Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19

make the generations to come view these
structures with the same relative feeling
that We of the present day view the first
government buildings of the Capital city.
To the unthoughtful. the wide disparity
In the cost and character of the new
buildings which will serve as Offices to
the legislative branch of the government
and of that which houses the chief exec
utive OF the country is a matter of Sc
rOus concern, perhaps of condemnation.
But in this. as in other things the soul
OF the architect is manifest in his struct-
ural poems. and the wise and thoughtful
will comprehend that the spirit of the
nation is thus typified. the nation that
mocracy of the people rather than that
which might typify the monarch.
Typical Classic Grandeur.
Thus has it always been-the classic
grandeur of it's architecture is typical IF
the people and the nation it represents. a
thought which is unintelligible to the ig-
norant and seemingly not often recognized
by the average citizen of high intelli-
gence. Thus. too, should 1t be with all
plans and designs for the development of
the beauty of the capital of this great
nation. They must and should be always
vast. comprehensive and symbolicaL To
the other cities ii may be given to shine
in the glory of their manufacturing or
and ever must be the heart of a great
nation. and in its general design and In
its monuments worthily represent. in the
noblest types Of architectural develop
ment. the greatness OF the American peo-
pie and the strength culture and wealth
of their mighty republic.
ITO the eye that carefully notices, the
same line of development is apparent in
the cOstlier private homes that have been
and are being erected in this CITY. from
nf he nefo
of years ago to the French and Italian
types of the palatial residence Just COM
pleted on the brow of the 18th street hill
Running through them all. from the ear
Hest period. is noticed the same charac-
terstic development with reference to
the epoch, the standards of thought and
the taste of the periods they represent
Unconsciously. perhaps. but nevertheless
certainly, the great thought of the nal ton
finds its reflex in the taste and senti-
mentS of the individual units which COM
pose it
Semi-Public Buildings.
Speoking of the architecture OF the public
and semi-public buildings of WASHINGTON.
especially those of recent construction.
Mr.. Waddy B. Wood of Wood, Dom &
Deming. says is surpasses that Of any
other city in the country: and architects
are beginning to realize that the architec-
ture OF the more pretentious Residential
structures stands in the same plane Take
a survey, said he, of 18th street. from r
street northward. Where will you find in
such short space so many handsome struc-
lures with architectural features to COM
pare with these new edifices of our
'WashinStons Wall Street, Beginning
with the imposing front of the new Met
ropolitan National Bank building an emil
nently fit companion to the classic Treas
ury Department building across the street:
then the massive classic edifice of the
American Security and Trust Company.
at the corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
18th street: the ornate and beautiful
structure recently erected for w. B. Hib5s
& Co. one of the most completely
appointed structures o. its kind anywhere:
followed by the assic gem that will
house the firm Of the Swartzell. Rheem &
Hensey Company. and now almost COM
the finest examples OF classic architecture
for the purpose to which II is adapted
that can be found in the world the Union
Trust Company's new home which for
simplicity of style and classic grandeur
cannot be su: passed by even the stately
public buildings upon which the govern
ment has lavished the best there is in
art and workmanship, with little regard
for cost.
Nv .Iy," said Mr.. Wood within this
little stretch of two squares. practically,
are gathered more magnificent structures
than can be found within SO short a dis
tance of each other I'm any city in the
world. They represent an expenditure OF
millions of do lars Of private capital. and
higher types of classic architecture. Ii
is notable fact that the Union Trust
Companys building. which has called |
forth So much admiration is the first