Evening star., 1925-05-31

he was a familiar and pathetic figure.
IN long, high buttoned blue coat, at
the Capitol and committee rooms, or
wandering sadly over the streets and
avenues of the infant city, many of
which were unmarked, but whose
imaginary outlines he could mentally
define with the utmost accuracy, dis
appointed and Respondent, but never
Waverfng in his faith in the utmost
realization Of his dreams and hopes.
Meager Possessions at Death
For several years preceding his
death he was a guest of the DiggeS
family on their farm near Bladens.
burg and was buried there. His sole
possessions at the time of his death
were three compasses, three watches,
and few books, maps and surveying
instruments, the whole appraised at
$46.
Up to the time of his death, and for
many years after. it was the custom
of newspapers and individuals, both
American and foreign, to ridicule and
deride LEnfant's plans. and to assert
that the city would never be anything
but a colossal failure. Many epithets
were bestowed upon it. such as Ser
bonian Bog, Wilderness" etc. The
Able Correa de Sierra, Minister from
City of Magnificent Distances. "
Georgetown was called a city of
houses without Streets" and Washing
ton, city of streets without
houses" Thomas Moore who visited
Washington in 1904. wrote:
In fancy now beneath the twilight gloom
Come. let me lead you DER the modern Rome
Where tribunes rule whose dusky Davi bow,
Ana what was Goose Creek Is T1ber now.
m her fan
Squares in morasaes. obelisks in trees
Which travelling fools and gazeteers adorn
With shriDes unbuilt and heroes yet unborn
Complete Vindication
Three-quarters of a century after
his death came L'EAfant's belated but
complete vindication when, in Jan
uary, 1902, the Park Commission, con-
sistfng of Daniel H. Burnham, Charles
F. McKim, Augustus Saint -Gaudens
and F. l.. Olmstead, together with a
committee Of the United States Sen
ate, in an official report, reached this
conclusion:
The original plan of the city of
Washington having stood the test of
A century, has met universal approval.
The departures from that plan are to
be regretted, and, wherever possible
remedied."
On April %, 1909, in pursuance of
an act of Congress, the remains of
L'Enfant were disinterred from the
Digges farm with imposing cere-
| monies and conveyed to the rotunda
of the Capitol, where the body lay in
state. Thousands, including the Presi.
dent, Vice President, cabinet officers,
members of the two houses of Con
| gress and other high officials did il
honor. This tribute had been given
Heretofore to but seven persons:
Abraham Lincoln, Thaddeus Stephens.
Salmon z. Chase, Charles Sumner
James A. Garfield, John A. Logan and
| William Mckinley. L'Enfant is the
only person of foreign birth who has
ever been so honored. Then, with an
| imposing military parade, the remains
| were escorted to Arlington Cemetery
where the final interment took place
with full military honors
Two years later, in 1911, a. monu.
,, ment was erected on his tomb by Miss
Il. c. Morgan, great t-granddaughter
| of William Digges. on which occasion
appropriate services were held and
addresses delivered by President Taft
and Elihu Root.
The long deferred, but exceptionally
high honors paid to L'Enfant in 1903
, were all that could be desired; but
they will soon be forgotten--in fact,
| have already been forgotten by many.
! The Capital City is the materia liza.
| ton of his dream, and in that city
| there should be visible and enduring
memorial to the courage, loyalty
genius and triumphant idealism of
Pierre Charles L'Enfant.