Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-08-30
vaIuing The Old Land Marks.

Boston, beyond all other cities in the
United States with a past that goes
back to eighteenth century colonial
conditions, has preserved and conserv-
ed its ancient landmarks and its rever-
ence is now being counted to her an
urban pecuniary asset as well as a
civic virtue.
The city has symbols of a past era
standing before it in fine state of pres
ervation to tell of the ancient ideals,
few of which have ceased TO be appli-
cable to modern existence, and thus
they are giving a continuity TO its civic
existence and social life that is lacked
by some cities equally old but not so
equally wise
In the old SouFl Meeting House, the
old State House mt the head of State
street. the North Church and the Park
Street Church, Boston has magnets
that usually draw thousands OF tour
sts to the city. In their dignity sim
plicity, economy OF equipment, these
structures, and the original portion of
the State House on Beacon Hill, are
ed to overdo when il comes to civic
and other forms of architecture
The ancient edifices mentioned need
no decorations, temporary or perma-
nent, and it has been unfortunate that
during the Governors conference the
state and city authorities have not
seen this, and proceeded to decorate
with an extravaganza that almost ex-
tinguished what it was intended mere
ly to adorn. New York city, especial
ly in its most ancient section, the boz
rough of Manhattan, has not shown
equal solicitude for the landmarks and
historic buildings of it's colonial era
and of the first decades. under the ma
tional government. There the fEst
settlers descendants never acquired
the unity of purpose and willingness
to spend in order to save the antique
that have characterized the children
Of the Pilgrims and the Puritans in
Boston.
Manhattan so early in it's career be-
gan to be cosmopolitan, and so long
age came to see the potential land val
ues OF property for trading and indus
trial purposes that local patriotism
lacking core of race unity back of it
found It difficult 10 flourish; and when
trade and commence demanded build
ing sites they usually got them, nc
matter what became of structures in
which history had been made. Lat
terly a more reveFent and sentimental
attitude has been shown. Multiplica-
ion of orders and societies, national
IN scope and backward looking in Wis.
ion, through local chapters have done
something to call the vast urban host
TO a sense of the past and TO perceive
the shortsightedncss e losing touch
with thee ity's beginnings as expressed
architecturally.
One of the finest Of the early build
ings is the city hall. standing in the
downtown park ahoat which now tow
or vast structures, marvels Of com
1ined arch te, tu,al and engineering
skill. Utterly inadequate as a center
of admiration-which is now carried
on in nearly municipal build:nss-the
iine old building remains at the head
quarters of the highest officials of the
city and the social center for all dis
tinctly urban functions. Restoration
within, Just carried out, have brought
the hall back TO its pristine simplicity
and beauty. No vandalism of the pres
ent or future now seems likely to in
wade the park or touch the building
AS the city jerfccts better type oi
government 1t seems likely to evolve
at the same time deeper kind Of civ
ic piety than it has ever known-The
Christian Science Monitor.