The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-23
PETER G. L'ENFANT.
Tho Frenchman Who Laid Out tho
City Of Washington.
His Wonderful Career Wrecked by an I'm
timely Exhibition of Tcmper-ifow lilo
Planned tho Greatest Capital
City of tho World.
Especial Washington Correspondence

Especial Washington Correspondence
Between genius and lunacy or mad
ness there is q fragile line of dcmarlla-
tion. In fact, so eminent scientist as
Brown Sequard said that ''gcnius is q
nervous disease" Certain it is that all
men who attain distinction as soldiers,
orators and writer's upon specialties,
are exceedingly, yes excessively ncrv-
GUS people, who mar their achieve
ments with nervous exhibitions of
temper, sudden ebullitions of unrcason-
able anger Mt their best friends; and,
when in power, remorsclcssly talxo
human life without seemingly q qualm
OF conscience. The greatest tactician
developed by the late civil war in Amer
ica-great as tactician, because as q
strategist he was able both to plan and
execute great military movements
was Gen. Sherman. Yet, in the early
days of the struggle he was denounced
as an incompetent, a crazy man, q
visionary lunatic; all this, forsooth, be-
cause he was afflicted with "that nerv-
Gus disease called genius"
Nearly one hundred years ago n
stranger in q strange land impressed
his individuality upon the greatest man
of his age, and left behind him n monu-
mcnt which will endure forever; vet
never was permitted to sec the build
ing, much less the qualification of his
work; and this, solely on account of his
nervous and impcrious disposition.
George Washington, first president of
the new republic, which had been
carved out of an immense colony in the
new world by reason of his military
ability, supplemented by tho sturdy
patriotism of n people of potent anccs-
try and traditional integrity of purpose,
recognized in Maj. L'Enfant the ablcst
civil engineer in the new world, and
committed to him the work of prcpar-
ing the plans upon which the capital of
the new nation should be buildcd The
city, as it is to-day, in all it's wealth of
beauty and constantly developing gran
deur, was evolved from the brain of
that peculiar man of whom SO little
is known ut the present time.
His plans were the anticipation of all
the wonders which were bound TO
emerge from the latent energies and
wisdom of great people. The broad
=,
boulevards, suburban villas, public
buildings, parks, circles, public rcserva-
lions by the acre, lawns, rapid transit
ines-au these, and moro, were as pres
ent fultillment of prophecies to the re-
marllable genius of L'Enfant; and vet,
he was dcbarrcd even from participa-
ton in the inauguration of his plans by
reason of an cbullition of temper. lie
disagreed with the commission
ers, to whom he should have
been subordinate, and, as ordinary
men would have been, subscrvient. Be
coming angcrcd, after having COM
pleted his original plans, L'Enfant
withdrew from official connection with
the work, and took his plans with
him when he departed after n stormy
scene with his colleagues. They dis
agreed with him, wanted him to mako
certain changes in his maps, and, con-
sidcring himself insulted by Il coteric of
inferior beings who misunderstood him,
and wanted to narrow and contract his
work, he Indignantly withdrew and left
the commissioners to make plans to suit
themselves. Fortunately for the coun-
try, as we'll rs for this locality, the
plans of L'Enfant had boon submitted
to congress during tho preceding year,
and hence they were not lost. But
L'Enfant himself died brol1cn-heartcd;
and his grave, about five miles from the
splendid capitol building, is q neglected
and almost unmarked spot. Poor fell
low! Who can imagine the thoughts
which cmbittcrcd his last daysp He
knew that he had planned wisely, with
ingenious forcthought; knew that the
n IS y