The Washington herald., 1913-09-07
JAMES BRYCE GIVES HIS VIEWS OF WASHINGTON

novels ought to be kept on fine sites
To care for these things ought not u
be set down to personal fastidiousness-
We are not to suppose that in thinking
OF the beauties Of the city or country we
are thinking of ourselves only, for beauty
and ugliness have an effect upon the
minds of all classes of residents. There
are many places on the outskirts OF this
city which have become sordid and even
hideous. owing to the habit of dumping
refuse. II ought to be checked. / d.
not know what the powers Of the Dis-
trict Commissioners are, but IL they have
not sufficient power to stop that deface-
ment OF nature they ought to be given
such power. / suppose this refuse could
be burned, and II so it certainly should
be burned, or perhaps buried, so 1t woulc
not offend those who walk around the
city and see the beauties of our environs.
A reference to the Potomac leads me
to speak of the splendid ridge of rocks
forming the face OF the hills on the Vir-
ginia side. They have been sadly cut into
by quarries, spelling the natural beauty
of the rocks; but nature will one day re-
pair those blemishes. Perhaps she will
not do so within the lifetime of most Of
Us. but IN the course OF years, with rain
and frost and vegetation, lichens, moss
and grass, nature will soften the harsh
ness of the rocks where the stone has
been taken away, and you will again have
picturesque cliffs along the banks Of the
Potomac, with the tall trees lifting their
plumage into the sky behind. Those are
very valuable elements In our Washing
ton landscape.
Point Of Vantage.
It is desirable IL possible to stop any
ho POfnFnaR cliffS
and to preserve the trees on the top Of
those cliffs on the Virginia side, and to
make a good path, walking path or rid
ing path, or possibly a not too obtrUst!Ve
driving road, along the top. looking
down onto the river. from which you
could get fine prospects. The road might
be kept a little back, SO as not to be con-
spicuous from below.
May / mention a point Of view that
is now threatened and perhaps almost
gone? You all know the spot at which
Wisconsin Avenue intersects Massachu-
sets Avenue, which has now been eX-
tended beyond that intersection into the
country. At that point of intersection.
Iust opposite where the Episcopal Cathe-
oral is to stand, there is one spot COM
manding what is one Of the most beautl-
full general views Of Washington. You
look down upon the city. you see its most
striking buildings-the Capitol the Ii
brary, State. War, and Navy Depart
ment, and the Postoffce and other high
tuildings along Pennsylvania Avenue
and beyond them you see. the great sill
very flood Of the Potomac and the soft
lines fading away in dim outline in thN
far southeast. II Is a delightful and in
spring view.
1t is a view that reminds one Of some
Ct those ample prospects over Rome
which the traveller is able TO obtain from
St Peter Montorio. on the further side
of the Tiber, or from Monte Mario.
All that piece of land is being now cut
up, and according to present Appearances
houses will be built there Immediately
and after two years nobody will ever see
that view again except from the tower
of the cathedral when erected. Can IL
be saved?
should Re Public Park.
There may be other views of Wash.
ington that are as good, but there is none
better. 1t is view that speaks not only
to the eye, but to the imagination also.
The top of the slope ought to have been
turned into a public park. and the houses
below kept at such a height that il they
were to be built they would not obstrucl
the view from above.
OF course, It is to he regretted that all
OF that piece OF land on both sides OF
Massachusetts Avenue, and especially the
part between Massa Chusetts and Con-
necticut Avenues, was not kept for ths
Washington of the future. It is one oi
the saddest things We have seen, the way
in which that beautiful bit of woodland
country between Massachusetts Avenue
and Connecticut Avenue. where some OF
US used to take our favorite recreation
under the leafy boughs. listening to the
songs OF the birds in spring and to the
murmuring Of the little brooks that pIrIsd
down the hollows, to know that this trac:
has now been leveled. the tiny glens fillec
Up and the brooks turned into subter.
ranean drains. 1t will soon be covered
with villas or rows of dwellings, and thir-
ty years hence no one will know how
charming that side OF Washington was.
From these vain regrets let me turn
to say something more about Rock Creek
where there is still time to save beauties
that are threatened.
To Rock Creek there Is nothing CON-
parable in any capital city of EuroDe.
What city In the world is there where a
man can within less than ten minutes by
car and within a quarter of an hour on
his own feet get in a beautiful rocky
glen, such as you would find in the woods
Of Maine or Scotland-a winding. rocky
glen, with a broad stream, fQaming over
its stony bed and wild leafy woods look.
ing down on each side, where you not
only have a carriage road at the bottom
but an ineNhaustible variety Of foot
paths, where you cam force your way
through thickets and test your physical
ability in climbing up and down steep
slopes and in places scaling the faces OF
bold cliffs.
To Protect Rock Creek.
All that you have IN Rock Creek Park.
And yet 1 am told that a good deal o.
the land behind Rock Creek Park is
being sold for building purposes. The
beauty of a portion of the park has al
ready been spoiled at the place where
the Mount Pleasant road goes down into
the Park toward Pierce's Mill, by the
erection of 4 row of not too beautiful
houses. A great deal Of the land which
lies northwest of Rock Creek Park, to-
ward Connecticut Avenue, does not be-
long to the District.
And yet it is quite essential to tn
beauty Of Rock Creek Park that that
tract of charming woodland Should nos
be built upon. The builder has been
stealing steadily forward to the edge of
the park. Before long much of this tract
will be covered with buildings. There is
still time to stop that. There is still time
10 see that all that is not yet touched by
buildings-at least that land between
Connecticut Avenue and Rock Creek, on
the one side. and between Rock Greek
and the continuation Of Georgia Avenue,
toward Silver Spring, on the other
and, above all, to see to il that the valley
of the creek itself. which is now tkicxly
wooded, shall be kept forever as a part
OF the Rock Greek Park.
1 should like to so even farther-al-