Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-21
PRAISED CAPITAL CITY.
BEAUTIFIcATIoN OF WAsHINo.
TON NOTED AT MEETING.

Picturesque Washington was the theme OF
several interesting talks Saturday night at
an anniversary meeting Of the members OF
the last inaugural committee on street deco
rations. The gathering was at the new
rooms Of the committee, 170A 6 street.
Several papers were read bearing upon
the past and present Of the fast growing
capital city. Afterward buffet lunch was
served by the chairman.
The rooms were tastefully decorated with
plants. pictures. drawings. flags and
statuettes, all bearing appropriately upon
the work Of the committee.
Mr.. George H. Brown. landscape arch.-
tect, said to be the Oldest in this country.
and at present in charge Of the floral dec
orations Of the White House. as well as our
many parks. gave graphic description OF
the early beginning here in the f1fties of the
street and park development and beautifi-
He stated that Mr.. Browning. his predeces-
sor. began here the first comprehensive plan
for park work in this country.
Later. tn 1868. he began the work OF lay
expense to that city. Mr.. Brown also read
some statistics from Boston and other cities
showing cOnclusively that every dollar spent
by municipality upon highways and parks
ways aside from an increased valuation
upon all surrounding real estate and many
times greater than the cost Of the esthetic
Improvement.
Carnegie institution.
Mr.. John w. Writ Of the Carnegie In
stitution. Washington, read a paper upon
the work Of that institution here. and
stated that few people were aware Of the
many thousands Of dollars spent annually
in one way and another toward henefiting
this city. He also gave glowing de-
scription Of the institutions new building.
soon to be erected upon the site on 18th
street. and that the designs lately pre-.
pared by Messrs. Carriere & Hastings of
Hartford will show a building as well up
in artistic merit as any other creation on
our streets in recent years.
Mr.. John D. Hall read paper upon the
subject Of the Proper Use OF the American
Flag" He stated that no mechanical device
should be used in connection with the flag.
and that 1t should always "be raised and
lowered by the hand and by the will of
man." Also that very few people were
aware Of the proper use of the nag and
that when their attention was called to 1t
they generally agreed in giving 1t proper
respect.
Treatment Of National Colors.
Mr.. Frederick D. Owen, chairman of the
committee, closed with some additional
thoughts upon this subject. stating that the
flag should never be nailed down. as to a
WIDOW, wall, raining VI Stduu, out IL SuCh
decorations were desired, bunting should be
used, and not the American flag.
The flag, If used for decorative purposes
should be allowed to hang gracefully, SO
that, II caught by a breeze, it could wave
out to show its design and what 1t stands
for.
ut would be just as inappropriate to
keep our good American eagle in a cage as
to pin the flag down." he said. Both
should be allowed to float out on the
breezes far above, as was intended This
feature alone, If properly carried out along
any one of our thoroughfares on festival
days, would add greatly to the effective
ness of the use of our flag"