davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Suburban Realty Market
ShOWS Unusual Activity
Many New Homes and Apartments in All
Parts of the District Afford Ample Oppor-
tunity for Spring investments.

J. Lewis willese. president of the
Willige, Gibbs & Daniel real estate cor
poratiOn, expressed yesterday the fol-
lowing views regarding the suburban
real estate situation:
1t is a significant fact that nine
tenths of all the absolutely new houses
which are ready for the spring market
are located in what is populsrly termed
the suburbs by which expression we
include not only the smaller localities
somewhat remotely situated. and with
out all the city conveniences such as
connections with the city's sewerage
system. a supply of Potomac water and
q speaking acquaintance with the
city's gas mains. but also the large ex-
tensions of the city proper which
have been projected and which have ma
terialized along the northeastern. north
ern and northwestern borders of the old
Washington, such as BIooningdaIe. Co
lumbla Heights. Mt. Pleasant, Holmead
Manor. Lanier and Washington Heights,
and the more recently developed Ingle-
side. Petworth and Belair Heights.
Many Attractive Houses Lately Erected
Although Columbia Heights (and its
neighboring subdivisions popularly in
SAudtu uIueI lne same designation,
namely, University Park and Columbia
College grounds, extending along the
west side of Fourteenth street from
Florida avenue TO Whitney avenue) and
Mt Pleasant were the earliest of these
suburban fields 10 show substantial de-
velopment. there has been unusual ac-
tivity in these inviting localities during
the past year, and many new houses are
now approaching completion. Attractive
rows OF houses have been constructed
by Harry Wardman on the east
and west sides Of Eleventh street in
the blocks bounded by Dartmouth and
Kenyon streets. and Columbia road and
FairmOnt streets; a long row OF less
pretentious buildings have been erected
on Sherman avenue just south Of Ha--
ward street, and a row of six pressed
brick, bay-window structures of spa
cious proportions has just been COM
pleJed on the south side Of Whitney ave
nue. between Tenth and Eleventh streets.
Besides these. row Of thirty small
homes. for buyers Of modest means, are
projected for construction on Sherman
avenue. between Girard and Harvard
streets. Farther eastward, in the sub
division known as Whitney Close. and
Immediately adjoining the west entrance
10 the Soldiers Home. q group Of six
semi-detached brick buildings Of rather
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
W. o. DENISoN.

Mr. w O DenlsOn was one OF tre
pioneers in the field Of suburban develop
meut in washington. He began 10 de-
vote a great deal Of attention 10 this
feature OF the real estate business in
the District OF Columbia forty years
ago, and he has been actively engaged
In The work continuously since that
time.
Mr.. DenisOn was one OF the first real
estate men 70 place any Mt. Pleasant
property on the market. He was also
largely Instrumental in the rapid de-
velOpmsnt Of BrOOkiand- IN all his oper-
ations I'm suburban property he has ad-
hered 70 the principle that al forms
OF permanent improvements on suburban
subdivisions are profitable in the end.
As a consequence he has handled some
Of the most deservedly popular suburbs
Of the District. At present Mr.. Denisou
is interested in Metropolis View, Gran
by. and other property IN the northeast.
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

| attractive design are in course Of cree
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Distinctive Features Of
Suburb Of Woodbridge

Three miles to the north Of the Capitol
building lies the suburban section Of
Woodbridge. This property has been on
the market for several years. and during
that time has become very popular by
virtue Of its many natural advantages.
and as a result of the highly desirable
class Of people who have erected SUBJ
stantial homes there
This property was laid out on ve.-y
comprehensive scale The streets are 190
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

attractive design are in course Of cree
ton.
Improvements IN Mt. Pleasant.
Prominent among the improvements
in the Mt, Pleasal., section is a row OF
SCI - houses on the south side Of Park
road, between Fourtee and Fifteenth
streets northwest. Six new dwellings Of
the near future. Six new dwellings of
merit. both in architecture and arrange
ment, are being built on the south side
of Lamont street, between Sixteenth
aud Seventeenth streets. after the plans
OF similar structures already extending
along both sides Of that thoroughfare.
But the scene of real activity in tie
building line in this locality is CEN -ornd
toward the western end Of Mt Pica.s-
ant, ard extends into Ingleside. whore
numerous properties of desirable char
acter and ample proportions are being
developed
In addition TO the several rows Of at
tractve residences on Eighteenth and
or Newton streets. completed during the
latter part of 1905. eighteen more high
class dwellings are being erected on the
latter street. and still further west ward
Twenty-Five gOod-sized houses of un-
usual attractiveness have been built on
Eighteenth street. between Grant and
Joliet streets, six superior dwellings are
now going up. which are quite IN keen
ing with the high-class improvements
Cor which that immediate vicinity is
noted
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

