New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-10
80 - rDr ylTToNAL CAPITAL.

LIFE At THE NAIlOHAN
permanent residents of the National Ca9ital,
under whose eyes the city is developing oaliy
IN symmetry, beauty and convenience and
who accordingly, are unable to measure It's
growth by contrast and comparison can ScarVe-
" realize how rapidly it is becoming one OF the
moot interesting places in the world but &C.
casionaI visitors. and notably those VINO are
tboro not oftener than once in four years, ma
much 70 su,rprise and delight them outside OF
the festivities and displays OF Inaus ui"uoh'
In several respects Washington Is unique
There are comparatively few countries "no'e
canitals are not also their CHIEF olties' Aohuon'
paris Berlin. Vienna, Madrid, Rome ST.
po,orcbnrg. Rio Janeiro, Buenos Ayres are
.oots ~ civilized government, but each is Ike
,,jse n metropolis The multifanous interests
- a great centre of trade and commerce dlVlde
tbo attention of all the people and monopolize
the thoughts of most. In Washington 'ne Viz
ibIa AGENTS implements and functions OF adj
ninietration are predominant. They exercise
tbat naramount influence over the community
,ybicb n university established in small TOWN.
overcises Il is impossible to escape from the
consciousness that the chief business Oh WASH
inpt0n is the management OF the analfS Oh
oreat Nation. The only trade is tnaO "hicn
sunnlies the necessities Of those whose employ
r,a,to and interests are associated directly or
indirectly with objects and purposes which
concern the whole country
Though separated by daily increasing as
lance from the centre Of population "sSning-
ton is practically far more accessible to the cia
cons If a majority of the States than when it
was chosen as the seat OF government ~ lew
wears ago the question OF removing inc capiU"i
to some point geographically more centrai W%S
the subject of rather languid discussion whicn
soon lansed and which is not likely 1or a long
time to come, il ever to be renewed. Inc Seas
Of government is too firmly fixed to be unSeaVed
hv ANYTHING less than popular CONFUSION
And this consciousness Of permanence has not
failed tn find expression in the development OF
Tho CITY. Not only is the administrative plant
vast and constantly augmenting' but around
IL have sprung up affiliated institutions Oh cd
ucational importance and multitude Oh de-
liphtful homes and strong affections Inc
natural situation Of Washington and the artl-
fetal confeuration of it's streets afford archi-
.ectural possibilities, both on large and on
small scale which arc reproduced nowhere elso
in the world. And there is no obstacle 10 un-
limited growth in nearly every direction. New
York is a marvel Of expansive energy, anu
destined TO become more marvellous as uine
goes by. But its location, incOmparably adapt
ed for commerce. is peculiarly uniaYorabie lor
residence involving transportation proolemS
which have scarcely begun to be solved whle
its uncompromisng rectangles defy every at
tempt al picturesque construction. INC &c
mands of trade are memorable, and tho ac-
ouisition Of a home has become an achieve
ment-an achievement, moreover, which only
wealth can hope to accomplish
In Washington, as elsewhere, wealth has Its
natural advantages. II increases whatever ca
pacity its owners may otherwise possess Tor
making companionship and hospitality agree
able and elevating, but nowhere are popular
repute, the acknowledgment Of merit and the
recognition of social desirableneSs more COM
pletely disconnected from any money-standard
than at the capital. So large proportion OF those
whose acquaintance is q distinction are depend
ent upon salaries the precise amount OF which
is known to everybody, or may be ascertained
by glancing at blue-book that there is little
temptation TO make q pretence Of riches or
maintain deceitful show Of fictitious pros
perity. And this state Of affairs has an impor-
tant and salutary influence upon the social life
Of the city. few rich men make lavish ex-
penditurcS, but they do not set an example
which other people feel any obligation or even
impulse to initiate Though Washington is
constantly attracting from all parts of the coun-
try, by rs climate, surroundings and institu-
tons, and by it's diversified appeals to different
eyes and minds permanent residents who con-
suit only their personal preferences in removing
thither it retains, and is likely to preserve for
generations, large measure Of rational and
refined simplicity.