The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-05
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFO R. A TON
BUREAU
FREDERIC J. HAsKIN. Director.
Washington, D. c.
OLD WASHINGTON AND NEW.


capital of the United States Is in pro-
cess of a profound and complete
change. 1t is not merely the super
fetal transformation so patent to
every observable overflood of popu-
lation, the shortage of street car space,
the mushroom growth of small res
taurants and grocery stores-but
real change from within, and is part
of the change which is taking place at
the core of American life.
In one way or another the impress
sion has gotten abroad that the two
really cosmopolitan cities of the United
States are New York and Washington
for almost all the rest OF the country
and a Canaan for the distressed and
adventurous of almost all other coun-
tries; Washington-well. Washington
because it is the seat of federal gov
eminent, the residence of the presi-
dent, the secretary OF state and foreign
ENJOYS"
AS matter of fact. Washington
never was much of city for its size.
New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago
and even Philadeiphia, Baltimore and
Cincinnati might have laid claim to
more cosmopolitan distinction than
the capital. In a way, Washington
was metropolitan; but it was also pro-
vincial. Washington was never, of
itself, progressive or staid. fast or
|
spirit of the nation, and if sometimes
it also followed the spirit of the world,
it was only because the nation fol-
lowed. Washington lends itself as
readily, almost, to a change in party
domination as to a change in depart
pear; are missed awhile and forgotten;
new faces come, are remarked awhile
and accepted.
Yet, Washington, for all it's change
ableness was never without a charac-
ter of it's own Tradition is the
strongest factor in the personifcation
of cities. and Washington has plenty
of tradition. 1t is rich in historical
memories-of the panic when the
British took the city, of the stormy,
sometimes bloody debates of abolition
when the soldiers of Mcclellan
watched the Potomac and the Rap
pahannock. These memories meant
much to the Washington of a few
years ago. In those days, trolley cars
were without fiat wheels and seldom
crowded. Automobiles were fewer and
well behaved. Night life began at 10
minutes past z and ended at 1880 or
Their bouts
In those days each white newcom-
er to Washington found social CLASH
hcation awaiting him. He was a
"congressionaP' or he wasn't. In the
latter event he was a departmental"
civil service person. an embassy
person., a "Georgetowner" or a lay
man. It was said then that much
bad blood and vendetta existed
among these various little cliaues.
The old "Gawgetown set"-suppos-
eddy formed of the sons and daugh-
ters of exiled first families of the Con-
iederaey-would have nothing to do.
II was said, with any of the gov
eminent crowd" The army set was
reported at bitter social strife with
the navy. The compassionate and
the cabinet" contested hotly for SUI
premacy. The laity-representatiye
OF typewriter corporations, lobbyists,
students, press correspondents and
others not directly connected with the
government, struggled along as best
they might. Most of this was sheer
nonsense, but it formed a BACKGROUND
Tor a good deal of harmless gossip.
The visitor emerging from the steps
OF Union Station was startled by the
quletude and essential serenity of il
ALL Rush and hustle was nowhere.
excitement-the excitement of Park
ROW and Dearborn street-apparently
oio NOT exist 1t was a good thing.
TINS calm, the visitor thought, as from
the steps he watched the clear light
OF morning playing on the capital
dome. Laws for a hundred million
people should not be made under the
neurotic stimulants of hyper-civiliza-
tion. After all, the visitor told him
seif, thankfully. the jazz band is not
America
he met his congressman and noted
that something in the latter had taken
Inc the place or the nervous energy which
hao distinguished his campaign. Later,
over a comfortable julep at the viii
lara or elsewhere, the CONGRESSMAN
assured him that the Republicans or
the Democrats-as the case was-had
1 eh thelr bolt and were doomed
shortly to political oblivion
Most of all Washington was youne-
young with the clean cut, well-temS
pered, methodica1 animation of the
rural youth of solid circumstance. In
inc same sense America was young.
should the visitor to Washington
now pause on the steps of Union Sta
loh to regard the sunlight on the
capitol dome, it is likely that his con-
temptation will be interrupted or dis
~ r1eo oy a 1ostling from someone be-
nina or IN front of him. He will have
vague feeling of being somehow out
OF place The first touch of this feel
ing comes to him as he leaves his
crowded train and follows the stream
into the train shed. Stern detern,ina-
ton seems stamped on every face he
encounters. All seem to have a Job to
DO and are steadily intent upon doing
II; somehow this seems to be no
iaa ior one who has no particular
JOB to do. Soldiers are everyWhere.
smart, nicely groomed soldiers going
nome on furleugh; tired bedraggIed
soldiers on their way back to camp:
grim looking soldiers with bayoneted
r'ies waking about as military police.
Phys1ca1 change was also evident in
the big service hut of the Y NJ. c. A.
ana the barracks built on the vacant
areas about the station. Still this was
not all.
The visitor decided not to use a taxi.
mere seemed something sinful in
using a taxi now. He followed a
crowd aboard a street car. Something
nad changed even about the street
cars. 1t seemed tho fIo,, 1,ad