The Red Cloud chief., 1891-08-14
PETER c. EENrANT.
Tho Frenchman Who Laid Out tho
City Of Washington.
MI WssAevssI Career Wreehsa ~ - rs-
ss0esy Eshisissss ~ Te1p~s-Wsv Ne
ftsssed the Gsess.es Capital
Ctty ~ the World

Especial washinrtoa cosre.ponaene.I
Between genius and iunacy or mad
ness there h n fragile line Of demnrks-
tSon- In fact. 80 eminent n ~scieutist as
Brown Seguari said that genius IL Q
nervous disease" Certain IL II that all
men who attain distinction as soldiers.
orators and writers upon s~pcciaities,
are exceedingly. yes excessively pcrv-
Gus people. who mar their achieve
mcnss with nervous exhibitions 81
temper. sudden ebullitions Of
able anger at their best friends; and,
when In power. rem sselessly take
human life without seemingly . qualm
OF conscience. The greatest tactician
developed by the late civil war In Amer
ica-great a. . tactician, because rs .
strategist he was able both 10 plan and
execute great military movements
vas Gen. sherman Yet, In the early
days OF the struggle he was denounced
a an incompetent, n crazy man, .
visionary lunatic: all this. forsooth, be-
cause he vas afflicted with that nerv.
Gus disease called genius"
Nearly n hundred years ago Q
stranger In q strange and impressed
his individuality upon the greatest man
Of his age, and left behind him n monu-
meDt which will endure forever: vet
never was permitted 10 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 the sturdy
patriotism of a people OF potent ances-
try and traditional integrity of purpose,
recognized in Maj. L'Enfant the ablest
civil engineer in the new world, and
committed to him the work of prepar-
ing the plans upon which the capital Of
the new nation should be builded. The
city. as il is to-day, in all its wealth of
beauty and constantly developing gran
dcur. was evolved from the brain Of
that peculiar man of whom SO little
il 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 a great people. The broad
streets. magnificent avenues, extensive
b~oulevards, suburban villas, public
buildings, parks, circles, public reserva-
tons by the acre, lawns, rapid transit
lines-all these, and more, were as pres
ert fulfillment Of prophecies to the re-
markable genius of L'Enfant; and yet
he was debarred even from participa-
ton in the Inauguration of his plans by
reason OF an ebullition of temper. He
disagreed with the commission
ers, to whom ne should have
been subordinate, and, as ordinary
me would have been. su~bscrvient. Be-
coming angered. 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 a stormy
scene with his colleagues. They dis
agreed with him, waited him 10 make
certain changes in his maps, and, ON
sidering himself insulted by a cOterie of
inferior beings who misunderstood him,
and wanted to narrow and contract his
work, he Indignantly withdrew and left
the commissioners to make planst TO suit
themselves. Fortunately for the coun-
try, as well as for this locality, the
plans Of L'Enfant had been submitted
to congress during the pre- ,eding year.
and hence they were not lost. But
L'Enfant himself died broken-hearted;
and his grave. about five miles from the
splendid capitol building, is a neglected
and almost unmarked spot Poor fell
lowl Who Fan imagine the thoughts
which cmbittered his last days? He
knew that he had planned wisely, with
ingenious forethought; knew that the