The Washington times., 1906-01-28


The United States has a peculiar mis-
sion to perform. in the upbuilding and
advancement OF the world in general.
1t stands in the lists as the protagOnist
ard champion of self-government. No
other republic In the history OF the
world has been so successful as ours
IN so short a time. This does not mean
that the progress will continue uninteT-
rupted unless the proper steps are TAX
e. for the protection of the people 9th
er nations that have adopted the re-
publican form OF government have gone
Down TO ignominious graves in the cata-
combs of the dead and forgotten past.
II ours sbeuld be shaken by anarchy
snd misrule IN the years to come II
would be tile eternal death knell OF
This form of government. for surely our
nation has the brightest hopes that have
ever blessed people
The question OF how to circumvent the
forces that haze overcome the republics
of the past is one which should and is
engrossing the attention OF our great
thinkers and phiIanthTopists today We
have had the example OF the downfall Of
Greece by which TO profit: nations have
studied the decline Of Rome, resulting
from bribery and the dissoiute character
Of it's rulers and the corruption that per
meated all classes. These conditions were
not brought about during a single gener-
alton. They were the result OF an ever
growing tendency among the younger
generations OF each age. finally result
ing in the downfall Of an empire which
had been nquering for six centu-
ries.
This may seem extraneOus TO the dis
cussion Of the City Beautiful cult. but
there is no doubt that the idea had its
origin in speculation upon just the con
ditiOns outlined above. This idea OF
beautifying the city. thus making more
enjoyable the life OF children in our great
centers, is one OF the many efforts 10
thwart the evil tendencies that have
been so disastrous in the past. The idea
IN the City Beautiful is 10 give free air
and Fairgrounds 10 the children and To
cultivate the esthetic tastes OF the citi-
zen Of today as well.
The Park and It's Profit.
Without the system OF parks and pub
lie squares the children OF the great mid
die classes must be reared IN dingy
homes. surrounded by filth. squalor and
the dust-poIiuted air. Without these pub
lie places. where the child may give his
care-free and freedom-loying nature the
privilege Of expansion and growth, only
| the small percentage comprised in the
children Of the wealthy class viii know
| anything OF the pleasures OF childhood
and be able TO develop strong. clean
bodies and active, progressive minds.
II is psychological fact upheld BY all
scientists that the external environments
Of early youth shape To a great extent
the mental tendency OF the fully devel-
oped man. He who has been reared
without the pleasures or the privileges
OF natural childhood is apt 10 develop a
morbid disposition. leading TO the future
nihilist. with his hand raised against an
his kind
The parks are the only means OF Civ
ing TO the children Of the great cities
the freedom which the child nature
demands. This, the primary raiSon
d'etre OF the City Beautiful idea. should
receive the sanction and hearty support
OF philanthropists who recognize Ali
mankind as their brother.
The secondary and more obvious ar
gument for the Identification OF our
cities is the development of the sense of
the beautiful among our people in gen
eral In the mad strife for commercial
betterment and financial gain We have
been more or less neglectfuI of the es-
thetic side OF our natures. The time has
come when We should turn our atten-
tion to such matters and we should
learn TO look little higher and a little
deeper than the universal question. How
much will it cost?" This has had a
tendency to make our natures sordid
and gross The change is coming. and
II will not only result in a development
Of artistic temperament but in q gen
eral betterment IN all civic life.
Culture of the Ancients.
Historians declare that the average cit
izen of ancient Athens was on. q par
with the average member Of the British
parliament of today, in point OF culture
and understanding Of economic and gov
ernmental principles. None can doubt
but that the definition Of the beautiful
in life was largely responsible for this
general culture among the Athenians.
There was the eveT-present appeal TO
the eye OF the citizen in the statuary.
the public buildings. and the public
groves or parks TO stimulate the labOrer.
as we'll as the academician. to study and
self-impTovement.
Thus far Washington has not entered
actively into the City Beautiful cam
paign. mainly for the reason that she is
already generally acknowledged the
most beautiful city in the New World.
The original scheme of the city's en-
gineer was such as to provide for num-
erous parks and squares in all sections
of the city Today, without the expendi-
ture of anything for the purchase of
property for park improvements, the
National Capital has system of recre-
alton grounds unexcelled by any capital
of anv nation. The Capitol building,
crowning Capitol Hill, looks down upon
long shaded avenues connecting squares
and parks beautihed by the horttcul-
turists. II is a new Parthenon, crown
ing the Acropolis OF a second Athens. so
far as the beauty of the squares and
parks are concerned.
While Cleveland and Boston are ex-
pending their millions in the laudable
enterprise of carrying out City Beau
tiful scheme Of their own, Washington
has its Mall. the scores Of squares.
shaded by giant trees. and incrusted
with setting OF beautiful plants and
flowers; also it's public grounds sur
rounding the Capitol building, the Pen
sion once. and Smithsonian Institution