The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-02-12
Lord Bryce, Former British Ambassa-
or to This Country, Considers
Ours Leading Capital Of the
World.
HE MAKES COMPARISONS
Nature Was Most Lavish In the ArtIs-
try With Which She Modelled the
Site for Washington
Scenery Enchanting.

q E / i
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. IL
While legislation Is pending in con-
gress with reference to the govern
ment OF the national capital, the OBJ
ject OF which is to determine the
future relation between the United
States and the District Of Columbus
in matters of taxation, paper fur
nished to the National Geographic So
cfety by Lord Bryce, former British
ambassador to this country in which
he considers Washington in compari-
son with the leading capitals Of the
world, contains much of significant IN
terest. Lord Bryce Is the author OF
"The American Commonwealth" the
most comprehensive study of our
selves ever undertaken by foreign
err After speaking warm adnlira-
ton for the ideal site OF the city-a
beautiful amphitheatre, between hills
that are rich with woods-and declar-
ing that the surroundings Of tho
American capital yield only to Con-
stantinople, with its Bosphorus,
among the great capitals Of the worfc
for charm Of setting, our friendly
critic contrasts Washington with its
rival cities abroad.
Whereas nature was most lavish IN
the artistry with which she modelled
the site for future Washington, Ber-
lin, Lord Bryce writes. stands in a
sandy waste, perfectly fiat, with here
and, there a swampy pond or lake, ana
washed by sluggish stream The
German capital, he continues, Is state
ly. its streets are broad and they are
bordered by many noble buildings, but
the environs never can be beautiful
because Of an ungracious nature. Pet
rograd, the great Russian capital. has
but one beauty, that of its splendid
river, Neva. Besides this stream,
there Is but fiat, often waterloggeo,
surrounding county, here and there
dotteo' with stagnant pools and
swamps, and stretching into an al
mast limitless distance, devoid Of fea-
ture.
The landscapes around Paris. Lord
Bryce decides. are agreeable. but
have nothing at all striking nothing
nearly So fine in the lines Of their
scenery as the hills that inclose the
valley in which Washington lies. anv
no such charm of such still wild
forest as Washington affords. Nor 10
the Seine. he is certain, stream
which can be compared to our Poto-
mac So. too, he finds the scenery OF
ondon Madrid. and Vienna behind
that OF Washington.
The Thames. the Wien. and Mao
rid's thirsty little streamlet cannot
begin to compare with the beauty Of
the broad Potomac. according to this
widely-traveled diplomat. Chief among
the advantages of these foreign capl.
tails over Washington, he believes. Is
their quality of being ancient, an old
age which gives to them a certain
number OF picturesque buildings,
crooked old streets, stately churches.
and spots hallowed by the names OF
famous men who were born there,
tied there or worked there. This at~
vantage the American capital can
hope to overcome with time.
There are a legion OF points IN
favor of the young capital upon the Po-
tomac which are enumerated by Lord
Bryce There is no more beautifully
wooded city in the world than our
national capital, nor one. according
to our critic, In which the trees seem
to be so proper a part Of the cfty's
life Further. where other capitals
are crowded. some to a point Of az
most irremediahLe congestion. there
| is still plenty Of elbow room in WASH
ington. still every opportunity to make
improving changes in buildings and In
city.plan. Lord Bryce also lays en-
phasis on the advantage OF our capf-
tai in that It is dedicated solely to the
business Of government. Is not noisy
commercial or smoky industrial city.
The magnificent structures in It's ave-
1ooa NIT hopnno cOnfod with fha
crime of factories. LORD Bryce con-
cludes his paper with an appreciation
| of the foresight OF Georg., Washfn~
ton. who realized that out OF the will
derness of his day an enormous coun-
try was to be evolved which deserved
] capital site riyalling in setting those