The Washington herald., 1908-02-27

Gentle Bossy win not Craze amid the
classic shades OF sixteenth street north
west nor win the hay wains creak slow
" and majestieally IN the well-wora ruts
Of White House road-that is to say. If
the petition OF sundry prominent residents
Of that revered thoroughfare be more
powerful in the Senate Of the United
States than the lone appeal Of one citizen
OF the District
some days ago a vOtary OF the simple
life. who finds the Capital Of the Ua,fed
States bit too urban for his peace OF
mind, peutioned the Senate to change tie
name OF Sixteenth street 10 White House
road. The Washington Herald. finding
therein an opportunity for relaxing It's
imagination. carefully pictured the future
Of that highway IL the petition o. the
lone. rurally disposed resident should pre-
vail With great facility Of expression
4 (and we say II IN all rnodesty) there was
conjured up a portrait Of the future. IN
which high-stepping steeds gave way 70
the faithful but Unlovely equine motive
power of the one-hoss shay; wherein
I
roadside. and in which the stately stride
OF United States senator's was displaced
by the easy all-day-t -to-get-there slouch OF
the traditional country pumpkin.
Sesy Dream Is Called For.
Alas. All this is changed Yesterday
a formidable petition. signed not by one
lone resident but by the members OF the
Woman's Sixteenth Street Improvement
Assoeiation-rising in their pretty pa
| triotism 70 defend the birthright OF their
! iancestors-and by numberless other resi-
dents OF that thoroughfare. was laid be
fore the Senate OF these United States
This is a land in which the majority rules,
and this majority is overwhelming. an
nihllating. submerging.
These patriotic citizens and citizenesses.
as the gallant French have it. decry the
suggestion that so rural a cognomen as
White House road should be inflicted upon
the Appian Way OF Washington. Down
with such retrogression is their slogan.
Far be IT from them to approve such a
suggestion. With Congress present IN the
| flesh 10 lend a semblance OF state 10 life
/ In tins fair city and with warriors In ali
their panoply parading its broad ave-
nues. slipping r. & s. in the windows
/ Of the Army and Navy Club. and en-
dangering their digestion by taking fifteen
mile rides on cart horses.
avenue of the PreSidents.v
Better far. in their opinion, 10 bear the
blessings we have. even though those bless
| ings be not unTnixed. than fly 10 evils that
We know not or But even better Tar. 20
change the name OF Sixteenth street 10
the Avenue n1 the Presidents.
There you have Il! Does not that state
/ ~ title suggest the Avenue OF the
SphynXes AT Delphi. or wherever the Ave
nue. or the Sphynxes may be2 Does Il not
call up IN the minds EYE the rushing
chariOts OF Rome in the days Of the
! Caesars2 What more fitting name could
be found for modern Appian Way7
! Let the imagination for moment dwell
upon the possibilities OF that name.
! At one end OF the thoroJ ghfare so dig
nihed. there might be a new Coliseum.
where the future Presidents could enter
tain japanese wrestlers more fittingly
| than in the Blue Room. and where male
! factors OF great wealth could be given A
chance for their lives II they would pIav
the parts OF The old gladiators to make
a Washington holiday.
Modern Memnon Provided.
! Whenever the less important thorough
fares crossed the august street. let there
be set the efiigy OF some one Of the for
mer Presidents. each fashioned in the
mold Of one Of the great gods OF the an
clients. And al the other end. without
any special appropriation for the purpose.
supposing that the third-term talk should
be verified, there would dwell a living.
breathing replica Of the musical Memnon.
giving voice to some new doctrine with
every passing breeze OF public need
] Still. Il is somewhat questionable
whether such a high.sounding name could
run the gauntlet Of the true servants OF
the people in the House. II carries too
strong a suggestion of the purple to suit
the democratic notions Of some Of those
gentlemen. II may be White House road
yet, after all.