Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-14
WASHINGTON Will EEATTHEM.
Prof Goodwin Smith Thinks that she
Will Surpass all Other CiAcs'
-, Mn.niNIn,s N1nl.lno.

Intellectual capital Boston, with all its
culture, is not national but local, and the
severity OF its climate must always be
drawback from It's attractions. Ne"
York is commercial, and TO great eN-
tent migratory, people coming there 70
make fortunes and going elsewhere to
ENJOY them, though there Is not a little oil
good and settled society. Philadelphia
and Baltimore are very pleasant places
OF residence, as well as magnificent cities,
but neither OF them has any met ropoutan
pretensions; still less have the great cities
OF the Vest. Washington, however, Olds
fair TO fill the part.
In the course OF the last twenty years a
wonderful change mas come over the Guy
on the Potomac. 1t used to be nothing
but The meeting place OF Congress, put
now il is becoming iaNonte place OF
residence for people unconnecteG win
politics or the administration, ana cor
responding change has taken place IN Its
outward appearance. 1t is SlOssomlng
out into a CAV and most beautiful city.
On the northwest of the " hlle House,
and Iar from the capitol with It's PoIItlcs,
has grown up new quarter OF nou ses OF
the better class, rising, many OF them, "
the dignity Of mansions, with broad
streets and avenues, open places 0rna-
mented with statues, abundance OF Iollage
and Verdure. | know nothing more
beautiful in its way on the continent, eX-
cept, perhaps. Euclid avenue at CleVe-
land. though Boston is now Il very beautI-
full city. And this new quarter has APP
pareutly become the dwelling place OF
varied cultivated, and thoroughly
catholic society, which seemed likely 10
draw to itself much OF that which Is
choicest in the United States. Mr. Ban
croft, the NestOT of American literature,
is already there. There also Mr.. Blaine
writes his most important and lnstruc-
tive history. The Smithsonian presents
a nucleus for science. A feryor Of
cosmOpolitanism ls impaired by the pre-
sence OF the embassies. Politics of course
are there, and they add to the interest.
But they do not seem TO me to pred0ml-
nate. 1t is fully as likely that society Will
exercise an influence on politics as that
politics VIII dominate society, and II this
happens 1t Will be a great gain. The
politicians OF the democratic continent
being what they are, IL is great mistake
to new them up by themselves in second
rate cities or towns, such as Albany, Har-
risburg. Springfield and Ottawa, apart
from all tempering and refining infiu-
ences, to cabal and wrangle for two or
three months in every year. The change
in the character OF the capital is likely,
therefore, to be substantial benefit to the
United States.
Alone among great American cities
Washington is monumental, All the
rest have their business quarters, in
which the steps of the throng are as hur-
ried and its faces as keen and eager as in
the east of London. The place 10 com
mercial eVeryw here except at Washing
ton, where one finds something like the
free. leisurely and al frcScD life Of Paris.
This attraction cannot fail to be felt by
literary men and by all VINO seek to enjoy
life.
The Democracy, however, still goes to
court with republican simplicity. | went
oRe evening to the Presidents public re-
ception. The throng was immense. But
the behavior could not have been better
in the Cell de Bpui. There was not the
slightest pushing or Impotence; 1.-The crowd
moved on quietly aud III silence. When
at last the republic IN throne room was
reached there stood the President with
Mics Cleveland at his side, aud IA grOupof
officials and ambassadors, in full dr. SO,
oTcourse, around him. AS we filed be-
FIRE him a marshal called out our names,
and the President, repeating them, gave
his hand to each OF us. Poor maud, how
1t must suffer by being shaken for three
hours! VIII II not be found necessary,
as the numbers at the receptions increase,
to resort to some device like the pair OF
false legs by wEich the Pope is enabled
to appear kneeling while he is really SIT
ting.
About the public buildings OF Washing
ton there is nothing new TO be said. The
W bite House is a rather narrow abode
for the chIef Of a continent peOpled with
1900. coo, and, like the very modestsalary,
presents "A rather curious contrast TO the
enormous sum OF money which party eX-
element eXpendS in Presidential cleo
tions. The capitol, | believe, is open TO
architectural criticism, and its dome Will
not bear the searching light of the Lamp OF
Truth. Yet nobody Will persuade me that,
since the extensions and improvements,
IL is not most maiestic and imposing
pile. The view OF it from distance is
surely fine. STAT 'dpitOtjunl fUi9enS. 1t
is thousand pities that it looks tue
wrong way o., to speak more correctly,
that The city, owing to difficulty about
che purchase OF land, was built on the
wrong side OF IT. its decorations in the
way of painting and sculpture belong, il
must be owned, 10 the pre-Tsthetic era.
England is avenged in the pictures OF the
surrender OF BurgOyne and CORVALLIS AS
ehectually as France was avenged in thu
statue of the victor of Waterloo percned
these triumphal performances, in regard
both to execution and TO sentiment, with
the picture by NelasQuez Of q General
receiving the surrender OF the command
ant OF town. The only rcdeeming fea.
ture OF these pieces Is that some of them
contain historical prOtrai,s.
The military and equestrian statues
with which the new quarters are adorned
bespeak the special appreciation OF mill
tary glory which in the Americans is
com bined with freedom from military
propensities. They seem to me all to
labor under defect common TO statues
ofthis kind. In antiquity and in toe age
OF the great Italian captains on whose
equestrian statues we gaze at Venice or
Padua, the horse was a charger; now he
is a hack. and to attempt TO give him
dignity by putting hum into the rampant
attitude is "A disregard OF truth, and
platitude. In fact, be stands quite quietly
while his rider is sweeping the field with
a telescope. At the gate OF the Execute
Mansion Gen. Jackson on horseback looks
as though be were heading cavalry
charge Of inconceivable fury; whereas. If
regard were had to the real character Of
his victory, he would be represented stand
ing behind "a row Of cotton bales. But
sculpture seems to be lost AIT.
Every visitor to Washington Of course
goes to hear a debate. In the House of
Representatives be Will he lucky IL he
hears anything at all. The hall is very
large; its acoustic properties seem 10 be
alROst as bad AS those OF our Houses at