The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-19

attic in this respect may take its place in
the very first rank. The cars are admir-
able in every way-clean, comfortable, rapid
and cheap-a vast improvement on the Old
Worlds style of things. | have wished
many q time that the horse cars of my
native town, with their poor painting
beasts, could be replaced at once by these
swift inventions. But all nations of the
earth have not the Americans quickness
in seizing upon good thing.
Having quite taken in the fact that Sc
attic is real city and big city and a
thoroughly modern and progressive city,
/ was most struck with the fact that it is a
city with an unusually picturesque site and
beautiful surroundings. Stroliing along
the hilltop in the eve4ing, / found alovely
panorama spread at my feet. There are
few towns-I know of none-whieh COM
mand from one point two such views as
can be seen from the playground of the
Central school. In front, the Sound with
its wooded islands and the clear outlines
of the Olympics behind them, while look
ing far away to the left appears the glori-
Gus white dome of Mount Rainier, with its
draperies of cloud and belts of dark pine
wood. The beauties of these two scenes so
stay l found them sufficient feast, and
did not trouble to visit any of the lakes.
Now, have seen them all, and am as en-
thusiastic about ''the lakes" as any Seat
tleite could wish. An ideal position in
deed, this city has, with these beautiful
stretches of water and views of distant
mountains on every side.
One point which has attracted my no.
- 81 70 x
can is the bright effectiveness of the
wooden houses and villas scattered over
the hill slopes. In England we are in the
habit of thinking wooden house poor
thing, always more or less fiimsy and ugly.
But these Queen Anne cottages are pre-
cisely what are becoming so fashionable in
the London suburbs, and there is no great
difference IN appearance between the
wooden structures and those of brick. The
former, with its delicate harmonious col
oring and elegant shape, is as pretty an
object in the landscape as one could wish
TO see.
One thing alone is lacking which would
add UNNECESSARILY to the beauty OF the
town. There are no shade trees clustering
round the pretty houses. They stand out
bare aad shadeless. This is point on
which j feel inclined to quarrel with the
makers of the city. 1t is perhaps just as
we'll that a few drops of wholesome bitter
should mingle with the sweets that nearly
fill the cup have to offer. Even Ameri-
cans would lind unmitigated sugar cloying
to the palate. Let me say that it shows
great lack of your usual forethought and
artistic taste to cut down and burn
your noble pines in such whole
sale fashion. | saw that one of
your own citizens has been writing on this
subject, and | would echo his words most
emphatically. Fine gardens and orchards,
as We all know, take time to lay out and
cultivate. They will appear in due course
of time, but the trees were there and only
needed to be let alone, and now that they
are gone years must pass before they can
be replaced by anything big enough to
give shade and picturesqueness. 1t made
me quite sad to see the bare roadway and
stretches of fern in West Seattle and at
Ballard.
1t was my good fortune to arrive here
just before the schools closed, and my
visits to them have given me some of the
pleasantest surprises l have had. The
school buildings are first-class in their
general arrangements and fitting up. Sc
attic has reason to be proud of these fine
institutions for giving a free education to
her children. Assuredly she is not be-
hind the times in this matter. As for
higher education, that, too, has not been
forgotten. The wonder is not to find so
little appreciation of higher culture in this
young city, but to find so much, and to
see that provision has been made for sup
plying it.
The opening of the public library shows
that the literary tastes of the people are
cordially recognized and met in liberal
spirit. / have been charmed by the bright,
comfortable reading-rooms and the little
advance guard of books that announce
what is coming. These things show that
the people are active in other and higher
fields than mere business speculations and
mechanical invention, and they are to me
one of the best proofs that Seattle is ON the
road to real greatness.
The same conclusion is to be drawn
from her churches. / have visited many
OF different denominations. That there
are so many representing so many sects,
is a sign of a catholic largeness of spirit
that is doubtless bred of the wide horizons
and sense of freedom so characteristic of
the West. Perhaps that is to a stranger
the strongest and most attractive feature
of this Western city. Plenty of space and
| the easy carelessness of conscious strength,
| combined with very effective energy. per-
wade the social, educational and business
| life of the West and give it it's great charm
to the eyes of the European.
| 1t will be seen that am not business
woman and look at Seattle only as place
| of residence. From that point of view it
has many and great advantages, and, as
| far as mere superficial observer can
| Judge, it ought to be frst-rate field for
business enterprise. With the mineral
wealth and all the natural advantages of
| position and climate to back it up, Seattle
| is assured of great future. Time alone is
needed to develop her resources and make
her great center of commerce and man
| ufacture.
l shall return to the old world with
wider ideas and juster appreciation of
Western enterprise for having spent sope
weeks in this 4ne city. VI. y WY
Nh W " AN HSeIIshwOMAS.