Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-31

fact, than in most Of the country resorts.
Washington has been spoken Of a great
deal as a winter resort. 1t is also a summer
resort, and has been for years, only people
are just beginning to find it out.
The foolish prejudice that has been given
such wide circulation by the newspapers
about the intense heat that prevails in
Washington is gradually giving place 10 a
more Just and correct knowledge of the
climate. 1t has been the fashion to speak
OF washington, especially in the summer
months as hot place. 1t has always been
made to appear that the heat here was
more intense and more unen durable than
In other large cities, when the facts are
Just the reverse. Washington in midsum-
mer Is cooler and more comfortable and
life is more endurable than in Baltimore
or Philadelphia, or in any other large city
In this section of the country. The ex-
perience Of those who have long resided
here indorses this estimate Of the summer
climate Of the capital city, and there is in
addition, perhaps, the still stronger testi-
mony OF those more recent residents Of
the city, who not only spend the winter
here. but find themselves prolonSlng the
season through the spring and far into the
summer. The fact of it is that the WASH
ington season. SO far as it relates to the
residence Of people here. hac expanded OF
Late years at both ends.
The People Know Ii.
1t is now the custom for people to return
to the city after the summer vacation much
earlier in the fall than in former years it
was thought possible that life could be
made endurable here. Then again, the LIST
Of May, at the farthest, formerly marked
the time of the beginning Of the flight for
the summer from this city; now 1t is well
through June, and sometimes in July, be-
fore a great many think Of leaving their
comfortable homes. In other words, the
situation here, in regard to a summers cut
ing, is much the same as in any other city.
W hn hay fiy,n
money, and who can find comfortable quart
ers elsewhere, their absence for the sum-
mer covers perhaps two or three months;
but for the great bulk of people who have
neither the time, or if they have the time,
have not the inclination to spend any long
period away from home, a summer vacation
of a few weeks is all that is deemed neces-
sary. There is no longer any thought Of
the necessity or being out of the city dur
ing hot weather; that idea is exploded long
ago. The people find that they can be just
as comfortable here as they san in any
other part of the country.
To the wholesomeness of the climate Of
Washington during the heated term may
be attributed. in large measure, that ten
dency toward suburban life which is such
a marked feature in the development OF the
city. Anyone who has driven about the
picturesque country which surrounds this
city must conclude that the prevailing mo-
tive which has led the occupants Of the
handsome country places, which are so
numerous, to seek a country home, is not
mere economy. Especially when it Is seen
that the outlay on these places and the
cost of maintaining them probably exceeds
that of keeping up a city establishment
There is, of course, large number of sub
urban residents, who have homes in the
country, because 1t is cheaper to buy and
IL is cheaper to live there than in the city;
at the same time there is very noticeably
the presence of the other class TO whom
economy is not such a pressing motive.
1t is evident from the number of our
citizens who are engaged in large business
enterprises and are at the head of extern
sive business concerns, who have homes
in the country, which they occupy at least
during the summer, that the business in
terests of this city have reached such mag
nitude that 1t is impossible for those who
are interested in the active management