Evening star., 1923-12-30
Heard and Seen
"I discovered Georgetown" he sal,

Il discovered Georgetown" he said
Yes, I am fully aware of the fact
that It was founded in 1854, incor-
porated some time after the revolu-
ton, and has been hourishing ever
since.
mo. I'm no pioneer, but discovered
Georgetown, just the same. What did
it mean to me to know that great
ships once came to its wharves, IL I
myself did not know how the Poto-
mac river looked with the sunshine
upon It?
1T was mildly interesting to be told
| that once George Washington stop
ped at such and such a place. but 1t
didn't mean much to me until I ac-
| through the place.
Then opened up a new town, as
far as I was concerned. a place as
interesting as many towns thousands
of persons go thousands of miles to
see. ] wonder how many people there
are in Washington just like / was,
who know Georgetown only as a
name?
"It Is a great deal more than q
name It is a city in itself, despite
the fact that 1t is an integral part of
the National Capital, just like Mount
Pleasant, or Columbia Heights.
yet no one can investigate the
community on the other side of Rock
creek without feeling that it Is great
ly different from the other sections
named. 1t looks different, the people
act differently, the very atmosphere
Is different.
There was a French lady, under
stand, away back In the pre-revolu-
| tfon days-or was 1t slightly post
! revolutionary-who declared that
! Washington was city OF streets
/, without houses whereas Georgetown
, was a city of houses without streets.
| Both conditions have been reme-
died long since. but Georgetown con-
tinues to hold to its traditions. cher
| ishing it's atmosphere. There are
| some newer, parts of the National
! Capital where everything Is so built
up so spic-and-span, that they lack
| character, IN the best sense or that
much abused word.
| They remind one of a tiled bath
| room, beautiful, clean, fine. unques-
! tionably, yet lacking that subtle
! something that hits the observer in
! places where many years have twined
| their vines of remembrance.
| "Over in Georgetown one finds old
houses that have come down from
J the revolution and from the civil
! war times. Great old places, sitting
, back in yards that call to pleasant
| times
! mot so far away, perhaps, up an
other hill, and one comes on q new
| development, with houses going up.
| for the first time in history--think of
| it!-on land where Indians have been
/, the only settlers before.
7, yet, even the new homes keep to
(, the traditions. Of Georgetown. where
!. people mind their own business and
j; let other people mind theirs.
! wisconsin avenue. once known as
High street, is the Main street Of the
| community. Here on Saturday nights,
| just like in any midwestern town,
| the people come in great numbers.
Children walk bareheaded down.
| town in Georgetown. Very few of
them do the same in Washington
D. c. I mean on the east side Of
Rock creek. along historic Pennsyi-
/ vania avenue.
81 think that shows well the diff.
| ference between this part of the Ma
tional Capital and the great re.
mainder. The more you browse
around and through 1t, the more II
a.
| ITO walk down 35th street on Q
frosty, brisk morning. and come tc
J the top OF old Stony hill, to picl
ones way down that steep incline
! and then to come to the point where
suddenly the river flashes in the sur
| below f
! why. that's an experiences!
wherever you turn In George
town you come upon something In
terostinE. Where else ip Washing