The sun., 1916-12-03
Venizelos's
Dream Of a Re-
habilitatedC reece
Grew the Plan
Which Is to Re-
design the City So
as to Interpret in
Modern Terms
the Old Greek
Spirit Of Eternal
Youthfulness
DISTRICT

ings." Prof. Mawson continues. rs n
of the essentials OF bold design. To
take n well known example, Edinburgh
often called the modern Athens-aI-
though 1t is a blend OF many styles.
possesses these qualities OF contrast to
a remarkable degree and can therefore
illustrate my point"
So speaks the artist imhucd with the
classic traditions. Now for the city
planncr. approaching his task from an
angle more sympathetic TO the .Amcri-
ran mind.
'In looking at pictures of the Athens
OF to-day" he says. "you must have
seen that the need for shade l. every
| where apparent. Therefore. In addi-
| ton to tho park and boulevard system.
a comprehensive scheme of reforesta-
ton Is taking place on the outskirts OF
the city. Tho forests will extend over
vast areas. especially III the higher
ground behind the Stadium.
Also, there Will lao numerous small
public plots with abundance Of trees
and "a fountain. where workmcn and
oil"rs may rest in comfort during the
long midday recess. And there will be
a number of larger open plazas. SINH
lar to the existing Place de Ia Con-
cordc, where in addition to shade trees
there will bc grass. bright flowers.
fountains and noble s%tatuary.r
what ! particularly wish To he un-
dcrstood In connection with these
parks is that they are not detached
units left To- chance charities. but they
form an integral and coherent part OF
the city plan.
THE central and dominating posi-
tion a. the royal palace and tho palace
Of the Crown Prince. with their spa
cious and magnificent gard, as, strikes
the visitor as the eliminating feature
Of the park system. and II il interesting
to note that not only arc thousands or
residents allowed tn cutter the royal
gardens. hut the general public are
also permitted glimpses into their noble
rcccsses-thus standing in direct con-
trast TO tho Embellishments garden.
which must be hidden from observa-
ton.
Properly understood. what We call
"A town plaml'ng scheme Is first Of all
n policy for controlling public eXpendi-
ture in the interests Of the community.
at c%ndeavors to secure the greatest
efficiency in every department of gov
crnmcnt, civic, commercial and indus
trial. and II socks to conserve every
ounce " energy which the worker has
AT his command.
"lt may bc added that n city which
first aims at efficiency will become
beautiful in proportion as il succeeds
in being efficient.
"Thc town plaNncr In Athens IL en-
couragcd because he has to deal with
the Greek temperament, which aims
for logical sequence and dircctncss. II
he had tn deal with western Europeans
he would meet with the greatest oppo-
sitioN. for with us directness is not a
quality but n hlcmlsh.
Il dare say YOU have noticed that
earlier in my remarks ! have made one
or two which are perhaps not quite
complimentary Ia our Western way ~
doing things. ! would not have ven-
tured on this criticism had I rot felt
that in Europe We arc approaching a
better condition of mind.
at was the grand tour through Italy
undertaken by our young a~ristocrats
In the days of the Georges which re-
suited in giving to England the only
A'iN'NNhIt ~ Il'tS Ildu sI'l'f tUt '''lihN
period. We are now having another
grand tour under another king George,
on a much bigger and more democratic
scale, and this will have results too,
\ few months | spent a very
happy sunday in Cambridge. where
for the first time in my life ! saw
groups ~ soldiers walking up and
down that perfectly beautiful academic
city, looking at and discussing the ar
ohitcCturc. admiring the beauty Of II
and wondering why they couldn't have
tGut sort of thing in their W towns.
'Thc soldiers were going to France,
Belgium and perhaps other countries
where they will see similar things done,
and done in a finer way than VI hav"
ever dreamed Of in England, and they
Alll com" back with a healthy discon-
tent ana viii demand their right "a
i've \ lall"r life among moro beautiful
surroundings
\ significant and authoritative con-
UCOriirHcd M TOM Pdgc)