Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-03
very desirable apd Inexpensive addition to

the park system.
The broader and, simpler the treatment
OF the bridge to Arlington, the members Of
the commission declare, the closer will be
the connection between the reservations
now separated by the Potomac, and the
more vital will be the relation between the
Potomac and the Arlington estate. Such a
result becomes desirable in the highest de-
gree when one considers the immense num-
pers or people who resort not only to Fort
MEYER but also to stheh Arlington cemetery.
Inc interest excited by the drills at the
cavalry post, the superb view from the
heights, and the feelings Of patriotism
awakened by ths,vast field of the hero dead.
known or unnamed. all call for such a
treatment OF the entire reservation as shall
not diminish, but rather enhance the eff
feet produced on the Visitor.
Regulations for Arlington.
There Is nothing that needs proper super
vision and planning more than the modern
cemetery, for there is certainly nothing
that suffers more from vulgarity, ignorance
and pretentiousness on the one side and
grasping unscrupulousness on the other,
and instead Of being place to which one
may go with a sentiment of respect and
peace as into church or sacred place. the
eye and the feelings are constantly shocked
ov the monstrositfes which dominate in all
modern cemeteries
There Is no doubt that the feeling which
pervades the majority of people who erect
monuments to their dead is one of the ten
derest-a sincere desire to do nothing even
In the slightest form which is not fitting
and In entire harmony with the feeling
that prompts the erection of the memorials
Ihls FEELING, If properly protected and
guarded, would lead to the harmonious and
sober treatment SO necessary for such
places A great example of the effective
ness of such restraint and guidance is the
extraord1nary dignity, impressiveness and
NOBILITY of the soldiers cemetery at the
Soldiers Home in this city, and also in that
part or the Arlington cemetery set apart
for the priVates and unknown dead This
is not attained by any large monuments
but by the very simplicity and uniformity
of the whole.
Better Monuments Needed.
The trouble is that the majority of monu-
ments now in the cemeteries are produced
by firms who make it merely a business
affair, the greater portion of them having
not the slightest idea of what is good or
bad, and possessing not even an elementary
knowledge of architecture or even good
taste. To remedy this it is absolutely nee
essary that the designs for all the monu-
ments in all the cemeteries, from the most
modest to the most costly should be made
by or subject to the approval of a commits
sion composed of two or three architects
and landscape architect of the highest
possible standing. They should lay out and
oesisn the cemeteries and establish rules
for their proper supervision and should
control the designs for future monuments
In the cemeteries already existing
Nothing could be more impressive than
the rank after rank Of white stones, ncon-
sp1cuous in themselves, covering the gem
tie, wooded slopes, and producing the de-
sired effect of vast army in it's last rest
ing place. Those spaces reserved for bur-
ials Of officers and their families, however,
exhibit all the heterogeneous forms which
disturb those very ideas of peace and uuiet
which should characterize a spot sacred to
the tenderest feelings of the human heart
In particular, the noble slopes toward the
river should be vigorously protected against
the invasion of monuments, which utterly
annihilate the sense of beauty and repose
This Is one of the most beautiful spots in
the vicinity of Washington 1t is thought
That 1t should not be defaceo or touched in
any way, and law or rule should at once
be passed forbidding the placing of any
monument on this hill