Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20

Why have FENCES 10 city odch ydius
Why should the interior of the city blocks
be filled with boards SO as to resemble
a lumber yard? No doubt a large proper
ton OF those who live in the city, and
have lived there the better part of their
lives, know OF no other outlook from
the rear windows of their houses than
irregular and humry and wavy lines OF
boards. Even in pi,. ,es that do not rise
to the dignity of the size of cities prop
erty lines are marked by the board fence.
In fact. some sort of a fence about ones
possessions appears to be regarded as es-
sential to the continuance of the title.
Outside OF the custom and usage 1t is
prettv hard to find a reason for such
attachments to dwellings at this age OF
the world. Geese and hogs and cattle
No longer are allowed to roam at VIII
,,ror,b the city streets and the reSula-
, lions hardly permit these useful animals
10 live at all in the city, to say hotlihs
of ROSTERS and hens. There is nothihs
wandering about the streets OF tne
AVERAGE city to be kept out, but posslniy
there NAV be something to be kept IN
What the latter is, In some cases. az
least, was discovered by W. +. S hani,on,
OF Middaugh & Shannon. THESE oulioeIs
of homes some two years ago came 70
the conclusion that the high. close poaId
fence was a useless expense In the oulu-
ing OF houses, but what was or more con-
sequence TO them, 1T was also lnsahita.S
and ugly, so that they did away with
the fence, or rather they opened 1t up
ana rghtened its effect by substituting
palings. ,... ,,-
sale With the back yards separated oy
paling fence, one of the prospective buy
ers whose sex is shown by the character
of the criticism, objected to the open
work OF the fence, for the reason that
ID fhn
would see the weekly wash. The exposure
Of the wash was too much Tor TINS
woman and so she did not buy the mousse.
and at that time there were others VINO
missed what they had always been &C
.-ustomed 10 when they looked out from
the rear OF their homes. The change IN
the kind Of fence did not suit them, ana
they no doubt secured houses Where .ne
rear Yards were completely inciosed
Buyers Change Their Views.
But this happened two years ago. Mid
dsush & shannon were so thoroughly
convinced that to let sunlight into the
back yards, to change the lumber yard
effect and make the rear Of houses more
slightly was a desirable change that they
continued to use palings instead OF
boards 50 that today the buyers don't
seem to want anything else. But now
adays the houses which these builders
erect are not the only ones that have
their back yards free TO the sunlight.
other builders are doing the same thing
and the prospect is that the next gen
Grafton will hardly know what back
fence was In its day OF power.
Ii is noted also by those who have
watched this change that the open treat
ment. as it might be termed, has had
great influence upon the degree OF atten-
tion which has been given TO the care OF
the spaces in the rear of dwellings. A
line of flowers or foliage plants Is often
H.
plots arc set of with flower beds. Then
come the porches overlooking these
breathing places. All these changes. to-
gether with the general improvement in
the appearance OF all the back yards.
rive 10 the interior OF city square
something Of the grace and beauty Of a
park.
n any one can find even a suggestion
OF ANYTHING that is beautiful or attract
i've IN the scene presented within the
average city square with the old-time
tight board fences. seven and eisht teet
high. then IL Is high time TO rise up and
speak q word. for the old order appears 10
be passing rapidly away
The notice retoics at such prospect
or at least they should. because they get
lid OF an obstruction 10 the detection OF
crime and the capture OF the guilty ones
With the old high fences done away with
there is no place TO hide. and in conse'
auence there Is nothing to hide Within
The interior Of squares. wn ma, suen "a
resident in health and comfort II would
be hard to estimate.
The Esthetic Side.
There is another side to this situation
aud that is the influence upon resident,
of bcautifying the vicinity OF their homes
II is said that neutrality-suspicious.
is the technical word-havc a great dea
TO do with character and habits. and II
that in the case there can be no question
Of an elevation in the level of the stand
ard Of living, both physically and morally
in the case Of people who have emerged
from the period Of q series Of oblonl
blocks bristiing with boards to q success
sion Of lawns.
Ne is a case Of cooperative living wher
one welI-kept back yard adds its quota Il
the contribution Of beauty which comes
from the entire neighborhood, so that TIT
rear of houses looks Just as well As TIT
fronts. with their smooth stretches o.
narkipr. which each householder keeps II
order. When the houses stand detached