Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-28

"You have such an opportunity here for
doing great things that it would be un-
grateful to Providence and to history and
to the men who placed the city here if
you did not take advantage of it,"
This statement. made by Ambassador
James Bryce of Great Britain. in an ad-
dress last night before the committee of
one hundred on the future development
of Washington. voices the sentiment of
the members Of the committee who today
are planning a nationwide campaign to
arouse patriotic interest in the beautify-
ing Of the capital until it shall become
the model city of the world.
Ambassador Bryce and Justice Wendell
p Stafford Of the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia were the principal
speakers at the meeting of the committee.
which was held at the residence of Ar
thur Jeffrey Parsons. 18th and r streets
northwest. Glenn Brown, chairman of
the committee. presided.
Washington was declared by Ambassa-
dor Bryce to be surrounded by more beau
tiful scenery than is any great city in
Europe The interest which he has taken
in the affairs Of the municipality during
his residence Of six years here was never
more clearly demonstrated than in his
has thorough knowledge of local condi-
tions and decided views as to some of the
more important needs of the capital.
He deplored the building UP of the bit
setts and Connecticut avenues, which, he
said should have been acquired for a
park, and advocated the setting aside as
reservations of small strips of grounds
from which splendid views Of the city
can be obtained
Suburban Points Visible From City.
Ambassador Bryce said that only impos-
ing dwellings or buildings should be per-
mitted to be erected on the high points
Of country across the Anacostia branch
which are visible from the city. He sug-
gested the building of roadway along
the Virginia bluff that borders the Poto-
mac river. and said that something should
be done to prevent the destruction Of
the beauty Of the bluff by the quarrying
that is being carried on.
Washington should be made a capital
of capitals. and the task before the COM
mittee of one hundred, declared the am
bassador. is to make the nation feel it's
interest in Washington. In this. he pre-
dicted, a great task has been undertaken,
but the speaker expressed the belief that
the committee will be successful i'm its
efforts and that there will be developed
, here a city representing all that Is finest
In American conception and all that is
brightest in American thought.
Substance of Address.
Ambassador Bryces address, in part,
| was as follows:
my only excuse for being present and
| being presumptuOus enough to say a few
| words to you this evening is the desire
| expressed by a certain number of my
| friends who belong to your body. and
some of whom I see here tonight. that
should give YOU the impressions of a Wis
| itor who, having seen something of the
| capitals of other countries, and having
spent six happy and interesting years in
Washington, and having grown more and
more interested in your own plans for
the adornment of Washington, may be
possibly able to look at the matter from,
| a somewhat different angle from that at
| which most of you have seen it and AT
| any rate, give you the aspects of the
questions relating to Washington as they
| strike one who comes from beyond the
| ocean.
ut is. think. impossible for any one
who speaks our common language, who
| Is familiar with your institutions and
| history, who recognizes how much there
| Is in common between us-your nation
| and mine-to I've here without becoming
for many purposes-morally and intellect
| ually and for practically all purposes ex.
cept political purposes-a citizen of the
| United States. He Is exempt from the
| duty. which indeed you are all exemp,
| from in the District Of Columbia, of cast.
! ing a vote, and from the other duty OF
getting on the platform to give his po.
litical views to his fellow-countrymen
| but in every other respect he has all the
| advantages. by his residence here. which
you have, and In being able TO follow the
ins and outs Of your politics and to ap-
preciate the surprising changes which
| the whirlygig Of time brings about
! II have often felt, being so near to q
citizen of the United States. that it was
| somewhat difficult to refrain from of
! fering advice which was not asked for
| I hope ! have refrained, but in this par
ticular case the observations will moi
| call II advice-the observations on tn,
city of Washington and what can be done
for it have been asked for, and IL YOU fine
| they are only what YOU knew before dt
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