for years been talking OF the beauties
and the natural advantages Of their
property, but the matter was given no
thought, as II was out Of the question
70 have TO drive into the city, a dis
tance Of from i've 70 fifteen miles, in
order TO transact business.
This electric line with its splendid
equipment, has changed the whole aspect
of the Virginia lands. and today all who
make the trip from Aqueduct bridge. sgp
toward the falls. are charmed with the
general character OF the section.
Il is well within the bounds or reason
10 believe that within the next ten years
this whole section viii be dotted with
suburban settlements IN which hundreds
OF attractive homes VIII have been
e-eCted
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Borders of City Enlarged.

1T VIII be observed from this crude re-
hearsal Of the many building projects
now IN execution n the delightful
suburbs bordering the city on the north.
that the introduction OF the electric rail-
road has virtually enlarged the borders
of the city by bringing within twerty
minutes communication with the cent ar
OF the business section the vast fan
shaped area which, viewed from the
standpoint Of horse-car connection, was
until the introduction Of rapid transit
not only remotely suburban, but truly
The Washington times., 1906-05-06

These houses are Of Roman brick, sur
mounted by massive corrugated tiled
roofs. with dormer windows, and are
provided with spacious pordcos. Tie in
teriors are equally novel and attractive
IN arrangement and establishment. be
ing ornamented with stained glass win
dows and boveled plate glass mirrors,
made all the more effective by massive
carved wood mantels Of artistic con
C.errEou-
The Washington times., 1906-05-06
Houses of Artistic Worth.

Extending further southwark along
Columbia road Is the new row Of houses
between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets.
most Of which have already been dis
posed Of, but which are Yet TO some .ex-
tel available for the spring market. and
even nearer the boundary are the
eight magnificent semi-detached resi-
dences, extending along Columbia road
and Biltmore street. This latter enter
prise is of a most substantial nature.
and provides Washington Heights with
a row of buildings which. for architec-
tural ornateness and general cleverness
Of arrangement, is not equaled by any
similar project OF latter-day construc-
ton These houses present many nov
elites in design and are the embodiment
of the best ideas Of the leading archi-
tects Of European and American cities.
A row of eight dwellings Of similar de-
sign, though of smaller proportions. is
now being completed by the same build
er on the west side of Ontario place.
formerly Kansas avenue, between Ad-
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
Truancy Broken Up, Cleanliness
Enforced and Politeness
Made General.

CORPORAL punishment has been abolished IN the
-rbuc schools, but many persons think that this
r,.n has. left the schools without adequate means
= discipline. Some have thought that self
,,wsrnment among the pupils is a possible solu-
$,n of this problem It has been tried in schools
!, this city and outside OF It, Recently the
posrs Of Education held an open hearing on the
,rbiect A report Of visit OF Associate Super
,,,endents Edison and Stevens to schools in
phladelphia and Syracuse. where experiments
s,Ve been made. was discussed. Some opposed
,bs i6ea. while others including some of the
rracipsls OF the city, favored some kind Of self
government II is admitted even by the most
enthusiastic believers in self-government that it
tss failed in many schools where tried.
Of eli the schools in New York the one which
s0uld be least expected TO be successful as self
gorsrned school is No. 125. on Wooster street,
rear BeeckeT street There is hardly an Amer
sosn IN the school OF the 1,4OO children enrolled
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

