The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23
Progress and Beauty


cresse in wealth and population.
What a pity It is that civic progress
and civic beauty should not always
keep pace. the one with the other.
In middle nineteenth century days.
William Makepeace Thackeray, whose
Tooth anniversary is being kept all
over tho civilized world during the
present year, visited Richmond and
spoke of 1t as the "cheerlest. pictur-
esquest little town in America"
In a few Richmond gardens and
yards that have remained until now to
gladden. the eye and give some color
and clue to Thackeray's meaning the
cream white OF micro phyllas are maxi
ting charming contrasts against the
dark and shining green OF magnolia
plumage. The wistarias are twinins
and climbing, and the tendrils of the
Virginia creeper are swaying here and
there, wherever the midsummer breezes
are blowing. The box borders are CIV
ing out pungent doors to the kiss of
the sun. and the scarlet sage is maxi
Ing ready to open it's vivid scarlet pet
ais to crown the midsummer riot OF
bloom
Decline OF Picturcsqueners.
The decline OF the picturesqueness OF
Richmond. It must be admitted. how
ever began with its growth. Some of
At went with the FIRE which was part
OF the horror attendant upon "Evacu-
alton Day" in April OF 1865. But for
many years afterward through the
yeventies and the eighties. Richmond.
while pushing steadily westward. kept
intact the grateful overshadowing of
her noble trees. Her parks and public
squares were trinity managed. and the
gystem OF ornamentation which rem
dered them above everything else at
tractive TO the eye and credit TO the
municipal government which founded
and maintained them was well suE-
tn!ned Clay and Leigh and Marshall
Streets, from First to Twelfth. were
filled with beautiful homes. surrounded
with yards full OF lovely flowers and
shrubhcry.
Church HnI repeated the pleasing
story OF other city sections. and Grace
and Franklin Streets were the abode
of substantial, unpretentious gentle
room and yard spaciousness to sacrifice
such prime aids to comfort and artistic
effect
Palm Period of City Hintory.
Plenty OF women now living in Rich
fnond can recall the palmy period of
city history when the Brooks Mimi
gerodes. Warwicks, Carys. Lancasters.
Maurys, Grants. Purcells. Webbs. Clai-
bornes, Hanewinckels. Bookers. Eggle-
nd
and Leigh neighborhoods famous for
their hospitality and their charming
environment.
Beginning at the Capitol Square and
continuing west. Grace and Franklin
and Cary residences bespoke the refined
tastes OF their delightful indwellers.
Scarcely a home was so small and so
cramped as not to boast of some effort
at out-of door decoration in the way
of flowers and shrubs. The streets,
indEsst.. =, whole city. reflected the
character and tastes of Richmond peo-
pie.
Virginians are rightly characterized
as being lovers of their State, as be-
ing TO a high degree patriotic Ger
tainly. however, If. feelings are ex-
pressed rather In deeds than in words,
twentieth century Virginians must have
declined in patriotism. for the Capitol
asset and one pridefully looked after.
Is now given over to neglect and de-
cay uncarcd for and intended
Shade Trees Sacrificed.
The shade trees which adorned the
streets and hung over the sidewalks or
the city have in many instances been
ruth!essly sacrificed to the march or
progress.
Buildings Of good appearance and size
cant business houses erected on their
sites. Gardens full of the sweetest
o!d-fashioned flowers. shrubs and vines
have been effaced by the puttins up OF
apartments or tenements wedged on
against another without regard to
anything except the commercial value
OF an investment
1t does seem. even IL progress is 900
commercialized to be anything hui 80.
ceedngly ugly, that It might go for
ward without an entire disregard of
sanitary conditions and an entire sac
rince of whatever contributes mos, To
ithe good looks of city
building Should BE Better Mspnced.
1t does seem that building need not
necessarily involve extreme disorder.
extreme dust nuisance and the block
Ing of the streets for months AZ a
time 1t does seem that building might
ne carried on with less unsightliness
and more system II 1t were properly
managed.
To return to one last word in behalf
OF the trees. There are few enough of
eaem left. Utter indifference and utter
misuse Will. after while leave Rich
mond treeless. y tree is a friend and
In behalf of the tree the attention OF
the City Fathers is invoked before il
is too late
The trees within the Square are the
property Of the State. and 1t is hoped
mat the General Assembly OF 1912 will
give them the attention they so sorely
need-attention they have needed and
failed to receive for years past.
Life La Ton Ghnrt