The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-15

force and the flowers are out IN all the
marks. and the streets are alive with spring
millinery and spring equipages' the capl'al
is paradise This spring is IN some respects
q noteworthy one even in this city OF the
sprinq. II has been marked 10y an ambi-
tions effort to establish in Washington a
Rotten Row Perhaps you, my dear reao-
er. don't know just what Rotten Row -
Neither do l. for have never been ID Lon
don. But am told il is famous drlVe
on which English nobility and arist0cracy,
whether noble or not, disports itself IN
eplendor and magniiicence on fne after-
moons. though doubt If they have such
things as fine afternoons in London. Inc
sttempttoestablish a Rotten Row III WASH
ington has not met with success. In TACT,
II lisa dismal. almost a cOmical, failure, ana
INN heartily glad of il. But before telling
you why am glad let me endeayor 10 de-
scribe TO YOU what this imitation Rotten
Row is or was intended 10 be.
Just south of the White House Is spa
cious field somewhat improved as a park
II Is government property, but has been
put 10 no ether use than as public drive
wav-a track, which describes circle ana
measures about onc-half mile around, be-
ing its chief feature. 1t is known as the
White lot. and here visiting military com
panics and secret societies have their en-
ssmpments or parades. 1t really is
charming spot, not 80 much In ltsell as IN
fts surroundings. On one side are the war,
state and navy building-the most pretcn-
4ious public structure in Washington, the
Capitol alone cxceptcd-the White House
and the treasury. Onthe opposite sidelsthe
Washington monument, with the yellow
waters Of the Potomac and the green hills
of Arlington showing IN the vista beyond.
In one corner are the White House stables.
Thus surrounded, it may easily be imag-
fned that the White Lot, with It's splendid
half mile track, IS a favorite drive Two
OF three months ago Mrs. Berdan, wife OF
distinguished retired army officer and a
social leader, suggested TO some OF her
friends that the White Lot should be made
a sort Of Rotten Row She recalled that
IN the plan Of the capital city, as designed
by I1Enfant, the long stretch of ground
now known rs the Mall and occupied by
the Smithsonian institution, National mu-
scum, botanical garden. agricultural de-
partment and other public buildings, and
extending from the Washington monu-
ment to the Capitol, was set apart for
magnificent avenue, along which it was
hoped the mansions Of the elite would be
erected and on which it WAS expected the
carriages Of the aristOcracy would forever
roll in endless procession, all workday
vehicles being rigidly excluded from the
sacred precincts. This plan miscarried.
The aristOcracy was run away TO the north
western part Of the city by malaria and a
disease breeding canal which was permit
ted TO be cut through the park. and the
aristocracy avenue which HEnfant had
designed never came to pass.
"Since this project failed" argued Mrs.
Berdan, "why shall we not establish new
driving ground to which ali the fine eSui-
pages of Washington will drift on certain
DAYS, and where wealth and aristOcracy
may disport themselves TO their hearts
contenty And what better place for this
than the White Lot, where there is plenty
of room and no trees or foliage to prevent
our seeing each other in all ouf nagniii-
cenceW
This happy suggestion soon found T2any
supporters The family of the president,
the vice president. some of the foreign
ministers, wealthy senators and leaders oil