Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-14
IN CAPITOL SQUARE
The Most Attractive Spot in the Old
City Of Harrisburg.
NAMES OF TIE TREES PLACARDED
A Practice Worthy Of Adoption in
Washington.
ANTISEPTIC TONSORIALISM
STAFF Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Stan Correspondence of The Evening Star.
HARRISBURG, Pa, December 0, 1897.
The most attractive spot in Pennsylva-
| MAS capital is Capitol Square. Just now
there Is an aching void in its center mark
ing the site of the capitol building Destroy
ed last year by fire, and alcng the edges
OF the terraces in several places are long,
high piles of bricks reclaimed from the
ruins of the structure. Still the attractive
ness of the park is not seriously impaired
by these drawbacks 1t is about as long
as our Judiciary Square in Washington
though not quite as wide. but decidedly
more Impressive. 1t occupies an eminence
rising abruptly from the surrounding busy
streets, with broad walks traversing it in
every direction, and from State street, both
on the east and west sides, are imposing
entrances up broad flights of stone steps
Upon the summit are the public buildings.
of brick and stucco. and the very handsome
marble building devoted to the executive
offices of the state. The colonnade en-
trance to the latter building is architec-
tCrally imposing, and the vast hall which
gives entrance is really remarkable for
chaSte elegance Of conception and treat
nent. At the rear Of the executive build
ing are several Conservatives filled with
plants and flowers and standing to the
south Is marble monument, a shaft sur
mounted by statue of Winged Victory in
commemoratiCn of the valor of the Penn
sylvania soldiers who lost their lives in
the Mexican war. The grassy slopes are
well covered with trees, which are popu-
lated with small colony of tame gray
squirrels. some Of which are constant
sources or interest and amusement from
the fef rless manner in which they take
nuts from persons hands. The veteran
animal Of them all is popular under the
name of Billy. He ran up my leg this
n.orning and clarbered to my outstretched
arm and reached my hand. where" he Sc
cured a pecan nut, and then jumped away
TO carry 1t to his storehouse The trees In
the park are specimens of the various spe-
cles native TO Pennsylvania, and each par
tlcular variety bears an iron p!acard.
hung upon stout staple on its trunk bear
ing the technical and common name of the
tree. the Latin above and the English be-
meath in raised letters This struck me as
a very wise and judicious thing. and one
that could be followed to excellent advan-
tage in Washington
There is a legend here that when the
placards were first put up they were merely
hung on hooks and the omnipresent and
mlschievous small boy changed them.
Consequently they were properly redistrib-
uted and more thoroughly secured. To
return to the admirable part of the sys-
tenn, and to suggest a similar one in Wash
lngton, 1t seems to me to be peculiarly
adapted for the capital of the nation. 1
took at random copies of some of the
placards. Here they are:
- -
Tilia Americana.
Linden Eastwood.
TraXinus Americana. !:
White Ash.
Ager Rubrun.
Red Swamp Maple
- - - - '''.'''
- ~ -. ~
Buxus -Senpervirens
Box.
49,
80 - - :.
Abies ExCelsa.
Norway Spruce.