Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-07
Washington Cify-Its Past and Pres

ent.
A lady, an old resident of Washington, writ
ing TO us of the city and OF the changes which
have 50 rapidly taken place, says: al have been
confined to the house for more than a year sni
when got ont few days since, for the first
time, actually lost my way. Everything was
changed. felt like was in a strange city
and not in the Washington of a wear before
before was taken sick everything was in con
tuslun. The streets were al ploughed up, thu
sidewalks almost impossible, and everythin,
looked like there had Just been an earthdutk
or like the dear old town was really breaking
up housekeeping and going west. But when.
mole than twelve months after, arose from
my bed of sickness, and was able again to e.
out, what change! The scene burst upon M
astonished gaze like the fairy palace of Alat-
DIM (which the geHii kindly built in a ngh.,
and which very much astonished the good pc ,.
pie in the neighborhood, if We may credit his
tory. Old Washington was no more. beheld
a new and beautiful city" This is the i'm
preston of one who had not seen tn
gradual work OF improvement as il went on
But even those who daily the progress or
the work msryeled at the rapiditv with which
It WAC accomplished. In q comparatively short
space OF time Washington has been WONDERFULLY
beautitied and improved. until il stands TO-DAY
the queen city OF the Union, as IL will be of the
world. And this is as 1t should be. As the cap
ital of the republic, it cannot be a cause for
that Jealousy and rivalry to which our Ameri-
can cities are so prone; but it should be tn
pride OF every American that the nations CAP
Ital should be worthy OF the nation. A few
years t3ck-so few, indeed. that the children
remember it very well-wsshinston was in
appearance dismal and dilapidatad old town
which seemed to have sunk into q lethargy
from which IL could not be aroused. Then Wis.
ltors, and travellers generally, as they passed
through, smiled and said to each other, "I.ife j.
ySS inSt5 TO spend the whole day in
wanted not the love of it, inhsbitsn;.
Never were people so devoted to their native
place And no wonder. Situated on a most
beautiful river, the scenery of which can wi.
with that OF the Hudson, embellished as the
latter lie by art; with skies like Italy, ana a
climate health-elying and sublime; surrounded
by picturesQ Ne hills and lovely dales Invested
with all the beauty and advantages OF nature,
II is indeed no wonder that it was, and is-al-
though they may have been sluggish, although
they had not been brought TO that high state Of
civilization in which men make vast fortunes
in a day and lose them in another, thew were
not lacking In the qualities which go to make a
good citizen and good man. Such was Wash
ngton when IL was proposed in Congress to
move the seat of government TO the west. The
people had been rubbing their eyes before, bur
now they were thoroughly awake. This was
"As bees buz out wi angry pike
When plundering herds assail their dixie"
so did the people of Washington, when this
proposition assailed their honor and interest
They determined that the complaints against
the city should be unfOunded; that they would
remedy every evil complained of by the "cap
fal-novers;" that the capital movers them
selves should be thwarted, and that the capital
should be an honor to itself and country In
deed, with these ideas they have steadily car
ried on the rk, so that now, instead of bling
the nations shame, Washington stands its glory
and pride. As place of residence, il is per
haps, the most delightful in the world So
charmed are those VINO have occasion to visit
through politics or otherwise, that almost inya
riably they make il their home for life And
those whs have the intrepidity to leave it, gener-
ally find their way back, determined never ore
to leave the fascinating spot. True there are not
wanted those who grumble at, or complain of the
place, but the greatest argument against them is
that, although they growl, they never leave.
And az they are generally not "native to the
place or to the manner born" this argument is
conclusive. We speak not Of its government or
politics, for time alone can pass unbiased iuds-
ment on the right and wrong thereof. Cities as
well as countries have always been, and prob
ably always will DO. disturbed BY faction. And
where the quarrels Of faction rage the hercest.
there progress invariably makes its most rapid
strides. The dissension Of party is Q waking.up
element, and where the people are awakened
and stirred to opposition, there they viii work
with enthusiastic zeal. Thus comes good end
from bad meaDs-a paradox which the world
has been obliged to witness for ages. Such
Washington. As Ii stands now, IL is the pride
OF our glorious country, and bids fair to rival, II
not surpass In beauty, even the grand old cities
Of Europe themselves.-kempkis appeal.