National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-07-20
THE CAPITAL TRANSFORMED.
laTIsT1c BEAUTY OF WASHINGTON CITY
ARCHITECTURAL TASTE.

SHTIsT1c BEAUTY OF WASHINGTON CITY
ARCHITECTURAL TASTE.
The transformation began with the al
most magical appearance of long stretches
of concrete pavement, lined on each side
with one and frequently two rows of
trees. On either side of nearly every
street and avenue there was left of the
highway from ten to thirty feet which
might be used by the householder as a
lawn, or planted with flowers or shrub
berry, but never built upon. The streets
crossed each other ut right angles. The
avenues cut through the streets at diff
ferent angle, and ut the intersections in
every part of the city made bits of tri-
angles and odd-shaped lots which could
not fail to rouse the most obtuse archi-
tect to realization of the opportunities
afforded for unique forms and unusual
display. Where these streets and aven-
ues intersect most numerously there are
miniature parks, triangular, multiangu-
lar, or circular, lowered, shrubberied,
and statued, from which the houses hem
ming the wide diverging streets may be
seen for n long distance.
From Dupont circle, for example, no
less than ten streets and avenues radiate.
Between their termini upon the park
there are as many building sites which
end in more or less acute points On
these the houses are constructed in If
regular form. in the more obtuse angles.
where two or more dwellings may stand
side by side. each front deviates slightly
from straight line with the others, the
whole forming concave elevation facing
the circle. the rear of each opening like n
fan. With such opportunities for dis
playing tasteful architecture it would be
strange indeed if progress were not rapid.
The mere conditions, in whose production
they had no part, prompted architects
possessing u little artistic sense to look
for more graceful forms, something less
somber aud heavy, although more chaste,
in short, something that would warm in
stead of chill the healthy taste.
From opportunity, therefore, sprang
the buoyant, airy homes, which seldom
slavishly follow any defined style, but
which combine, usually with taste, and
often with fine artistic Judgment, the
best features of several schools. From
these conditions also sprang the endless
variety and artistic beauty of red brick
homes which form n distinguishing feat
ure of the capital, and which will seem
more and more appropriate as the trees
grow, and the profusion of flowers and
shrubs and green grass increases
Even the spectators who are quite
too numerous in Washington, who build
long rows for lease or sale, who care
nothing for Rrt and everything for
money, and who buy and build cheHply,
and sell ut unconscionable prices, are
compelled to follow to some extent the
individualism which is aimed at by archi-
tects in response to the newborn sense
of the public. They have learned that
vulgar ornamentation and fnical display
no more attract purchasers or tenants.
Therefore their rows, like their isolated
dwellings, usually exhibit more or less
successful attempts to escape at once
painful monotony, and nausea of gew-
gaws. So common has this individual.
cation of each house become, that n row
Z in which the old fashioned Philadelphia
monotony is retained is marked for public
condemnation. Tho result is that
wherever one goes in the new city the
eye is relieved by continual variety,
though analysis might not in every case
discover any specially pl asing distinc-
tive features, -Harper's Magazine.