The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-16
IMPRESSIONS
 or WASHINGTON
BY THoMAs H. CLARK.
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BY THOMAS H. CLARK.
 Washington, Dec. 14.--I wonder if can interest The Advertiser readers by briefiy setting down some Impressions made on me by several years of residence in Washington. Let me write down some of these without any special regard to or der or style. Washington grows so rap idly and changes so fast. one must be on the alert to correct opinions, sound perhaps yesterday, unsound to-day. And first, the physical aspects of the place. It was built in the woods and remains near them. There Is no large city in the world, l imagine, where one can be so easily and quickly transported to the depths of primeval forests and streams. Within distance that can be covered in a ten minutes walk. starting at Dupont Circle lover of the woods can place himself on the banks of Rock Creek, at a spot wonderful in its beauty and where in sight there is not one sign that the hand of man has wrought there. Crossing the stream he can plunge into an immense forest through which flows charming brook. and the continued presence of birds and wild flowers in their seasons, furnish no hint of the prox- unity of the National Observatory on the one hand and Cathedral Heights with the Peace Cross on the other. Returning to Rock Creek and proceeding northward along it's banks, he will pass through the unique "Zoo' of Washington and plunge once again into primeval woods. So 1t will happen if any other direction be taken, except to embark on the Potomac, and here he will be delighted by a sight of the historic defenses of the Capital on his way to the still more historic, Mt. Vernon.
 MT. Towels has pronounced Washing ton to be the most beautiful capital in the world. He said this more --.an ten years ago. He would certainly empha- size his statement looking at the place as 1t now Is. Many millions of dollars have been expended since then on public and private Improvements. Nevertheless, there Is a struggling air to the buildings if not the streets. Immense modern struc- lures have gone up alongside pretty stores and dwelling houses and In the fashion able section homes of millionaires stand often times cheek by jowl with shanties l owned and occupied by negro tenants. The Capitol itself has its noble dome ris- ing ma1esticalIy above sandstone walls. supported on either side by marble wings. housing the Senate and the House. The dome which have heard Professor Kuno Francke, a competent judge, pronounce the most beautiful architectural object in America, is smaller at the base than | was designed, being fitted into an older structure and yet this base projects many | feet beyond the natural line of support at the front of the building. This gives the east and main front disagreeably squat appearance. That this front was | meant to be temporary only, is shown by it's ceiling being ordinary lathes cov- cred with cement. The cement falling off at intervals, leaves the lathes exposed in most unsightly fashion. Not less insight | ly are the scores of water stains. caused | by rain, coursing across the face of Bru- midi's decorative panels in the rotunda. It may be said absolutely that no public building has ever been erected in Wash 1 ington, the selection of a site for which, had reference to it's artistic effect, upon other buildings in being or projected or upon the general features of the city. This is as true to-oay as when Jackson angrily struck his stick in the center of Pennsylvania avenue, to settle a dispute | between supervising officials about site for the treasury building, saying with the stroke, "d--n it. put it here" ana there 1t is, blocking the great thoroughfare of Washington. It is true of that monstros- | ity the new general postofflce building. true of the library, that seen from any quarter competes with, instead of com
 
 for the offices of members of the House soon to be built south of the Plaza. will add confusion to the view. There Is a deal of cocksureness, 1 know in what I have just written. but surely, Washing | ton, if any place with L. Enfant's plan al- ready at our service, with the abounding resources of the country, ..Ie vast and costly Improvements, sure to be made in the future should be builded on consist ent artistic and harmonious principles, looking to dignity and beauty. The Penn ! syIvania Railroad, 1t is true in it's fine l Union Station. to be the most costly in the world, has taken good counsel and | the Attorney General stands firmly against the Congress in it's effort to com pei the erection of the new Department of Justice on a corner backed by a the ater and flanked on one side by a two storied insurance company building. These are the only signs that the com mission raised by the Senate looking to beautifying Washington, has found any favor in any quarter for the plans sub mitted by them. The new speaker has | not cared to conceal his contempt for their suggestions.
 What of the people who live here These are made up of whites. blacks and some blanket Indians.
 Our red brother is constantly in evil dence before his great white father. " His pilgrimages to Washington are pa- ] thetic reminders of the remorseless tread of our race consumed by a hunger for land, as we drive the red skin further westward and still impelled stand ready | by disslpating the Indians tribal forms to dissipate the race itself. I may say