Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-10
WASHINGTON IN SUMMER
The National Capital at 4 Seasons Most
Gharming'eity
Reply to Some Recant Defamatory
statements-ComfoFt and Diver
sions of thenPeople.

-a9
Written for The Evening stat.
I have read an article on "Our National
Capital in Harper's Magazine for April.
1t Is, in the main, enjoyable, interesting
| reading but the author has most certainly
never spent a summer in Washington, and
the information which he has obtained at
secondhand regarding the city at that sea-
son has been grossly exagserated-fur-
nished. perhaps, by some one detained here
by force of circumstances, who longed for
breath from the Blue Ridge mountains or
dip in the waves on the Jersey coast.
The author speaks Of 1.-THE long summer
time, when those who are forced to live
there speak Of the place as the subbase-
ment of hades," when 1.-THE asphalt be-
comes hot lava" when 1.-THE carriage wheels
make ruts in it-ruts that quickly close up
again, az marks made in molasses will do"
when detectives can trace a fugitive by
his footprints" ETC., etc. During a resi-
deEce of nearly fourteen years in this al
most ideal city It has been my fortune to
spend part of every summer, and some
times the entire season, here. I have no
personal knowledge of 1.-The subbasement of
hades." yet the comparison Is odious to me-
have never seen any "hot lava" flowing
through the streets, nor any "ruts" that in
molasses." I have seen detectives chase
criminals In summer, but they were more
likely to find them through the aid of some
ragged little darkey. who would run in ad-
vance and shout: dis way, mister; 1 seen
MIN run In de alley He jes' roun' de cor
ner, sah." than by the tracks" in said
lava for a criminals tracks in Washing
ton are not so different from other foot
prints, as many of them wear very pointed
shoesi
Then what travesty upon our charming
summer evenings. when the author says
people venture out for breath. <and the
enjoyment of a respite from the terrors OF
me DAY, to prepare for the terrors of the
night At O'Clock all is dark. All is
silent as II 1T were city on the Mozam-
bfque coast'-"shadowy forms are seen on
the porches of the dwellings, on the high
sIoops and galleries over the bay windows
tb nes are ale the women.their dress is such
have orr They can and do dress like
Sandwich Islanders
Now, 1t is true that after o'clock din
ner Is over all Washington turns out upon
the front porches. 1t is also true that in
some quarters where cherries lives are
spent IN crowded tenements "terrors of the
night may be anticipated. they may in
any large city north or south, but one
walking through any of the city's best
streets may see large, roomy houses, which
nave been closed all day to exclude the hot
ar, now thrown wide open to admit what
ever OF breeze may enter. and hundreds of
'front.' porches simply alive with beauty,
Rich Persian rugs are drawn out from
hails and drawing rooms, and cover the
ions serve as seats, and possibly. where
space Will admit, little stand containing
pitcher OF lemonade Is given place and
Inc tlnkle OF the clinking, glasses mingles
refreshfngly with the merry talk and
laughter that come from the gay groups
without. Diaphanous organdies, soft silks.
and dainty dimities flptter from one porch
10 10 me otner IN little friendly yistations as
cd h.
on the piazzas of any summer hotel,
IL Is true that one woman was conveyed
TO tne police station one warm evening re-
Gently clad In one scanty garment but she
was notable exception and not the ruIe
as regards Summer clothing
street pianos send forth their popular
strains, while little darlsies by the dozea
dance on the sidewalks, Keeping accurate
time to the music which they love. making
a scene most picturesque Y
Ihen wednesday and Saturday evenings
, Inc Marine Band gives an open-air concert,
where. on the grand plaza of the Capitol, or
the ample grounds of the White House. the
people assemble by the thousand, old and
young Men and maidens saunter in the
wheel seraphic babies, children in dainty
costumes tumble about on the green grass,
Whlie playing fountains send cooling sprays
OF water through the thick foliage.
All this time the ouen cable cars are
gliding by, laden with people who can
quickly reach the arsenal, and walk as long
as they desire under the trees on the river
oank, or. If they prefer. can take an elec-
tric road and enjoy a stroll through the
charming wooded grounds of the Soldiers
Home.
And so many of those who are not on
the front porches or listening to the glor-
ious Marine Band are flying in the breeze
OF the grip cars, or wheeling along the
asphalt In their carriages toward the va
rious beautiful suburbs which enfold the
nations capital.
have not spoken of the multitudes who
fill the little steamers that skim UP and
down the Potomac in the mellow moon
light and send soft strains of music to the
strollers on the shore. How many cities
are blessed with such an outing place-so
easily and quickly reached?
All, lovely Washingt ton, someone has mis-
represented you to one, who, If he would
only como here himself in summer and
hear your music and see your flowers and
sit on a front porch in a white flannel suit
would write no more of lava and molasSes,
but would do as we do when the days are
hot (as of course they often are), close his
windows and doors by 10 o'clock to keep
out the heat, and write Christmas story
or a Sleishing song for a December maya
zine, and thus occupied he would forget
all else and at evening he could have his
choice of the various recreations Of which
I have spoken, and he would leave at last
with sorrow and declare by all that was
cool and comfortable that in summer
winter you were the most charming city
in the world.
ELLEN KNIGHT BRADFORD.
Kiss the Place He Sat On.