How many sirs make man? Is ESQUIRE title
Of honor or derision? II you write Truly yours
70 an enemy. what do you say 10 a friend? Do
such phrases as .'Obedient servant and Very
respectfully paTtake Of the spirit Of Uriah Heer.
Or are they mere feathers Of courtesy innocenty
tickling the recipients sensibities? Are these
messy forms Of correspondence either useful or
Ornamental?
Tie grave inquiry that confronts the AIneri-
can people The agitation. lately begun through
the petty action Of a New York Dock Commission
yet pebbles incite avalanches) may not stop
Until $4,000 900 people have given their separate
opinions College professors, poets. business men,
lovers and pessinists are burning 10 enter the
lists All conceivable arguments. ranging from
the voice of tradition TO a plea for the weary
EtencgTapher VIII be adduced.
The smplihed spelling question is a trihe COM
pared with the matter Of correspondence etiquette
Nobody cares overnauch IL you spell cough ''kof
Or laugh '1af" but the address and superscription
% letter touch personal dignity. They a
par with the ha1dshal1e. the nod and word OF fare
well IN personal intercourse. Thus. a matter that
concerns the etiquette or sef-estee is profoundly
serious Il may involve financial less in business
and exile 81 society. Being grave and peF1lous
subject the more people are anxious 10 insert their
oar
Dock Commissioner Bense!'s recent order to his
Egbordinafes that they must address him as Bs-
gUrs" and Sir snd subscribe themselves very
respectfully your obedient servant" is excused by
he friends On the ground OF an Oxford education
and cited by his enemies as an instance OF Wild
paFtisanship going TO extremes. The foreign edu-
eated commissioner was not satisfied with the
homemade prefix Of Honorable" nor mere pro-
iesE;on Of "Obediently yours; his suooroinaIes
were required 70 koWtow and PROSTATE themselves
. the very limits Of the English language. aouF
loyal henchman' or "DesDicably yours Is ex-
pectsd TO crop up elsewhere as the result OF TINS
baEnEan zeal
i is pointed out that there is no regularity
anywhere in the use Of forms. Bensel eKcavates
ne phrases q the eighteenth century business
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

Politeness was one Of the noticeable charac-
teristics Scores Of children were obliged to
pass in front of him as he stood at one side
of the room for few minutes. but hardly one
did so without saying, Excuse me- One boy
came forward when the newspaper man sat
down beside a teachers DESK and. taking his
hat hung it up. This same boy of thirteen
took charge of the class, and after conducting
spelling lesson carried forward written lesson
without suggestion from or even the observa-
ton of the teacher.
The discipline Of military organization char
acterized the school city when it assembled for
the opening exercises, representatives Of the
police force being scattered throughout the body.
although there was little evidence that their
presence was needed The entire exercises were
conducted in The presence OF only three adults
connected with the school-the principal, Ber-
nard Cronson, who read the Scripture selection,
and two teachers, one of whom sat at the piano
with her back to the assembly. and the other Of
whom beat time for the songs With the ex-
ception of verses from Proverbs not a single
word was uttered by the three adults. every
action of the 400 children being directed by a
signal on the piano.
Every movement was executed with a pre-
cision that would have done credit to military
school The children marched with the align
ment of a battalion. When they sat. they sat
as one man and the seats slammed seat.
Once seated, every face was hxed straight ahead,
and only the eyes moved. The fact that there
were two or three visitors on the platform
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

have the stronger position The stereotyped phrases
In business correspondence mean nothing. and IL
requires only common consent TO get rid OF them.
Why should disreputable politician be addressed
as Honorable and an illiterate sho2keeper as
Esquire?
Much ado in ending letter is Ike the exit OF an
awkward visitor, who starmers and fingers at the
door after he has said all that Is necessary. The
frietd courtesy OF the ordinary business letter is
preferable to the familiarity OF circulars (nitating
typewriting or script promoting patent medicines
and fake syndicates. In general. business letters
are written by many clerks. who follow their own
fancies but certain houses Of more or less Ques-
tonable nature employ a variety Of standard forms
For example in a series OF ten letters written BY
a bucket shop TO a who made inquiry. in
vested lost and tried again. there would be stand
ard variations Of address and subscription eoTre-
sponding 70 the body Of the letter Dear sir as
a beginning. Dear friend 10 lead him on. Sin
cerely yours from the proprietor as consolation.
ard so forth. kilograms and telephone messages.
which dispense with all modes Of address and end
Ing. are the ideal OF business correspondents.
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

cred with ground glass The youngsters were
romping about in healthy fashion. without
any rough play. There was noise, as there ought
to be on a playground. Not a teacher was in
sight. Ten minutes before 1 o'clock the kindly
and serious faced Italian boy Of fifteen who was
reelected for a second term as Mayor Of the
school city week or more ago. took his place on
a step at the entrance. He looked the play
ground with his large. kindly brown eyes. and
rang bell. Instantly the noisy playground be-
came as silent as the grave. Every boy stood
stock STILL some in the attitudes IN which they
CHANGED to be when the bell rang. The effect
was peculiar. The groups OF statuelike figures
in all sorts Of attitudes scattered about the play
ground reminded one of a collection of figures
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

