Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-06
CAPITAL IN MIDSUMMER
As sesn by Northern Eyes and as APP
preciatively Described
WashiDEton's Wide Streets, Shade
Trees and Parks Make 1t a De.
sirablc Place of Residence.

| E. NJ. X. in Boston Transcript.
In Washington, where we have fingered
late enough to know the situation, even
now the heat is deliciously tempered by the
| breeze from the river. which Is hardly alb
sent a single day of summer, and it is
borne by masses of foliage prevailing
| everywhere, all through the city limits,
making gardens all about for rest and re-
freshipg. To be sure, Pennsylvania avenue
is often blazing waste. but one need not
haunt it. The great thoroughfare extends
from the Capitol to Georgetown, but one
may walk from Georgetown all the way to
the lovely thickets of the Capitol grounds
on shady streets running just north Of the
avenue, and see a vista of continually ex-
tended greenery Think of seventy five
thousand trees within the city limits, not
counting a street beyond the boundary and
the small parks, called simply reserva-
tons, made where the avenues cross the
streets, are all over town, SO that one only
walks short distance in any direction
without coming to them, and they are
charming.
No two of the regular parks. squares and
circles are appointed alike, but they have
the greatest variety Of arboriculture and
bloom; for single suggestion of what is
gathered within one square, the other day
was crossing Lafayette Park which is IN
front of the White House, and my some
what absorbed attention was challenged ny
watts of fragrance of tropical sweetness.
1 looked up and there was a great mag
nolia, it's large leaves glossy and shining in
the sun and its splendid blossom, ut -or
chalice of the gods, standing just beyond
the path. 1 drew one of the branches down
and the blossom of this variety was so
very large-though. it was not the grandi-
encircling fingers of both hands, and here
were inches beyond the compass; the petals
are heavier than Cur pond lilies md moro
like velvet, thick and creamy. and. grow
ha r. fYrI ~ v,r
Just across the gravel walk from this re-
minder of the tropics was our northern
pine. and still beyond I touched Norway
fir and ether pine varieties, tasseled richly,
and a little farther the huge leaves of the
magnolia grandifiora, while a cedar of
Lebanon droops its wide-spreading branch
es to the very ground close by.
On the other side of the park, on the
White House mall. is the remarkably teau-
tiful Emperor Tree" of Japan, which is
lofty and of fine growth. and when it bios
as if it were hung with wistaria, thickly
clustering all over it. At very little dis
lance the inflorescence looks almost idenu-
al with our purple vine. though it is a
midsummer honeysuckle, and a splendid
show altogether. and there are too many
other kinds of beauty to mention, without
even approaching the botanical gardens
COL W1nthrop'S house and the Tucker
mans overlook grounds that would be
most fascinating even in the suburbs, and
IN the midst of city-Only block or two
from the State, War and Navy Depart
ments-are simply superb.
Washington has such charming irregu-
larities of growth and building that it
rever wearies one with the monotony of
city lines and conditions. With the trees,
the vines all over walls and fences and
the great gardens in the very heart of the
city, like those Of the Corcoran place and
the estate of the Riggs family-huge, Sc
verely plain, but surrounded by trees of
the generations-and such a palm and ivy
bower as the front of Mr.. Henry Adams
house, and all the others, numberless, and
the strange intermingling of shabby, little
old places tucked in, or left over among
the new buildings, Washington Is an ex-
ceedingly home-like and beautiful old town.
The old darby cabins, looking as If they
would tumble down If you touched the
latch. nestle under the very caves of some
of the stateliest houses here. We were as
tonished at 1t when we first came but one
day. when speaking of it to Mrs Prof
Coues. she gave us quite a new idea: she
said, II love them all about so; 1t seems
homelke, and the presence of all the
niaekies among US as they are keeps US
back. compels us to move somewhat slowly
and so prevents the headlong haste that
characterizes most American cities"
think there is something in that and
yet when 1 buy a house here I shall be
careful to seek new block-I do not coyet
cabin forninst me-