The record-union., 1897-06-13

atlon to be seen in Washington City.
The sidewalks of the Capitol grounds,
east Of the Capitol, together with the
stone seat which, with it's back, forms
the retaining wall or incIosure of the
garden patches and grass plots, are
worked in cOlors in a clever and pleas
ing way. Four colors in all are used;
that is to say, colors distinguished by
material or by a deliberately diversi-
fed stain; but each of these four COL
ors has varieties Of shade which make
the whole composition varied enough
The seat and it's back are composed of
sandstone Of an unusually bright red
color and of North River bluestone,
and the bluestone is used again in the
curb Of the sidewalk, which curb is
unusually broad and tells as very
visible part of the surface of the broad
sidewalk. In the sidewalk itself the
colOrs Of these two stones are initiated
as closely as may be in artificial stone
of some sort, and two other stains, a
light reddish gray and another gray
which is nearly white, are added in the
same material. These colors are COM
bined in large and bold pattern, occu-
pying the whole width of the wide side
walk, and the pattern differs in diff
ferent parts of the ground, for there
are hundreds of feet of this sidewalk,
and room enough for many different
designs. Nor is it to be supposed that
these patterns are only suggested, or
are but family visible. The contrast
of color is decided enough
There is a suggestion in these Wash
ington sidewalks which may be of use
in modern architecture. Color in ex-
terror design has not made much of a
success in the modern world, and this
chiefly because of the inaptitude of
modern European designers in all pure
ly conventional designing, such as that
of patterns. It may almost be said
that the designing of patterns is un-
known among modern European races,
so decidedly is their pattern work bas-
ed upon frank appropriation of an
cient or Oriental designs There is an
other reason, and that is the extreme
difficulty of finding natural materials
at once fit for the building of the wall
in question and good in color harmony.
Mr.. Richardson's chequer of sandstone
in two colors, which he copied from
churches of the French Romanesuue in
the heart of France. and his alternat-
MS NOuSSOliS, WHICH he ndu IOQnU IN
those churches and in many buildings
elsewhere, are instances of this diff
Guilty. The range of color was very
limited, and the effect produced rather
insignificant. 1t will not do to say that
slight contrast is better than sharp and
decided distinctions of color in external
work; the difficulty was not that the
contrast was slight, but that it was
not often the contrast required. If ar
tificfat stone can be used for exterior
walls, and this can be laid up in large
scale mosaic of varied pattern, the con-
ditions are greatly altered
The public authorities of Washington
have, in the treatment of the grounds
and open spaces at their disposal, set
an excellent example which private
property owners there have been slow
to follow. 1t is VeXatiOus to note the
admirable opportunities left unusued
in the irregular shapes of the city lots.
the free space left in "door-yards'' and
between houses, and in the irregularity
of frontage and the comparatively rar-
ity of straight, uniform lines of houses
For one thing, where are the flower
beds and the vases and window boxes
full of flowers which these picturesque
circumstances seem to call for? To
think what Scotchmen or Germans of
North Germany would do with such a.
city as Washington! Is washington
too far south and its climate too mild
TO encourage flower gardening? Why is
1t that people Of the savage North
make flower gardening their hobby? Is
1t because of the difficulties which sur
round their favorite pursuit? Is Wash
ington denied the adOrnment of ont of
door display of flowers because il is
not in the latitude of Quebec? Or is if
that Hover gardening, like other grace
1uI arts, is, in this country. surrounded
by SUCH difficulties of unreasonable
outlay-a high rate of cost superinduc-
ed ny our protective systenl-that no
one dares to undertake it? In these
matters we are, of course. in a semi
barbarous state as yet. and our pro
tectionist interests will keep us there if
they can.
n. Y. Tribune: So much is said in dis
praise of the diction of the Scotch novel
lists of the day-a diction which every
one knows is as lucid and as eloquent
as diction can possibly be-that we
think the following fragment from a
book of "Braefoot Sketches" bv ].
Mackinnon.. Will be welcomed for it's
ample justification of the TRANSPARENCY
and charm of 'kailyard'' prose. Rear
ers of Ian Maclaren and Mr.. Crockett
WILL of course, protest that it has far
less point, far less magic. than a page
from either of their favorite authors.
but it must be admitted that Mr.. Mac
kinnon has a noble way with him.
Thus:
:. 'Wangie s right stocherty'
".Ay, he'll niver gle ye a bot O.
naething.
IAN watch him again. All seen be
gettin' a penny fac my father.
Am gettin' a penny on Setturdav.
'Fa fae?'
Fac cor Geordie.'
"Ha! Hat
%, bit al az
Fat for daein'?'
Never We ound fat for daein'.'
o, a kent We wisna gettin't.'
Bit A am sot gettin't Surely A ken
better gin you.
It's a less. it's a less, it's less.
Haud yer tongue
No. An nae baud my tongue. Fat
div ye'
"'Fa s Cyan owre tae the smiddy.'
Me- An me- An me-"
Scientific thought stretches more and
more into all fields of human activity.
Topics which have seemed to elude the
grasp Of the investigator, to be inde-
pendent of all law. are found to follow
rules which a more patient analysis
hos traced with sreater or, less exact-