q the registers 95 per cent bear names Ike
''GiacOmo Casale," for they were either born in
fhe boot shaped country which slants down into
fhs Mediterranean or their parents came from
fhRt land About half of them first saw the light
Of day on the other side OF the Atlantic. The
remaining per cent are chiefly Jews or of negro
birth. In this old school building. where the
classes are housed in rooms far too small or
separated only by curtains, self-government in
the form Of a school city has been introduced.
The idea has been highly developed, and its pos
Ebilities have been illustrated by several con-
crete results. which have attracted considerable
attention.
The City Of School 125' has features to be
found in perhaps no other city in the country
While II has the full machinery of cnarter-a
Mayor. Board of Aldermen. a court, a police
department. and a health Departmental has no
political boss The Mayor is the responsible
head. Its court is an odd one. for the three
judges besides the dainty clerk. are of the
gentler sex, although there are some citizens Of
this city who are Of the opinion that this par
ucular arm Of the law terminates in a velvet
covered fist Of steel When the city holds an
election which il does twice a term the citizens
register and vote by the Australian ballot sys-
ten And no one may register as a voting cit
zen whose department is not good and who
cannot read and write any part OF the charter.
This eliminates about thousand of the scholars
Of the school. who. however, are prospective cit
izens The department of the entire school,
however. viii soon be in the hands OF the voting
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

figuring the awful waste Of time and labor involved
in average of two lines of friIls letter mul-
tiplied by several hundred million letters II Is
said that the extra white paper used annually
would blanket Manhattan Island. The list OF
"Esquires'' placed end would out-top Washing
ton Monument and supply all historical novelists
with trusty aids to their heroes. The Yours
trulys" would festoon all public halls, and the
'Respectfullys.'' Very sincerelys" and the rest
would fairly belt the earth. large army of clerks
and stenogTaphers may be imagined doing nothing
else throughout the year but oTnamenting the tops
and bottoms Of letters. and spending the more
time because of uncertainty which frils 10 employ
The conservatives uudaunted by these weighty
allegations. say first that If our forms of address
undemocratic. many parts of speech.
customs and institutions. The ancient derivations
DO not count; the present meaning is courtesy
respect TO the body Of letter than to the head
and tail. where fOurishes expected and dis
counted. or course. a man does not greet another
Dear SIR and depart with n Truly yours
but he does something else to take the place OF
these written amenities. He smiles. bows. shakes
hands. says "How-do and 80 long" II he says
nothing Introductory. yet his face voice and gest-
convey the effect The alleged economy
would be az the expense OF polteness a moral loss
Outweshing any advantage. Without the lubricant
politeness the wheels OF society and business would
get overheated and come 20 a full stop.
rs this your barbaFOus purposef' ask the con-
seTvAtiyes Have you perhaps some substitute
for the decent usages OF respect7'
''Shucks!" retoFt the bold radicals. "It i5 all an
Illusion that these forms are necessary. II they
ever carried respect they are meaningless now. DO
We not speak OF great man as Thomas Edisoa
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06

return them for nv instruction. Courtesy IS a
good investment
A literary man who sides with the reformezs de-
cIared that the red Indian and the Formosan saw
age can give points to civilized writer's. The Indian
haiIine a person BY his descriptive name OF
.sRu Thunder or n-tbe-Csrasss'' proceeds
with his remarks. ANY hguTative bouquets are N
the body OF the message. Likewise the people or
Foruosa address one another in simple sincerity
as s'Cross-E Eyed Little Man. Girl with White
Teeth" Tiger Face" and Parrot Laughing
These names absolutely identify the persons being
designed 90 az some characteristic trait The Chi
nese. being eIete people pile on hishfalutin ez-
pressions. ard the HIndoos Ike 70 say protector
OF the poor and subscribe themselves insignificant
worms Of the dust
Shakespeare dedicating Venus and Adoais'' and
The Rape OF Luerece'' 20 the Earl of SOuthamp
ton subscribed himself Your honoT's in all duty
and your lordship's IN al duty" Oliver Cromwell
used Sir ''NGr. Speaker (of ParliamenC Dear
sir Dear cousin" Right honorable and worthy
friends Gentlemen Dear Norton" MY dear
lord and variOusly signed Your humble ser
want" your loving friend" Your most obedient
servant Your servant and sometimes the mere
name. collection OF letters OF scientists OF the
seventeenth century shows Coed Mr. smith, a
common beginning; 'AGost honored sir. salutem n
Christie and variety O1 endings such 'Ycur
assured friend 20 his power. Your true plain 0ni
loving friend Yours % serve you" 'VosteF
humlllimus'' and This is al present from
str your humble servant. Isaac Newton
Benjamin Franklin was an early refoFmer % vain
phrases IN correspondence The late George Francis
Train used the French revolutionary Citizen and
the modern socialist takes 20 ''COmTade." A beg
gng letter. modelled on the classic style of wilkins
MicaWbeF. ends thus;
Awaiting kind friend. in miserable anxie<y
This temporary loan q < 81.
Hoping that heaven VIII bless yOus
And thanking you IN advance.
j remain very sincerely.
GstSsms1 gentleman.
Your grateful 1r1-n1
REELE4 JoE
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
RECORDING ANGEL BUSY.

