Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
believed would mark the ultimate limit

believed would mark the ultimate limit
Of the city's expansion.
But those who came after l. Enfant saw
the possibilities of development from the
lines he laid down, and the suggestive
idea of the City Beautiful as revealed
in his plans brought forth fruits for the
generations TO come. 1t was not long be-
fore others builded upon the ideas SIG
quick evolution from even Washins ton
himself, began the development of the
plan which was only partially outlined in
the conception of l. Enfant. In the early
days the limited resources Of the national
government hampered that development.
and. in a few instances evidenced by the
sale to private individuals. of whole
squares that had originally been reserved
for the use of the national government.
actually put stumbling blocks in the way
of it's realization that have ever since
been hard to remove.
Formative Period.
The formative period of the nation had
for its uppermost idea the attainment only
of what was absolutely necessary. Then
followed the political agitations which ha ]
the civil war for an outcome. and this
retarded the progress towards the City
Beautiful. Finally when the great war
was ended and the people were again
united. tle struggle TO pay of the great
debt of the nation and the struggle or
the individual to catch up the broken
thread of life and business were the dis
fractions that detracted from the realiza-
ton of the hopes for a City Beautiful.
What had been the struggle of the indi-
vidual became the struggle of the diner
ent sections of the country toward SUI
premacy In the ranks of commerce, and
beauty Of environment and design WAS
still postponed. All these epochs were but
NUT atoms in the evolution of a great peo-
pie toward compact. mighty nation.
are here for the realization Of hopes that
have been kept alive through the more
than century of our municipal existence
by Jealous. faithful. patient. far-seeing
men. who have never once lost sight OF
the fact that the glory of the nation must
be reflected in the glory Of its capital.
Each year sees new and almost start
ling developments along that line. Each
year finds new provision for broad and
beautiful parks. magnificent roadways
and classical structures for the housing
of the heart of the great nation. There
will always be those vino. through pro-
vincial ignorance. selfshness or jealousy
will find cause for oostructing the onward
march of progress toward the realization
of the hopes of the citys true founders:
but each year will see Them more and
more. swallowed up In the higher educa-
tion of the people which will give full ..p-
probation to the situation and rise to
meet the demands of a great and glorious
nation.
Director Recedes From View.
Each succeeding Congress shows the de-
cline of the chronic objector to improve
ments for the National capital-the man
who has no thought above his own 'dees-
tr.ct' and his own constituents: the man
who measures the resources of this great
country by his own accumulat tons in the
country savings bank and his own needs
in his quiet village home. Travel has be-
come so easily within the r.ach of all
that nearly everybody gets away from his
into the broadening sphere of influence of
the world at large. Citiz Ems not only see
their own states, but gradually get to see
those which adJOin them. and thus wider
and wider becomes their knowledge Of the
word at large. With this knowl edge. II
may be stated. comes .truer and more
lasting patriotism that Shows itself not
only on the field of battle. If needs be- but
in the love for and devotion to their
country In way that imp.ls the desire
to see her lead the nations of the earth in
everything. Patriotism In this sense is
conceded 70 be stronger today than 1T has
ever been. Its influence is manifested in
of measures affecting the welfare of
Washington. although. perhaps, not to
the extent that II should be.
The vast majority of the national legis-
latOrs. b. it said TO heir honor and credit
have long since ris IN to the heights from
which they can and do build I'D the beau
ty and & ory of Washington, not only for
into the future. because Washington typi-
fies the nation, and nothing is too good
for the nation. The man who finds in an
other city courthouse handsomer than
the one at home feels just q Bit sad that
his Is not better,