The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-11-25

leys' house. built In the apex
OF the triangle between Connecticut
avenue and Nineteenth street, and
overlooking Dupont circle, will be
keenly regretted by, those Of us
who loved Washington as II used
to be and who rather resent the
encroachment Of business on pleas
ant old residence districts.
The house isn't beautiful with
out--although a treasure house
within-but It's landmark. Once
the home OF the late Gardiner. Hub
bard. whose daughters. Mrs. Alex
ander }" Graham Bell and Mrs.
Charles J. Bell. set up housekeep-
ing when they married. in twin
houses Just across the street. the
Bradleys bought It many years ago.
They remodeled the old house and
built out over the pleasant garden.
making the big mansion one Of the
show places Of the day and in
stalling all the rare and beautiful
things. tapestries. and pictures, col
iections of porcelain and Jade. and
articles OF bigotry and virtue" col
lected all over the. world. They
have entertained under their hos
pitable roof the cream of Washing
ton society and most of the visit.
ing notable visitors within the
city's gates. And now they propose
to tear down the house and to
erect some sort Of a business build
ing in it's place!
-
IT does seem q shame and yet
once the tide Of business sets
In it's impossible to stem 1t. The
Charles J. Bells house over the
way has been sold. presumably for
business purposes. The newly or
ganized Rams Club Players, Robert
w. Bell. director, are taking pos
session Of the late Alexander Ora
ham Bells library next door, which
10 being metamorphosed into little
theater. And Col. and Mrs. Archi-
band Hopkins house just around
the corner in Massa ave-
nue. long ago lost It's twin. the prop
erty Of another member Of the Hop.
kins family, its place being taken
by the Dupont National Bank.
The old Austrian embassy,
sacred to the memory Of such
lovely ladies az Baroness Hengel-
muller and beautiful Nine. Dumba,
has been sold and will be torn
down: and; all the nice comfort
able old-fashioned houses along
the block are, being demolished
or converted into shops. -.
The British embassy across the
street stands like rock against
the sweep OF the tide, but the
time will certainly come when
the Britishers. too. will have to
move uptown. Even now Con-
necticut avenue from the embassy
down to Lafayette square Is
given up entirely to business
premises. They call 1t the Fifth
Avenue Of Washington. but even
at that. one breathes a sight Of
regret for the days when this
broad avenue was lined with spa.
cious comfortable homes.
Now a great hotel is going up
where once the old Convent OF
the Visitation stood. giant trees
shading it's walled garden; and
where, In the memory OF our
mothers. the horse-car line used
to end and the drivers water
their horses at bubbling stream.
The new Chamber of Commerce
building is rising slowly in place
OF Corcoran House. so closely
associated with all that was best
In Washington's early social
life. The Draper house at the
corner Of Connecticut avenue and
X street. where Admiral Dewey
went ACQUIRING Of Mrs. Hazen
and where Margaret Draper was
married to Prince Andrea Bon
compagni. still remains. but that.
too. Is to be torn down shortly
and big office building put up
in Its place.
-.
MIR. AND MRS. BRADLEY
are now in New York, but
will return to Washington late
in December, and propose tc
spend a month or six weeks
at their house. packing up
their Lares and ,Penates and SUI
perintending their removable the
beautiful estate at Newport which
they purchased last summer and
which they propose to make their
permanent home. They are re.
modelling the house and adding
!. to IL with, a view to-. properly
housiAg all the lovely things
from their town j. house.--they
really have one Of the finest pri.
.g-A II f.--ptS ~AtA-- A. 49,