Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-27
RESIDENCE CITY.
Washington the Dwelling Place of the
Brainy and the Rich.

Washington Cor. Springfield Republican.
The kaleidoscope Of life in this capital
city of smooth, broad streets and handsome
distances is too varied and brilliant for
one quickly to assign the colors their val
ues. But to wait until by the process Of
time they have settled into the order of the
spectrum is to wait until familiarity has
not bred contempt, but at least worn off
some of the gloss. The superficial view, il
frankly admitted such, has, after ALL its
special advantages. First Impressions are
more like the camera than any which come
after, and the day is of the photograph.
washington, If the evidences of granite.
marble and plate glass. not to mention
buffers and footmen, are to be believed
has, In Its outward aspects at least, devel-
oped chiefly during the last few years as a
residence city of the rich. There are many
reasons why this should be true today and
more true tomorrow. Washington is from
its very origin primarily a city of resi-
dences as opposed to one of trade or manu-
facture. Obviously no city in the country
can compare with it In its broad streets
and avenues and countless open squares
and circles. for no city has developed re-
CARELESS of or without commercial needs
What Baron Haussmap was able to do only
In limited way for Paris with the Inn
perial excheQuer or Napoleon III to nav
for boulevards cut through the heart OF
the city Maj. EEnfant did for all Wash
ington In advance. And then, though there
are days when the wind pierceS and others
when the fog seems to roll up from the
Potomac, Washingtens winter climate is
many degrees mflder than that Of the north
ern cities. Butt more potent attraction
than broad streets freedom from the din
of traffic and the smoke or manufacture,
mild winters and ALI che like, Washington
is the capital, the center. the place where
things are done. where mems regulations
are made where foreign diplomats the
officers of the army and navy, and sup
posedly the best minds of this broad coun-
try are gathered together. Therein It
should and does make It's own particular ap-
peal as winter residence. not to all the
members OF milionairedom, but to many Of
the more intelligent and appreciative of
the rich. And 1t must be said that Presi-
dent Roosevelt, in spite of all his demo-
cratic ideas Of going down into the "hurly-
burly, representing as he does more nearly
than any President before him the aristoc-
racy OF this country, has naturally and in
evftably lent to Washington society an eclat
that 1t has not previously known. It is
small wonder. then, that within the past
two or three years the list Of fine or even
splendid residences in Washington has
grown largely and will doubtless continue
to grow in the next few years to come.
AS whole, the architecture Of those fine
residences ana the many costly apartment
houses which have sprung up beside them
Is good The very large use OF light gray
stone and light gray brick, which no smoke
befouls. gives pleasant and distinctive
general effect. Naturally. with population
gathered from the Golden Gate to Beacon
street. medley of ideas Of architecture Is
TO be expected. But there are fewer atroci-
ties than one might look for. Perhaps the
splendid examples of simple public archi-
lecture have had their Instructive effect