The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-06-23
BEAUTY Of CAPITAL
An EngIishman Gives His I'M
preSSionS of It
STE FINEST IN WORLD
White House Nicely Adapted
TO Democratic Ideas.
STE FINEST IN WORLD

Washington. D. c. June 22.-The ma
tional capital is not appreciated TO the
extent 1t should be. There is something
IN distance lends enchantment." The
European capitals Of London. Paris, Ber-
lin. St. Petersburg. Rome and Vienna
al nave attractions for US. While Wash
ington is not q neglected capital, The
American people should be more familiar
with its history and its points Of real in
ferest than they are. This city IS located
on the border Of the south. half way be
tween New England and the Carohnas.
It is IN the center Of the stirring battle
fields Of The Revolution. During the Civil
war. Washington heard the rumble of
battle and the roar Of cannon for four
years Il was captured and the capital
destroyed in The war OF 1912. Il is dis
tinctly an American built, republican cap
ltaI city. This may suffice 10 introduce
what g distinguished English visitor,
frederick Harrison, says an the June
Nineteenth Century.
1.-THE White House, as the executive
mansion is called. ia instruct.ng for its
historic associations which cover exac city
the Nineteenth century, with its portraits
and reminiscenCes Of presidents and
statesmen and It's Characteristic simple
ity and modesty OF appointments. 1t Is
not Z. convenient residence for the plesi-
dent, with such great responsibility. But
* The term OF residence is usually SO
short, and the associations Of the house
are SO rich il would be a pity 70 change
ii for = preJentious palace. IN the mean
line the quaint old mansion, merely q fine
Georgian country house n a pleasant
park. serves TO remind the american cit
izen Of the democratic origin OF his chief
magistrate who is certainly not yet an
emperor The White House was a resi-
dence suitable for men like Jefferson, Lin
coin and Grant, and it seems not IN
fitting office for their SUCCESSORS.
''The capital at Washington struck me
as being the most effective mass Of pub
lie buildings IN the world, especially when
viewed at some distance and from the
park in which 1t stands. am aware Of
certain constructive defects which have
been insisted on by Ferguson and other
critics; and no one pretends that it is
perfect design Of the highest order, either
in originality or style. But as an effective
public edihce Of a grand kind. 1 doubt
Il any capital city can show its equal.
This Is largely due to the admirable pro-
portions Of its central dome group. which
/ hold to be, from the pictorial point OF
view, more successful than that of st.
Peters. the cathedral OF Florence. Agia, /
Sophia, st. Isaacs. the Pantheon, St.
Eauls. or the cathedral Of Berlin. But
the unique effect is stiIl more due TO the
magnificent site which the capitol at
Washington enjoys I have no hesita-
tion IN saying that the site of the capi-
t0l is the noblest in the world. II we
exclude that Of the Parthenon in its priE-
tine glory. Neither Rome, nor CONSTANT
nople. nor Florence. nor Paris. nor Berlin,
nor London. possess any central eminence
with broad. open spaces on all sides,
crowned by a vast pile covering nearly
four acres and rising to d height OF nearly
3a1 feet which seems to dominate the
whole city. Washington is the only capt.
tai city which has this colossal center
or crown And Londeners can imagine
the effect r. their St Peters stood in an
open park reaching from the Temple TO
Finsbury Circus and the great creation Of
Wren weave. dazzling white marble and
scared into an atmosphere of sunlight
Washington, the youngest capital IN
the world. bids fair to become, before
the Twentieth century Is ended, the most
beautiful and certainly the most commo-
dious II is the only capitol which has
been laid out from the first entirely on
modern lines. with organic unity Of plan.
The spacious avenues, intersected by very
broad streets. an lined with maple and
elm and radiating from a multitude Of
srs-olas ire numerous marks and SQUARES.