Arizona republican., 1901-05-11
IMPRESSIONS OF CHICAGO
A Town of Great Distances and
 Numbers.

Chicago, May e--(Special Corre- spondence of The Republican, )-When one journeys from the west side to the north side and then makes a ten or twelve-mile trip over to the south side, he realizes that Chicago is great city. Great in its bigness. for in come other directions it is very small. One cannot make such a journey and not be struck with the city's crudeness in q great many instances. As n representative American city 1t could be much inn proved It seems thus far to have had but one aim ahead, and that has been to stretch out and cover the earth. The consequence Is that 1t has not been careful how nor where 1t stretched, ani while 1t now envelopS a large area. much of that is unimproved and lack ing in finish. It resembles to me l great overgrown sehoolboy who has not yet reached the dignity of self-sus- tained manhood. It Is noisy, superficial and uncouth and requires the softenlng hand of time to make 1t attractive. It is. now painfully new, and cities, like many people of certain types of beauty, become more attractive with the dig nifty of old age.
 There are many magnificent struc- lures to he seen here. both public and private buildings. some beautiful homes and large nu.nber of elegant stores. But, alas! there are also thousands of buildings that offend the eye in more ways than one. Many are built with absolute disregard as to any architec- tural laws. When you see q structure which is adorned by row of Corinth- ian pillars combined with gothic fea- lures. or flatroofed edihce of no pronounced architectural school orna mepted bv a useless buttre:s. one is reminded of the feminine absurdlty Of a Russian blouse trimmed with a Greek border. Why are Americans so obtuse to the fitness of things? There is yet another striking feature of Chi cago buildings. They are such shams! You will see a beautiful front of fine pressed brisk. or perhaps stone with polished marble pillars. and, sad to tel. sides and back of the commonest brick manufactured. Or q residence will pre- sent to the front a three-story appear ance. but you have only to walk around to the rear to discover that 1t iS really but two stories high and the third Is only a sham wall. To me there is some thing unholy in this pr.tension. Build ings with showy fronts and ''snobby" sides, with cham walls pretending to be what they are not, are like people with many pretensions and small means, or voluble words and few brains-you have only to walk around them and the ehams are exposed.
 have never before seen a place where the advertising 1raze was carried as far as it is here. Everywhere are enormous pocters On the sides of the walla of buildings taller than their next door neighbor the fences. the street cars, the roofs of low buildings and sheds, everywhere possible, has this offensive mania shown itself. In many places I have noticed over a large, gaudy. lnartistic poster or under some other brush crudity the words. "Ameri- can Posting Service" under which most of this advertising seems to be done. I am satisfied of its American ism" It is the most pushing, hustllng. American concern I've noticed in long time. The nationality of its activity is unquestionei.
 There is another feature of Chicago. as a city. which Is open to crtiticism-- the vast acres of vacant lots. You vii, .ee them even in the well built portions of the city. It looks as if in her desire to cover ground and gain area she had neglected to finish her job These are invariably unsightly. Frequently used as dumping grounds for trash and debris, always ornamented by big sign boards, and unfailingly filtered with papers and rags, they present an ugly appearance, and perhaps mar the effect of the beauty of adjacent blocks of lovely hor.e@.
 One thing more may be cited not to the credit of an American metropolis have wondered often as I stroll about why an improvement society or some other public organization did not take up the matter of street cleaning. Every where are loose papers. fruit peelings. and generally untidy street conditions to be seen. In many places are to be found rough pavements with grass growing out over the walks. The rag ged edges of these green fringes coming out over the payements are suggestive of an untidy woman who has neglectd to dress her hair. They offend a deli cate eye. The bouIevards are magnif- cent. We must give Chicago credit fo. her beautiful drives. Smooth, broad and immediately clean, they are ir striking contrast to her general street neglect, and only demonstrate what could be done in other directions. These boulevards are the pride of the city, and deservedly so. And the parks They are exquisite. As they bud out at this sea:,on with all their new spring finery It is positive treat to be near them. I stroll through the magnificent; greenhouses in Washington park every day or two. As l study the new varie- ties l find each time l go, I am con- strained to think them more gorgeous than any I've seen before. What ten der care and close attention these hot house beauties reHeive
 Yesterday, as I stood admiring a splendid display of tulips and hya- cinths, the thought came to me of the simple little wild flower struggling out on the arid plains of my homeland, striving to live through the burning heat, without care and even without