Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-07


Perhaps 1t may be better
Identified to the people of Washing
ton by telling that 1t Ia the next car stop
west Of Dupn Loring--that 10. 1t is the
noxt place west Of Dunn Loring and
the cars stop there. 1t is not a ham,
let Of great magnitude, nor of mag
nitude at all. but, for that matter, it
10 not the habit OF hamlets to be
large. for when they overstep the
limits Of proper size for hamlet
they lose their hamlitude and become
. village or town. The Importance
OF = placo is not to be measured by
ito size. There are big places as
well as big men that are inexpressi-
bly, dull and stupid. We all know
men with very broad shoulders and
great girth who would not do a days
work even under the present wage
scale. and who need big hats only
to cover great thickness of ivory
and depth Of emptiness. The i'm
.portance OF little place must not
be judged by the number of its houses.
We all know cities that have very
many more houses than there are in
Washington. yet nobody knows of
any better town than this. 1t often
happens that the more people who
live in a town the less desirable
place 1t is to live in. A great deal
depends on the people,
Just now Enola does not make as
large patch Of cross lines on the map
OF Fairfax county as Falls Church,
Fairfax Court House, Vienna, Hern-
don, Lewinsville, Kenmore. Ash Grove,
Langley, Annandale. Franconia, Acco-
tink. Lorton, Springvale, Springfield.
Forestville, Clifton. Centerville or
Chantiily. but the Rambler cannot
read the future Of Enola. though he
feels that It IL q safe and conserva-
tive prediction that Enola will long
enjoy quiet. peace ana happiness and
the shade Of big oak trees.
*x 4 4
Reading the future involves taking
chances. for the future generally
keeps its own secrets and most mod
'ern prophets seem to be moro remark
able Vor fiuency and gas than for
other qualities. The man who 10 al
ways feeding you up on predictions
and foretelling what tho future holds
In store for you, may OF course. be a
real prophet. but is generally q pest,
So the Rambler makes no prediction
for EnoIa. but he wishes for it and its
people happiness and distinction--that
Ia. II they really care to have such an
burdensome and cheaply
got thing as distinction. OF course,
the Rambler. knows very well that In
. way distinction Is not cheaply got.
Many men work very hard for 1t. They
address every public meeting that will
sit patient while they do It; they will
ask to be appointed on all kinds Of
committees. will take up strange the
cries. strange politics and strange re-
lfGions in order to talk about them,
and particularly to have themselves
talked about. and then will work
with exceeding industry to get their
views In the newspapers. But If a man
would rather have distinction than
reputation for modesty and good
sense. 50 let It be. because the Ram
bier Is not going to pick quarrel
with some of the most prominent and
distinguished citizens Of Washington
Rnd all other cities.
This thing of forecasting how cities
are to grow to greatness and glory
10 particularly dangerous work. The
Rambler can remember. about hun
dred and fifty or two hundred years
ago. when everybody in the Potomac
region prophesied, that Bladensburg,
Dumfries. Piscataway, Port Tobacco
and Matildaville would surely grow
Into greatness and a splendor that
would make London, Rome and Paris
Seem like hamlets under the influence
OF chloroform. But this did not quite
Come true. However, Bladensburg,
Piscataway. Dumfries and Port To-
bacco are still on the map of Prince
Georges. Charles and Prince William
counties, and perhaps In another two
hundred years they may be world
capitals. while London may be a
water tank and flag station on the
Great Northern, the Midlands, the
London and Northwestern. the Great
Central and the Great Western rail-
roads. The Rambler can remember
when the FIRST homes Of the most ex-
elusive set in Washington were along
the Eastern branch water 'front.' one