Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-25
VARIOUS AGENTS AT WORK
Interest Aroused in Having the Lawns
Trimmed.
WINDOW BOXES ARE ADVOCATED
Ways in Which Public Aid Is Sought
In Carrying Out Plans for
City's Benefit.

The interest manifested in the city where
one resides In the advancement of its ma .
terial prosperity. to say nothing OF the
moral. educational and aesthetic phases, Is
what il called civic spirit. To be willing to
give time and thought to the welfare OF the
community In which one lives Is spoken
of as an uncommon characteristic Of the .
residents OF the average American city. In
fact. one explanation given for the corrup-
ton and inefficiency which are said to mark ;
city government in this country Is attrbut-
ed to this very lack on the part of citizens
and to their absorption In their own AFFAIRS
to the exclusion OF the business of the
community.
While in recent days there has been an
awakening all along the line on this SUBJ
ject. and reform movement and reform oan-
didates are cropping out here and there.
1t has become by no means general. and
there is still ground for the criticism OF
the American people that In the govern
ment Of cities they display tendency to
turn the active management OF public af-
fairs over to those who do not have the
most disinterested motives In the world in
the service they give to the public.
As to Civic Spirit
In this city things are done differently.
although It Is not claimed that the civic
spirit here could not be more general and
proud that in so many ways there is mani
Tested on the part Of citizens a constant
and hearty disposition to perform public
service and to do things that will prove to
be Of benefit to the entire community,
At this time of the year such DISPOSE
ton finds natural stimulus in the grad
ua.ly developing beauty Of the city as Its
spring garb Is assumed. There Is no aues-
tion that all the wealth OF foliage in its
soft shades of green and the lawns and
Shrnhberv and flowers that found lining
the streets and adorning the parks by their
very beauty arouse a desire on the part
of large number Of people to make the
contribution which man can furnish to
this magnificent total as complete and as
harmonious as possible. Hence II Is that
citizens associations are moved to oner
have the most attractively kept parking or
lawn In front Of his house.
As to window Boxes.
It Is for such reason. no doubt. that an
organization 10 In existence which con-
siders at It's meetings methods and plans
for adding to the attractiveness Of the
city. At a recent gathering the subject OF
providing window boxes for private houses
was discussed, and the effect of .adoruing
the fronts Of houses with graceful hanging
gardens In miniatur was brought out and
the people generally recommended to adopt
such a feature at their homes
As is often the case, q suggestion OF this
sort ID Gil IlaI Is neeQeO, as u large
Der of householders are perfectly willing
to improve the surroundings of their homes
II any way occurs to them to do It, The
members Of an organization OF this kind
can, in a measure. do the thinking for their
fellow-citizens along such lines with bene-
At to themselves az well as to the city. E..
Forming Public Sentiment.
Then there is another organization that
seeks to have the improvement of the city
proceed on broad lines, such, for example
as are laid down in the report of the park
ing commission. Various features of that
plan are taken up and by means or Illus
trated public talks and public discussions
the merits Of the proposed changes are
made apparent to the public. and In this
way a public sentiment Is created, so that
when the time comes for consideration by
Congress the members Of that body ma
a substantiaI public sentiment behind the
proposed legislation.
BY such methods a good deal of informa-
ton has been made general relative to the
ways that have been proposed for adapting
the gorge of Rock creek, within the city
limits, to the present conditions. In any
point Of view this must be recognised a.
matter Of great Importance to the city ana
its future, and for that reason II must be
conceded that the fullest consideration
ought to be given to II before q final de-
cisiofi IL reached. -'
Relation to Congress-.
An awakened interest on the. part Of the
people of the city In what is being done
not merely in the vicinity Of their particular
holdings. but generally throughout the city,
Is undoubtedly specially helpful In Washing
ton where as In no other city the influence OF
what the people think bears more directly
on the local legislators. AS the members
of both houses Of Congress form the latter
body In this District. and as they come In
contact with citizens of the District In a
social and personal manner, their -opportu-
mites of learning the feelings of the people
on any matter occupying their attention are
exceptional
AS Is well known. it Is difficult to secure
from Congress any legislation which does
not receive the sanction quite generally of
the residents of the District, and that Is
no doubt due to the Intimate relations which
exist here between the governed and the
governors. There Is another consideration
in this connection. and that is the added re-
sponsibility attached to citizenship in this
District owing to that very state of things.