Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-14
OUR TRANSFORMED CITIES

TT AMERICAN cities were capable OF
L collective blush. they would color per-
cept!bly in response to n compliment gra
'utously paid them by Chauncey Hamlin OF
buffalo. speaking before the ninth Rccrea-
tional Congress in Atlantic City.
Mr.. llamlin IL an nrt connosseur and
recognized authority on city planning, and
yet instead of dwelling mournfuly upon the
horrors Of Main Street. upon the much
condemned architectural sterility of our
towns. upon their disiigurcment by blatant
bOurdngs and flaming advertisements, he
has had the tcmcrity to proclaim an ar
tstic rcbirth in this country and beauty in
our municipal development surprising that
OF all other nations today.
What does it all mean? Have the profes.
sional Jer"miahs mised us, and are we &C.
tually building better than we know?
In any event. Mr.. Hamin's verdict,
whtrh IS presumably sincere. Is worth ex'
amtning, and it IA at least permissible to
inquire whether the standards Of sightliness
obtaining in ccnters OF population abroad
Rrc as superior 70 our own as some of the
more rrmorsclcss critics nt home have in
sisted
1t j., Of course. incontestable that certain
Eurorcnn cities take high rank in stateli-
ness of ihoroug hfarcs, charm Of parks and
orcn spaces. architectural symmetry and
d"c"ratjvn distinction. Paris has been en-
gagged IN the stimulating task Of beautifying
iiSoIf for more than n century.
In spite Of certain henvincss Of design,
Berlin is handsome capital, modern
Munich is attractive, and Prague, with It's
imposing bOuIevards, is in some quarters
magnificent
But. aside from mo inspiratiOnal and
picturesque npreal Of their antiquities and
historical suryivalS, there ars not few
European cities Of which II may be said
TINT thctr development haS been unbeauti-
full and clum>ily planned.
Modern Rome IS a strange hodge podgc
Of styles, suggesting AT times what has been
called a hrumnagcm Paris and at others II
dubious adventure i'll art nouveau.' Parts
Of birmingham. Manchester and Liverpool
ar" ruthlcsaly ugly and profoundly deprcss-
ing III" garing white stucco Of almost
trPcle,s Athens !mparts the idea of an ex'
position :" he demolished tomorrow.
Skilltul romantct>ts have "interpreted'
London 50 thoroughly that It Is not easy 10
view is dolrrts obicctivclv, and sentimental
lists arc oven To be found who bewail the
spacious and convenient Kingsway and who
contend that ~" splendid new County COun-
Gil Buiidng has destroyed the old flavor Of
the Thames on the Surrey side.
But whatever their blundcrs. and they
are many, it cannot b" denied that Amer
lean urban communities have for some years
cultivated and. (" som" extent. upheld
standards Of municipal beauty and artistic
progress. There are few cities IN tn" coun-
try which cannot show new boulevards
gardens. parks. public buildings and com
mrrral structures in which taste and ar
tiStlr aspiration are manifest.
Mr. IINmlin it should b" n"ted did not
maintain that American cities were the
most bcnUtifUl in the world. That conten-
t!on would b. absurd. But thnt the develop
mcDt here is more vital and on larger
scale than, with some exceptions, it Is
abroad is al assertion of which evidence
exists.
1t will not harm the American public,
with its queer blend Of assurance and hu-
mi!ty. to rcCosni2" thi, encouraging fact.