The Washington herald., 1911-03-05

tent of territory, which, formerly un.
adapted to any useful purpose, has OF
late, under the broad-minded system
adopted, been reclaimed for the enjoy
ment of the people; and with smaller
streams on both the east and west, an
opportunity is presented of extepding the
park system in a way which possibly nc
other city in the country can enjoy. Un-
happily, the recognition of these advsn-
tages was not sufficient in past years to
enable the requisite tracts of land to be
secured, and beautiful strips OF wood
land which ran down into the city, and
might have been secured at the time
with small expense, were allowed to slip
Rom the possession of the people.
Certain portions, however. still remain,
and there runs througifthe city to-day
a stream which il now preserved Will
furnish a connecting link of parks be-
tween the Rock Creek Park to the north
of tho city and the Potomac Park to the
south To the eye Of tn" initiated, ROCK
Creek in certain portions of its course Is
little more than a sewer and dumping
ground. yet to the eye of the landscape
architect and even to the eve OF one
who laws no claim to technical knowl-
edge, but only has some little innate
appreciation of the beauty of harmonious
proportions, this natural feature of the
Washington landscape could be refnstated
and made one of the most beautiful of
all the features of outdoor Washington.
Already the upper portion of the
stream, which but few years ago was
only muddy creek, has been restored
to its natural condition, and is, possibly,
the favorite drive for Washington people
who wish to get into the country. Al
ready the sewage which once polluted the
lower portion has been diverted. and this
section of the stream only awaits the
action of Congress to change what is to-
day one of the chief blemishes of the
Capital into what will be one of its chief
beauties. 1 venture to say that there is
in no capital in Europe stream which
presents such natural beauties and holds
forth such an opportunity for the people
as this stream, which, running for miles
through government park, to be lost
amid dump heaps, suddenly emerges
again like the fountain of Arethusa in
the midst OF beauty and charm.
THE advantages and, indeed. the ne
cessity of such a connecting link between
the parks to the north and the south of
the city are too obvious to require argu-
ment. The Capital of the nation, instead
of tagging behind in the matter of parks,
should lead in this as in all other re-
quirements of a great modern city. But
this is merely incidental. The true prin-
ciple is that this Capital of our people
should represent to them what Athens
was to Greece; what Rome was to Italy"
Approved Fine Arts Council.
In addition to exhibitions and lectures
which are primarily educative, the Wash
ington Society of the Fine Arts concerns
itself with all meters pertaining TO the
art Of ha cff1 he T1nPatinU
in January, 1909 resolutions were passed
concurring with the American Institute
of Architects in protesting against the
acceptance of any site for the memorial
to Lincoln other than that selected by
the park commission, and approval was
unanimously voted of the action of Pres
ident Roosevelt in the appointment of
a fine arts council in February 1909.
On May 4, 1910. an open meeting was
held at Continental Memorial Hall in the
interest of the betterment Of Washing
ton, at which addresses were made by
Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page on Art in
Washington, by Mai. ". V. Judson, on
Municipal art" by Mr. Glenn Brown,
on What the citizen can do" by Hon.
Fl. 3. +. Macfarland. on Washington
Fairgrounds" by Mr.. David Fairchild.
Mechlin. on the Decoration of public
Schools and by Mr.. +. ID. ,Millet, on
The American federation Of arts"
About one thousand persons were in
attendance.
1t is proposed to hold a similar meet
ing this spring and through special COM
mittees to make further investigation
into and report upon subjects of equally
vital interest and Importance, as directly
influencing the welfare of Washington.
The officers and principal committees
Of the society are as follows:
President-Thomas Nelson Page.
First vice president-Hcan JenningS
Second vice presideut-Glenn Brown.
SecretaTy-Leila Mechln.
Treasurer-George Y. McLanahan.
Members-at-Iargn OF the cDuncil-Charles J. Bell
lex oficio). William H. Holmes lex oficol. Archi-
bald Hopkins A. ]. Parsons. T. Wayland Vaughan.
Richard y. Brooke James Rush Marshall. James
VI. Johnston. David Fairchild. and Arnold Hague.
Executive committee-T. n. Page. Glenn Brown,
James Ruch Marshall, Leila Mechln, and A. ].
Parsons
Committee on admissions-willizm H. Holmes T.
wayiand Vaughan. +. W. Parker, Archibald Hop
kris. and Arnold Hague
Committee on lectureS-Leia Mechlin. George F.
Bowerman. T. Wayland Vaughan, e. Powell Mini
gerode. and May Taylor-Ams.
Committee exhibitions-WIlam II. Holmes,
James Henry Moser. A. J. Parsons. Richard n.
Brooke, and Gist Blair
Committee on civic art-Glenn Brown. Hennen
Jennings, DIR. Arthur MstheSson- David Fairchild.
J. r. Marshall George 4. King. Fred A Keep,
Mrs. Samuel +. Emmons. Mrs A. c. Barney, Mrs
S. A. Willis Herbert Wadswuth, and Alpheus II.
Snow.
T ON CIVIC APT