The Washington times., 1911-11-25
CAPITALS BEAUTY
TOLD BY WRITER IN
ID[CEMBER MUNSEYS
Leading Article in Magazine
Out Today Entitled THE
New Washington"

That Washington is even now a great
residential city; that II is soon to be-
s come the most beautiful capital in the
world, and that 1t is the only sthc.ly
residential city In the country are some
of the assertions made by Isaac Marcos.
son, in the leading article in Mpnsey q
Magazine for December, out today.
Almost without the knowledge of the
lest of the country-certainly witholt
realization by the mass of the people"
writes Mr.. Marcosscn. there has risen
x ON the shore OF the Potomac a splendid
2 city, which, aside from being the thea
{ ter Of the nations political life. is in
reality the only strictly residential COM
{, munity that we have.
Fl Thus 1t seems worth while to pause
z In the midst of the majestic din Of z r
clashing pr rogress and all the turmoil Of
an era of universal unrest to conter,-
!. plate the really noble spectacle that
Washington presents, both in the city
that Is. and, what Is more important
, in the kindling and artistic vision of it's
future: For its destiny is to become a
! spiration If that fer-reacking spirit Of
!. harmonious and civic betterment which
IS one of the first End foremost factors
OF our whole uplift."
q "The New Washington"
THE New Washington is the title OF
the story in which Marcosson tells
about the struggle of the Cinderella Of
capitals and of the great future which
even now is making its realization eri-
dent.
Tracing the history of the foundation
and growth of the city and paying q
high tribute to Major L'Enfant. the
writer, leads to what he terms the
''great awakening" when in 1900 tho
centennial celebration of the establish
ment of the seat OF Government en-
the Potomac was held, and when the
Keynote was sounded at a meeting of
the American Institute Of Architects
held in Washington in the declaration
that the Improvement of the city should
be undertaken sin a. manner and to an
extent commensurate with the dignity
''This declaration" says the writer.
was a big step toward the real ma
tional Interpretation of Washington, In
the sense that It is the capital Of all
our people, who really share In its citi-
zenship and In the pride Of its achieve
ment
,"Nor did this declaration merely ex-
sentinent. The concrete result was a
Resolution introduced by Senator Mac
MILAN, and later adopted. for the ap-
pointment Of a commission Of experts
to formulate plans for the development
of Washington. On this commission
were Daniel H. Burnham, builder Of
the Chicago Worlds Fair and other
great projects; Frederick Law olmsted,
gustus st. Gaudens, our foremost sculp-
tor. and Charles F.. McKim, the distin--
guished architect. These men formed
commission, and under their direction
the Capital City. has had new birth
of civic beauty"
Lincoln Memorial.
The park commissions plan fs then
fully developed. AS part of the scheme
Mr.. Marcosson describes the plans for
the Lincoln Memorial on the axis Of
the Mall, asserting that this location
has been indorsed by practically the
whole artistic world, particularly that
part of 1t which deals with harmonious
city building and ornamentation."
"Washington is fast becoming a great
cludes, and a social center Of unique
charm. Scores of millionaires are estab-
fishing imposing residences OF its ave-
R ian and cfors Slpfe @ i0T IN necsnn 81 t1ey
bone without contact with the CRIME.
sordidness. and congestion Of metro
politan centers. Life lacks the hectic
whole atmosphere Of washington is
serene and restful, and in spring and
summer presents more the appearance
OF vast country place than a COM
,munity Of 100000 persons. >
Here, however, You get a circle of
culture and distinction. recruited from
the brilliant group of scientists that the
Government has assembled for its tech
nical departments, from the ranks of
retired army and navy Officers, and
from the diplomatic representatives of
two score foreign powers. Nowhere else
In the country does society present so
picturesque and cosmopolitan aspect.
Closely allied with these groups is the
painters. and sculptors who find Wash
ington a congenial field for research.
meditation. and happy labor. The city
Is fulfilling her esthetic destiny. In the
evidences of the finer arts she is ad-
equately endowned.
Civic Affairs Different.
+ THE conduct of Washington's civic
affairs Is essentially different from that
which obtains in any other American
municipality. The city has no mayor,
no council, no elections. Authority il
vested in three Commissioners, named
by the President and approved by the
senate. Congress makes the appropria-
ttons and pays half the expenses, the
other half being raised by taxation.
"Thus Washington sits amid her
gardens and her memorials, the focus
OF national sentiment, worthy symbol
OF the sovereignty of a great republic,
Yet what she needs quite as much as
the fine conception Of archite ctural har-
mony which have tried to describe
is FEELING on the part Of all the people
that she is their CAPITAL, the center and
1nSDiratiOD OF Their. national ufo