Evening star., 1926-02-07
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdce1ceU.

W. H. Harvey. 1914 a street south
east, wins the copy of the book OF
Tered by the writer in this column.
last sunday, and the volume has beer
mailed 10 him.
Lists of obvious flaws in beautif,i
Washington, which might be cor
rected just as easily as not. in tbp
main proved somewhat uninterestinc
wing TO the generaltties they con
tained.
Inc prize winner. however, had q
large and specific kick to make, one
lhat most home owners will be inter
ested in, and therefore the prize has
been awarded TO him.
He wants 70 know why he, who
pays his taxes, and has no children
or school age, can get little Co-opera
ton from District officials in keeDinc
children off his lawn and terrace.
Thousands of home owners have "a
face much the same problem. II they
ask the children to keep off the
grass" in many cases II but makes
| the boys walk on ii all the more.
If they keep silent they have the
satisfaction of seeing their lawns,
over which they have worked hard
trampled into a sea of mud, owing TO
the alternate freezes and thawings,
which have reduced grass plots TO q
very spongy condition.
Although. theoretically. one MAY
appeal to the police, in practice the
thing works out otherwise, since a
high fence is about the only thing
that will keep off trespassers.
The sympathy of the police IS Otter
with the boys, and rightly enough
since boys will be boys. and must pla,
some place.
Mr.. Harvey's grievances incIude
one against the big fellow" (the cap
tain of high school cadet company.
who insists on commanding his men
from Mr.. Harvey's terrace.
This home owner, as / found OUT
In personal conversation. Is a very
human sort of man. He simply wants
his property to look We'll He has
great sympathy for the cadets. but
feels that their drilling could be bet
ter carried on in the street than OF
his terrace.
He has met, II seems, with but scant
sympathy from officials of the Dis
trict government, who have told him
to go here and go there. see this Off
cial and that one, in his efforts to
keep his grass and the parking space
in front of his home in the orderly
condition which the great majority
of householders like to see.
He intends to take up the matter
with the citizens association of his
neighborhood. hoping that the school
children of the vicinity can be told
by their teachers to keep off lawns
while the ground is in such spongy
condition.
This Is a valuable suggestion.
In some cities this very thing il
done. Annually, at this time of the
year, teachers tell the children of the
soft, almost pulpy condition of the
ground, and advise the boys to re
frain from walking or running across
lawns.
Such a system of practical educa
ton. begun in the public schools OF
the National Capital, would go n Ions
way toward making and keeping
Washington beautiful.
The children Of any communitl
| large or small, are a powerful factor
| in 1t, either for good or evil. This is
such a truism that 1t scarcely need
be stated.
Most boys, here as elsewhere, are
decent at heart. Most of the depreda
tions they do are committed thought
| lessly. Mr. Harvey believes. as most
will that our boys would rather help
maintain and protect property than
Tar down or ruin 1t.
Home owners in all parts OF the
District will wish him success in his
campaign.