideas,
and although treated rather better than they deserve
brought to terms and broken to harness Just
the newly emancipated school girls who give the
society busily engaged In breaking the hearts
OF the High Commissioners They classify them by the
way in style which exhibits the native irreverence OF
the American female mind. The blg-wgs OF the Com
mission are put down the High Joint. and the youth
full subordnaes the Second Jointand this is all the
respect the august peacemakers get from the Washington
Girl.