Evening star., 1924-05-04
Heard and Seen

Washington never looked more
beautiful than this spring, with its
grass, budding trees and bright flow
ers.
Surely some one must have planted
bushes and flowers last fall with un-
usual profusion, for today they are
blossoming all over the National Cap
ital.
Many have been heard to remark
that they never noticed before how
many lilac bushes there are here.
just now blushing with blooms. re-
calling whitman's poem. when Ii
Iacs first in the dooryard hloomed."
There is no more beautiful thing IN
the spring than the lilac. IT throws
first fulfilling it's duty as a humble
bush. then bursting into a glory of
bloom and fragrance.
Lilacs that have assumed the pro-
small parks in front of the Depart
ment of Commerce building, 18th
street and Pennsylvania avenue.
They are entirely covered with the
spikes of flowers. Were such trees
planted in a row undoubtedly they
would be as famed as the Japanese
cherry trees around the tidal basin.
The lilac is snug bush. 1t seems
best in the home dooryard, as the So
called Good Gray Poet called il.
ing spring, blooming afresh in the
sunshine and cool wind.
Beautiful Washington calls not
alone to the stranger within the
gates, of whom there are thousands
at this season of the year, but also
to the resident here.
Perhaps to the latter. even more
than to any one else, does the Ma
beauty. He may have the thrill of
seeing the familiar in new light.
That is great deal.
The Lincoln Memorial. for instance.
in the city To many it is the most
beautiful, set as II is in green. with
the river a silvery sheet-sometimes
behind It,
To get a new look at this truly
lovely scene, go to the second floor of
quarters at 21st and B streets.
The offices of this structure look
across green Swafd to the Memorial.
Those who selected the place certain
Iy showed wonderful foresight. Ger
tainly there is no other building de-
voted to the interests of science or
ANYTHING else that looks across at
such a prospect. Not in this city, at
least
That is the way to get new slant
on the Lincoln Memorial.
You may have seen Central High
School, for instance, many times. You
NAV be perfectly familiar with the
inside of that interesting example of
the modern secondary school build
ing.
Yet he who has not sat in the sta
dunn affixed to the south side of the
building has not seen the modern
Central.
All the old-ttmers who remember
the ancient structure at 7th and Q
streets, where hundreds of good men
and women were graduated. owe it to
themselves to sit for a time in the
new Central stadium.
Undoubtedly there are hundreds Of
graduates here who have not done so,
Tor one reason or another. Perhaps
the interest in sports has evapordted
With the passing of the years.
Nor does one have to count Cen
trail as his own to enjoy sitting In the
stadium Hitched right onto the
buiIding, as it is. it furnished an in
teresting example of what may be
done with the outside of structure.
Looking at the Post Office Depart
ment building from the top Of Mas
sachusetts avenue puts that structure
in an entirely new light.
Many washingtonians hold sneak
ing fondness for the postal headquar-
ters at 11th street and Pennsylvania
avenue. 1t recalls the houses made
with building blocks in the long ago.
Towers and peaks may not be Gre
clan. but they remain eternally pleas
ing TO many good folk who have no
occasion to apologize for their pref
erences. Remember the man who was
ashamed to admit that he regarded
the Treasury as the most beautiful
building in washington, until he
found out that architectural authori-
ties so looked upon it
Looking down Massachusetts ave-
nue. from the heights where it crosses
Wisconsin avenue, the Post Office De-
partment may be seen, sticking its
fnwer and clock high in the air.
By some freak the building seems
situated almost on Massachusetts ave-
nue., in reality more than six blocks
to the north.
II YOU think you have seen all of
Washington there is to see, try look
ing at it from new angle.
CHARLES f. TRACEWELIA