Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1919-02-01
TnE PIcTE u AND IT'S FRANZ

Der the capl1ON 1H huln6s picturesque
and Otherwise. ind having 20 do with
the unslghtliu of partially de-
stroyed bnildiTk ION State Circle. may
not have BEEN Provocative Of the at
tesnpu by incens tries early shis morn
ing 10 do away Dth this ruin By means
oS the fire-branf However aggravated
TIE case may " there can be no justi-
acation of UNI sMfui destruction OF
property. even ungt snch destruction
means i public aenaft
Two men are ssported to have been
sean to apply II match 10 this long
uneenanted. uu6 Entity and absolutely
useless wreck \ building, They
should be apprS ended and caused 70
pay tie penalty Isl incsndiarism with
jsant aa fun meNslre Of sternness as
though the bred property was some-
thing of value Law violations must
have no excuse II their being or the
Law itself loses Il sacredness
Passing from 4 other phases Of this
question 10 that seferred to In the edi-
torial. viz the Il ssightilnesa and use
lesaness nf an u sinhabitable building
standing for yeats. torture 10 the
esshetic and q Ins mace to progress, we
return to the consideration Of the
question Of civic Improvement Moth
Ing that is said hare can justly becon-
strned 10 mean that the offense Of un-
lawful destruction of property could
mark the passing Of such disgrace
9Ol ruins as that which stands within
aha shadow Or Ule state capitol the
aEst place visited BY the thousands Of
psopla who come to Annapolis
Il IL time We we're taking more of
pride In the appsarance 81 Annapolis.
The facts may AZ weil be viewed with
hcnesty 10 ourselves and the admis-
aaon made that ills upon the stranger
Who comea within our gates we are
largely dependent for our livelihood.
The stranger who comes here to work
at the academy and along allied In
dnstr3es Il an aAset To the city his
presence means added revenue 10 all
forms OF business IN the city, directly
81 Indirectly But the visiting stranger
b not 10 be despfsed as an asset also.
for his coming ifseven Tor few hours
only. means q considerable expendi-
aare os more money m the city.
Occasionally the visitor may decide
3 10 locate here. In such case he be-
comes MI even greater asset But.
though his visit pc most caRuai, Il Is
the poorest kind Of business not TO
have impressed him as favorably as
we know how One means Of giving
hin q faYorahle Impression Ii to show
hln u clean city Annapolis has d
aufnciency Of natural beauty, and the
charm Of the old and the historic
lends wonderful interest 10 It. But
ws should keep our streets and prem
ssas Id such condition that these assets
are shown to advantage solely as Il
pure matter Of business II We are moi
moved TO do so BY the more com
nandahle purpose, pride
The principal highway entrance 10
Annapolis is one possessing potential
possibilities ii the way 81 wonderful
attractiveness. vet We are failing "a
take advantage OF these and neglecting
to Improve the environments os this
highway as We should First Impress
aiona are considered lasting There.
fore. We should lend every effort 70
have the stranger who comes m from
the Baltimore road impressed BY the
neatness, cleanliness and general in
willingness Of the town.
These improvements are not to be
made as q city the work Ii up 10 the
Individual The grounds 81 st Johns
college bordering the Baltimore and
Annapolis boulevard are adaptable TO
wonderful scheme Of identifying az
small cost q low wall. 4 Bit Of terrac.
ing There Is other work Of the y
character which could wen b
The city Of Annapolis does not il
within its province to see that such
work Ii done III Ii is ever accomplish
cd Il naut be at the will OF the indiyid-
ual.
II Is time for individual awaken
ins- The people Of Annapolis have
been TOO long smugIy content 10 bask
N the sunshine of past glories These
ARE as subject To decay as are the ma
terial evidences Of them and need 10
b. nourished carefully IL they are TO
prove attractive TO new generation.
81 as retain the historic interest Of
annapolis. but LEI US be careful b keep
its setting attractive, just as we pre-
servs rare paintings Of the old masters
IL galleries which present them with
ameat effect and lend additional charm
% them