Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06
cAP,TOL-SQUARe CATES-AcAlN.
A Protest against Their Removal and
Taking Down the Fence.

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
In your paper of April 25th I noticed a
short article entitled, "Captol-Square
Gates" and signed Citizen" The words
then written were most timely. desire
to add something to them:
The charm of Richmond has always
been its indviduality-an individuality In
which the picturesque has been most
striking characteristic. The design or our
old homes was spacious and delightful,
while the old gardens. nearly all gone
now. surrounding these homes addei
beauty to our city and brought health
and ever-recurring pleasure to our citi-
zens. The increased value of our city
nroperty has changed entirely the old
method of home-making. with this in
crease In the value OF city property our
appreciation of the practical ISSUES or
life has Increased so largely that our
sense Of beauty. especially of the pictur-
esaue. Is passing rapidly into eclipse.
Where a dollar can be made, family
homes. historic houses. beautiful sur
roundings count for nothing. Everything
&c rt,thlessly sacrificed 10 the practical.
As evidence of this. one has only to re-
call the many delightful old homes de-
stroved wilfully in Richmond during the
mast ten years and replaced, IN most III
stances. by cheap. modern houses Ut
terlv devoid Of beauty and OF comfort ihIs
dwelling process has been carried 10
such an extent that We nave Out ie"
of the old things left; the old things nal
lowed by historic association, when nave
beautifled Richmond and delighted her
citizens and her many curious ana III
terested visitors. The chief among THESE
old things remaining are our Capitoi' our
Governors Mansion. ana especially. as
an object of beauty ana source Oh re-
freshment to the tired city nilnd, our
Capitol Square. IL IL the oasis III lhe
desert-a place In which young anu oi"'
rich and poor, white and black, can ever
be sure OF rest and quiet. with as much
security and privacy as could DE en-
loved in n home garden Inc reason vi
mis- has been the enclosure about the
Canitol grounds, an enclosure which has
4, M wav obstructed the view, but when
has saved the Capitol Square from be-
coming a public common and an abused
n,ssway IL IS thus, by means or TINS
enclosure that our Square has retained
It's individuality and picturesque peaulS
and the old iron fence, In our opihioh'
adds to the picturesque erect Iii.
As the public is aware the gates 6,Ni"s
entrance 10 the Capitol Square have peeil
removed from their position ana iaiu very
careIessly against the dignlned, protestiis'
old fence The first step toward uese-
Grafton and destruction has thus peei'
taken. We have heard II whispered that
tn fence IL doomed, and Is also TO go. III
thln farewell 10 ttle
beautiful old Square. Once turned out
unencI,sed. no guardianship can protect
it's chief charm, its privacy, VIII DE-
absolutely destroyed-the heart OF our
civ will no longer be refreshed ana de-
lighted by the picturesque spot now oea'
to IT, .,ou,
A few days ago / was walking about
the grounds OF the White House in Wash
ington. How everything there Appeals 70
the higher taste. There one dehshtS u
linger; TO sit benaeth one tree. lneh an
other: 10 stroll in this path. then In that
1t is a honelike place truly, enclosed
and nro,acted by It's strong iron fence
n Mace In which one has perfect sense
Of rest and security. This experience
was a happy illustration to my mind oil
the endowment derived from our own
Capitol Square. where the same enect j.
produced by the same cause.
This short article Is written with the
nurpose Of enlisting the sympathy oil
those who care for the preservation OF
the beautiful, Of the picturesque. and oil
the historic in our city. We cannot raise
our voice against the distressing destruc'
ton OF the grand old houses which are
private property, but We have right e
raise IL against any destruction OF public
property in our city. With the sympatn,
ard hain of others NAV We Got hope Il
raise It so loudly and 30 effectually thai
the threatened catastrophe may be avert
ed?
To those In power we say. spare MS oui
old historic Square! To US II Is very dear
very sacred. very beautiful. Its quaint
ness IL It's charm; the modern effect sug
gested can only mar 1t for all time. and
rob us Of our greatest Joy. To our Eel
low-citIzsns we say, cling to this beauti
full old spot! Cling to II In Its origtna
form. hailowed as It is by the most en-
nobling Of historic associations. Let III
keep II In the heart Of our city. unsp0iled
a. anr fsthArs have done! n. B. w.