Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-09-30

hypocritical and self-seeking amiableness,
sometimes in the calm voice of wisdom
and experience, sometimes in the most
fragrant tones of ostentatfous argument
employed by reasoners who talk to be OBJ
served.
Most Beautiful City in the Country.
But whether your fate casts you in the
swim of the hotel among those who know
little and guess much, or in the more re-
tired spots where dwell the men and wo-
men who know all that is to be known and
who are able to divine the future, the talk
of Washington is the talk of politics, the
business of Washington is obviously the
business of politics, the men of Washing
ton are, hope to be, men of politics.
Here IS the capital, and here you shall see
the signs and portents of what the repub-
lie is, of what 1t may become, and here
also you may note the beginnings of the
republic, and, If you do, you will be struck
by the outward monuments of the earlier
time, which remain monuments to the SYM
metry and dignity of the conception of the
fathers, of their conception of the new
government and of it's abode. You will
realize, too, that you are in the most beau
tiful city in the country. There are cruel
ly hideous architectural monstrosities in
Washington. l would not cast doubt upon
my opinion of the beauties of Washington
by failing to admit the monstroSitieS. But
some of the government buildings dig
nified, and although Pennsylvania avenue
is too wide for 4 skyline, there are the
handsome, Weli-Shaded, welI-paved streets
in the northwestern section Of the city,
which are year by year growing more en-
ticfng, melting men of wealth and distinc-
ton to make the capital their winter home.
The great Richardson began movement
in domestic architecture in the city. best
illustrated by the houses of Secretary Hay,
Mr.. Henry Adams and the late Mr.. War
der, which has resulted in fashion for
building houses to suit those who are to
live in them instead of their neighbours, or
instead of attempting to satisfy an exact
ing rule of red brick or brownstone con-
ventionality. 1t may be true that some
young architects have initiated Richardson
with direful consequences to their own rep
utations, and with unpleasant mural re-
suits: but, as whole, the city has profited
by imitators and followers, and especially
by the perfect freedom to do as they like
which owners and architects feel knowing
that if they do their own work in their own
way, they will do only what their neigh
bors are doing. And this individuality in
house construction makes Washington not
only the most interesting city of residences
In the country, but, outside of the older
parts of continental European cities one of
the most charming cities in the world
l have not spoken of Washington society
to my mind the most delightful and
American in the country, for it reflects not
perhaps, what is best. but what is well
above the average of every part of the
republic-because my wish has been to sug-
gest what it is that makes the charm of
Washington, and to try to interest the
readers of the Churchman in the city it
self. in showing what it is and what it
stands for, and what it has become and is
becoming. Not many Americans know
their capital at all; very few know it well.
1t Is well worthy of a close acquaintance
and of the respect and pride of every citi-
zen of the Union of whose sovereignty it is
the capital.