The Washington herald., 1913-09-07

| JAMES BRYCE
Former Ambassador from Great Britain
university dedicated to three kinds OF
study-to theoretic science, to the arts
! and the artistic side of life" and to
what are called the human studies OF a
pathological, historical, and political Or
der. There is, of course. no reason why
you should limit your aspirations; but
J the more immediate need in this city is
not fer an institution fitting men to enter
upon any kind of technical work, in
manufacturing or mining of agricultural
industry, but for something Of differ
{ ent type.
Describes Proposed school.
You ought TO have a fully equipped
school OF law. a complete and well stated
school of political science. and OF eco
nomics, and herewith, also, a strong
school of history. You have already in
your government departments an -unusu-
ally large number OF eminent, industri-
Gus, and distinguished scientific men,
who are one Of the glories Of Washing
ton, and to match these you must also
have a like galaxy of men pursuing those
studies, such as history, economics. phi
lology, and law, which are the compile
ment OF scientific studies.
Through the liberality of private bene-
factors, with perhaps some aid from the
national government, II will surely be
found possible before long to carry out
the great idea which the first President
had when he urged that university
should be established in this city, which
was the darling thought and hope OF his
old age.
I have been invited by some of you to
make a few suggestions as to some OF
the things that may be considered with a
view to the Identification OF Washington
and the turning OF its natural advan-
tages to the best account
1t is hardly necessary to observe that
there ought to be some method of secur-
ing a measure of symmetry and harmony
in buildings. The public buildings 10 be
erected should not be planted haphazard.
Each building ought TO be placed with
some reference TO the others, so that
they will form, IL possible. a group to-
gether and all go to make up a good
, general effect.
Suggestion About Streets.
In the same way, when laying out the
streets, IL is proper to consider the lines
on which the streets may best be plan
med. so as to give the best scenic effect
and so as to open up the best vistas.
1t is well to make some streets unusually
wide. like Sixteenth Street. and to turn
! them in such n way that they shall give
the best northwestern and western even
ing lights, and. II possible, a little piece
I of landscape effect at the end. Nothing
J is more charming than to see a bit OF
green landscRpe-trees or a grassy slope
at the end of a long street vista. There
are some streets in the growing parts
of Wash 'ngton where that can be use
/ fully done.
I am far from suggesting that you
, should try to attain uniformity in your
/ buildings, because uniformity usually
ends in monotony. That can be seen in
the buildings of Paris. When the city
was largely rebuilt by Haussman in
\ Louis Napoleon's day. that error was
| committed. While many Of the boule-
wards OF that time are very handsome,
/ one gets tired of the repetition of the
! same designs and structure over and
/ over again.
There is no doubt something almost
grotesque in the manner in which pri-
vate houses are placed side by side here
\ in Washington-a large and handsome
| edifice, perhaps In the style of a French
chateau, by the side OF a mean little
! building of brick, or perhaps even Of a
wooden shack. A piece of casteIlated
! Romanesque in granite looks odd beside
colonial house in brick or stucco. Yet
even this oddity is a better plan than
the monotony OF modern Paris or the far
duller monotony Of Harley Street or
Cover Street in London.
To Improve the Parks.
When considering the beautifying of
| streets, something should be done to take
into account the possibilities in the little
open-spsce triangIes that you have here
| in Washington at the intersection of
| streets and avenues. They are very
pleasant places in the summer because
| they care green: but surely more might
| oe made in a decorative way of them.
| You need not perhaps put up any more
statues, but treat these corners in some
ornamental fashion, so as to give them
a greater landscape value than they have
at present.
Questions relating to the river and the
Potomac Park constitute a very large
| subject. You have, since the low ground
along the Potomac has been reclaimed, a
magnificent open space, and you have
running through II and spread out below
il on both sides of the island a magnifi-
cent expanse of. water that is perhaps
the strongest feature in Washington it.
self for scenic purposes. ...
Much thought ought to be given TO the
of the river, and possibly to the ground
on the other side also, il you ever gain
power to control the other side, so as to
produce the best scenic effects
I do not know whether any of you
have been in Calcutta. but IL so you will
remember the only fine feature Of that
rather uninterestng city is the broad
river and the very large, open grassy
park which is called the Madam, which
borders on it. The river Hooghly and
the Madam redeem Calcutta. This park
is sort of huge MADAM for Washing
ton. Ought not pains to be taken to
plant groups.of trees. some large groups
and more small groups, so as to give fine
combinations? One day these will grow
to the size of old forest trees and the
effect will be impressive. We must tak1
thought for even the distant future, for
we are trustees in this way for posterity,
and We want posterity 10 think well OF
US. Perhaps. too, a wild growth of
small shrubs and herbaceous wild flowers
might be encouraged over parts at least
OF the space, so as to make IL as much as
possible Ike a great natural park.
Care OF Anacostia River.
Some of the finest general prospects
Of Washington are to be had from those
hills on the other side Of the Anacostia