The Washington herald., 1908-02-18

Now let The shades of the departed
Presidents Of this great and gullorious
republic (see any campaign Grafton Tor
this classic expression arise In their
wrath.
Yea, even We marble replicas thereof,
both those which are and those which
are to be, quicken into life. call mass
meeting, have a tOrchlight procession
through the boulevards OF this ancient
seat of liberty and the rights of all. and
formulate petition 10 Congress. CThese
same replicas be it parenthetically re-
marked. are the only residents who have
not forwarded such petition.)
And 10, All We Of noble lineage and
great riches, who dwell IN Sixteenth
street. arise in the might OF your infiu-
enee, and lend your voices 20 the chorus,
For behold, your birthrisht IS about 20
be sold for a mess OF pottage
Wherefore this trumpe, note. this clar-
ion call to arms? Why this diatribe
against impending wrong? Whence this
manifesto 10 the truly great?
APPian Way in Danger.
Behold, it is even now proposed TO drag
i'm the mirc OF the commonplace the prid.
of Washington It is proposed TO besmirch
the fame Of the most noble thoroughfare
in the City of the Disfranchised. It is
proposed 10 topple from the pedestal Of
future achievements that euphonious
name-to-be, The Avenue Of The Presi-
dents. and in lieu thereof to substitute
"a cognomen for Sixteenth street which
would grace a rural crossroads. but dis
grace the Appian Way OF the greatest
Capital in Christendom.
Smile not. nor delay the lighting Of the
torch that shall arouse the multitude of
dwellers in Sixteenth street. for this fell
stroke is aimed directly at their future
hopes. For behold, even yesterday did
the Senate Of these United States (of this
L. S. as you Wild receive a petition in
due form. praying that honorable body 10
change the name Of Sixteenth street to-
no, not to the Avenue OF the Presidents
nor yet to Lafayette avenUc-but to White
House road
Road-contemplatc it. digest it. cogitate
upon it-road-and then let the fires Of
wrath be loosed,
Dire Spectcr of the Future.
What a picture doth that title call up,
Hank and Eliza. in their one-hoss shay.
driving leisurely along that noble thor
oughfare once thought destined 20 be the
pride of the ages as the Avenue or the
Presidents, with marble efHgies of Mr.
ROOsevelts lesser predecessors at every
crossing, A country general store at
every crossroads. where once the minds
Of Westinghouse had pictured marble
palaces Gentle Bessie grazing. Iimpid
eyed, az the roadside, along which once
had coursed the Eaily Caparisoned.
housekeeping steeds who draw milady's
chariot! Sweet-smelIing loads of hay
passing along in the well-worn ruts.
where once. over smooth asphalt. had
gone the stylish limousine Of a captain of
industry, Store-box politicians strolling
casually in the dead footprints of the
Senators OF the latter-day Rome, An
this, and more. Macaulay's picture OF
the future Of London would pale into in
significance beside such iconOlcasm.
Perish the Thought, Indeed!
Sound the trumpet once more-let the
hosts arise and march TO The Capitol: let
the habitual protestants sign their petit
tons; let the jewellers in the palaces
flock TO the committee rooms. and let all
Join in the singing OF the professional at
the funeral OF this socialistic-nay, this
anarchistic suggestion.