The reforIners' main arguments are democracy.
sincerity and economy Why should fellow citizens
of a republic, aping the servile manners OF mon
arches confess 10 an inequality that doesn't ex-
ist? Sir means Lord. MI" is Master and
Esquire" originally applied TO lesser members
Of the nobility The "obedient servant once de-
noted an actual state Of dependence upon feudal
patron. But If the forms are meaningless to-day.
what shocking lot Of mendacity and how corrupt
ing TO writer's and recipients! The Recording An
gel must be kept busy merely attending to the
dereIictions Of correspondence. Imagine the said
Angel revising and putting in his archives the fol-
lowing Letter:
for office a dtshonOrable custoner).
Dear Sir (dear 10 US In q financial senso(: We
beg to repeat our request for a prompt settlement
since need the money. -
(''Beg" IS last warning that Wen sue emo run
you into the bankrupfs court, you raeceAl
Hopng the favor of an early feplY We remain
dear sir (confound that backwoods skinnint. very
truly yours (We'u get satisfaction at any cost you
crooked EnossbacE), aAEtDAEAO q "
The reformers ask if a meeting another on
the street says "Good-norning. dear sir" and ~
in departing he announces Il yours truly
Cases have occurred Of the former address. but
then the speaker has been usually a confdence
As for the ground Of economy. statisueians are
New-York tribune., 1906-05-06
PROFESSOR PECK'S VIEWS.

Professor Harry Thurston Peck. Of Columbia Uni
versIty. having aligned himself with the conserva-
tives In this grave debate. made the following re-
marks to a Tribune reporter:
These conventions are useful small coin OF IN
tercourse OF course. you don't mean ~ %!i%n w q
write Dear sir and Yours very truly, ouL y
helps to smooth matters. When two men Heet az 49,
talk about the weather, they don't DO y oecsu J
thev are n bit interested in the WeatneI' y
merely a convenience Not to use any FORM ~ Wouno
seem abrupt and III hammered or couISs We tsSt
shortened modes since the ceremonial 1ouI ; 60
ent servant was in common use tIlat !s sOllas
far now The English use OF taithIIuLIly, SSS.,
sounds odd to US, like the German Elgn g oS.H sSa-
and the Itaan Most illustrious tni1sH tSaiS
are gradations which every man OF seilsoiIly SSer
and employs suit the occasion; Es2.i,, Ao1trs
a name implies more ceremony tnan NJ, oStU- 'I-t
and might be used to show that little extra eouLt
esy we use 70 a comparative stranger a Ay,Ss
sT' has been abused in commerce tnat = ebs7
s'Dear sirH The subscription grades down - q;
the formal Yours truly 20 Most afectloI-
and perhaps further yet. Friend FuitA ulsase
like ''NeighbOr" Is especially offensive IN eoNSL-
tising circulars don't think would Ispy ~ ~ = =
man who addressed me In that way LneIo r. s7Aa =
difficulty In finding address for both sexes ue
Simuhed Spelling Committee has just lss9 =
circular with Dear sir or madam out t1At " 4-os
satisfactory. In the university the otlceEs a1&11
one another with all titles. Dear sir ana Nes5 =.
respectfully; but the students ere az uoerty 70
use what forms they please
John J. Corcoran. manager OF the city department
Of r. G. Dun & Co. believes that the refofInsss