The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-07-22
THE CAPITAL TRANSFORMED.
Artistic Beauty of Washington City
Architectural Taste.

Harper Magazine
TIE transformation began with the almost
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 ave
nue. there was left Of the highway from ten
to thirty feet which might be used by tho
householder as a lawn, or planted with
flowers or shrub5eTy, but never built upon.
Tho streets crossed each other at right
eagles. The avenues cut through the streets
al a. different angle, and at 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 Obtuss architect TO a
realization Of the opportunities afforded for
unique forms and unusual display. Where
these streets and avenues intersect most
uaEorously there ara miniature parks, tri-
angular, mUitiausuiar, or circular, Powered,
sbruOboriei, and statuei, from which the
houses hemming the wide divarginZ streets
m@y be seen for a long distance,
from Dupont Circle, for example. no less
than ten streets and avenues radiate Be
tween their terlE.ui upon the park there are
as many building sites which end in mora or
less acute points. On these tho houses are
constructed in irregular form In the more
obtuse angles, where two or more dwellings
may stand side by side each front deviates
slightly from a straight line with the others,
the whole forming q concave elevation
facing thu circle, the rear of each opening
ike fan. With such opportunities for dis
playing tasteful architecture it wOull be
strange indeed if progress were not rapid.
The mora conditions, in whose production
they had no part, prompted architects pos
scs,ins q Etae artistic sense to look for
moro graceful FORMS something less som5er
and heavy, although more chasta-in short,
something that would warm instead of chill
the healthy taste.
From opportunity, therefore, sprang the
huoyant, airy homes, which seldom slavishly
follow any defined style, but which combine,
usually with taste, and often with fine art
istic Judgment, the best features Of several
schools. From these conditions also spraug
the endless variety and artistic beauty of
red brick homes which form a distinguish
ing feature OF tho 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 lea-e or sale, who care moth
lng FOR art AMI everything for money,
and who buy and build cheaply
and sell at uncousciOnable prices, are com
PEELED to follow to some extent the ndi-
viduaIi5m which is aimed at by architects
in response to the newborn sense of the pub
lie. They have learned that vulgar orna-
montation and Gnical display no more at
tract purchasers or tenants Therefore
thoir rows, ike their isolated dwellings.
usually exhibit more or loss successful at.
tempts to escape at once painful monot-
ony and a nausea Of gewgaws. SO com
mon has this NATURALIZATION Of each
house become, that row in which the old
fashioned Philadelphia monotony is re-
tanned is marked for public condemnation
The result IS that wherever ono goes in the
new city the eye is relieved by a continual
variety, though analysis might not in every
case discover any specially pleasing dis
tinctiyG faatur9&