Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-17
THE AMERICAN CAPITAL
Conspicuous for Natural Bcnuty-Few
European Capitals It's Equal.

What goes on in Washington furnishes
grst for the nations newspapers all the
year round, but just now Washington,
the city, itself Is getting unaccustomed
publicity on two accounts" says a bull
letin from the National Geographic So
ciety.
Senator Sherman Of Illinois wants to
move the capital to some mid-western
city. Citizens of Washington. apparently
oblivous of any such consumation, are
waging n national publicity campaign for
representation in Congress-
Aside from these political issues. the
bulletin states, Washington probably has
never been such a magnet for visitors
as now and those who are coming as well
as those who have gone will be interested
in the following comparison of WASH
ington with other world capitals written
by Vscount James Bryce, former
British ambassador to the United States
at is impossible to live In Washington
and not be struck by some peculiar fea-
lures and some peculiar beauties which
your city possesses.
mo European city has so noble a
cataract in its vicinity as the Great Falls
of the Potomac-a magnificent piece Of
scenery which you will, of course, always
preserve.
Vienna has some picturesque country,
hills and woods and rocks within dis
lance Of % or 80 miles. London also
has very pleasing landscapes Of q softer
type within about that distance: but |
know of no great city in Europe Except
Constantinople) that has quite close in
it's very environs, such beautiful scenery
as has Washington in Rock Creek Park
and In many of the woods that stretch
along the Potomac on the north and also
on the south side. with the broad river
In the center and richly wooded slopes
descending boldly to it on each side.
you have not beautiful arm of the
sea at your DOORS as has Constantinople,
nor the magnificent mountains that sur
round the capitals of Rio Janeiro or San
tiago de Chile nor such a bay. or rather
land-locked gulf, as that of San Fran
cisco, with its splendid passage out to
the ocean; but those are very rare
things, OF which there are few in the
world AS capitals go, few indeed, are
so advantageously situated in respect
to natural charms as Is Washington.
Take Berlin. 1t stands in sandy
waste, perfectly fiat, with here and there
swampy pond or lake. and a sluggish
the envlrons have, however, been we'll
planted with trees, and this redeems the
city to some extent. 1t has become,
through the efforts of the government
and its own citizens. an imposing city:
but the environs can never be beauti-
full, because nature has been very I'M
gracious,
Take Petrograd. Petrograd has a
StIn fna lt, ,,,l
river, the Neva, with its vast rush of
cold green water, covered with ice in
winter and chilling the air. and SEEM
ing to chill the landscape in summer.
That however. is the only beauty Petro-
trad has. The country is fiat and in many
places water-logged, owing to numerous
pools and swamps. 1t has no natural at
traction either in It's immediate or more
distant environs, except the stream Of
Neva.
Paris. again has some agreeable land
scapes within reach, but nothing at all
striking. nothing nearly so line in the
lines of its scenery as the hills that in
close the valley in which Washington lies,
and no such charm of a still wild forest
as Washington affords The Seine, too,
is stream not to be compared to your
potomac.
1.-THE same thing may be said Of Ma
drid. 1t stands on a level, and the noun
tains are too distant to come effec-
lively into the landscape. and it's only
water is a wretched little brooklet call
cod the Manzanares. They tell a story
there about a remark attributed to Alex
andre Dumas when ne visited Madrid
He was taken TO the lofty bridge which
spans the ravne at the bottom Of which
the rivulet flows, The day was hot and,
being thirsty, he asked for glass Of
water. They brought him the water. he
said, mo, take 1t away; give 1t to that
poor river; it needs drink more than
] do"
'rhen there Is our English London,
which stands In rather tame coun-
try. 1t is true that there are some charm
Ing bits of quiet and pretty rural seem
cry In Surrey and Sussex, within a dis
lance Of from 20 to 80 miles. and there
are pleasing beech woods covering the
chalky hills of Bucks. Yet nature has
done nothing for London comparable to
what she has done for Washington The
Thames, although It fills up pretty we'll
at high tide, Is no wise comparable for
volume or beauty of surroundinus IN your