The Washington herald., 1907-01-20

y
Paris" but in our opinion Paris comes
considerably far next to Washington.
Only in certain parts of Paria have we seen
anything that compares with cur clean
streets our broad avenues, our wealth
of parks. trees, and flowers. We draw no
line. saying to the rich, you may live
here, where we will see that you have
well ordered neighborhood, pure air 70
breathe, and a lovely reservation for your
nurses and children. And to the poor,
you live yonder where we care little for
the sanitary condition, less for your COM
fort in hot weather. and less still whether
your little ones play on grass or railroad
tracks Washington has no miserable
slums where men, women, and children
live like rats, no reeking alleys where
Gods poor do not know that trees can
grow and flowers bloom.
Trolley Ride.
We start from the Capitol, passing down
Pennsylvania avenue, our national pride.
Nothing meets the eye but our best bust
ness houses and our most beautiful pub
lie buildings until We reach the river on
the other side Of Georgetown. Take an
other route, and We go through the fash
ionable center of the West End. then into
the old aristocratic neighborhood of
GEORGETOWN, again reaching the river
without one unsightly view. Start at the
Pennsylvania Railroad station. and fol-
lowing even the tracks we find them
bordered on both side with our loveliest
government grounds. We sit at the car
windows fascinated with the brilliant beds
Of tulips hyacinths, and scarlet geranium.
and before we are conscious Of having
left the city we are rolling past the lovely
lawn Of the navy yard. Take the trolley
and go as far as the wharves in one d.
rection, the Soldiers Home in another. or
Chew. Chase in still another; where does
the. eve meet anything but the same COM
bination Of beautiful trees, grass, and
flowers?
The weary laborer going home at night
has but to battle his face, eat his modest
dinner, and step just a few yards from
his little home 10 sit the evening under
the perfume OF locust tree. The mother
rolls her tiny teething baby asleep in the
carriage, to sit unmolested while her older
little ones play around her on the sweet
smelling grass In no other city are there
so few signs warning them 10 keep of,
and no burIy "cop" orders them TO be
gone! Just so long as they are orderly
they are allowed TO stay there and be
comfortable in their own way.
Grows IN Beauty.
And every year cur city gets more and
more beautiful. Minionaires from all
parts of the country are coming here to
rear magnificent residences, and the most
approved apartment houses are being
built every day The number Of our
parks is added to every year, and there
is a constantly increasing tendency to-
ward the beauty of bloom. Still there
is room for a great deal more.
We often wonder why some clever
architect Of apartment houses does not
give rs a structure somewhere in our
lovely suburbs, with the added beauty
and comfort of porches. Surely in our
city Of space we can afford this greatest
of luxuries. There are piles Of bricks
and mortar around US to-day rearing
themselves into the air, and yet Offering
TO their scores Of occupants just about six
feet of stone steps and perhaps two small
mer evenings. If not on the front, many
of these are built with 4 court in the rear,
around which might easily be added tier
after tier of balconies. giving TO each
family their own private outdoor space
where they could enjoy themselves and
their friends undisturbed by a neighbor.
Roof Gardens.
Then, too, what stride We will make
when we begin to put a roof garden on
every apartment house. Not necessarily
pretentious, but well ordered. comfort
able. and attractive. II is an established
fact that in uplifting the body we un-
consciously, but just so surely, Uplift the
mind Even the birds sing more glee-
fully when they are in the trees, and
just as soon rs We begin to live above
the street we are going TO have less nerv-
Gus prostration, less irritability, and less
suicide. After the din and toll of the
day. after the thousand and one worries
and perplexities. think Of the peace and
quiet of a big chair good cigar, the
perfume of potted plants. and the stars.
The whole world seems different to US.
the nerve force relaxes, and when bed
time comes we drop into a quiet sleep,
from which we awake refreshed and
strengthened for the next days work.
This charming custom was begun far
back IN the early ages; indeed. long be
fore the coming Of Christ History shows
us that the real home life of the Orient
was all on the roof, and in the homes of
the wealthy this particular part was fur
nished with rich rugs. luxurious couches,
and priceless vases filed with flowers.
No Room on Pavement.
To-day in modern Europe no gentle
mans home is complete without his inner
terrace or upper balcony. The streets
are given up to the swarming masses Of
the poor, and the more fortunate ones
rise above #. In striking contrast to this
is the habit Of our own country. Here
there is not room on the pavement for
those not in wholesome garment, and
they can claim on this part of the globe
only the narrow space occupied by their
two feet. Simply ride down the L road
in New York on a warm night. that ave
nue. Of want and untold wretchedness, and
we will find our roof gardens in all their
bitter irony giving a bit of comfort to the
dwelIsrs below. Many men drag their
pallet where the sun has baked all day.
mothers nurse their sick children and
coax an hours sleep for themselves ere
the dawn of day
The roof garden IS in its infancy. but it
is surely coming. and we will see the day
when not only theateTs, hotels, and apart
1nent houses, but private residences, will
consider them as necessary as the second
bathroom. Gasp, if you please, al such
an extravagant statement but we make
it, Just the same and we want our archi-
tects TO get 10 work. that Washington
may take the lead To-day in our con-