Evening star., 1926-10-21
Washington's "Spotty" Splendors

ETOQu 0S washington 10 VI aSo az
cractiveness. such an occasion as the
present. when notable foreigners visit
the Capital. arouses feelings Of re-
Eret for unsightiy conditions that
inevitably meet their eyes and that
must cause them to wonder at such In
congru,ties Residents understand that
1n q large degree Washington Is still
in the making and that there are
many raw spots and scars. due to the
fact that the process of Capital max.
,ng is incomplete. They accept these
evidences Of slow procedure and past
neglect with philosophy, but they are
nevertheless embarrassed In the pres
ence OF guests to whom the glories
and attractiveness Of the National
Seat Of Government have been pro-
claimed.
Washington is Ia truth, in its pres.
ent condition, like the curate's famous
egg. magnificent 'in spots" In other
spots it is anonymously untidy and
unsightly. There are some monu.
mental buildings, mostly Of a highly
artistic architecture. There are some
delightful vistas, though the trees
have fallen off in quality and pictur.
~soueness somewhat of late years,
owing to lack OF funds for their proper
upkeep. There are some parks that
cannot be eQualed elsewhere in the
world. There are some private struc-
lures that compare favorably with
those Of other cities. There are his
toric spots near at hand which tell
the Nations story vividly and dra.
n1atically.
But with all OF these features Wash.
ington Is still in an unfinished state.
The discriminating and discerning
suest. TO be most favorably impressed,
should be blindfolded on d tour Of the
Capital and allowed to look forth only
en- selected occasions. when the un-
Ioveliness Of long neglect and procras-
tination is not to be seen. and only
some especially notable structure or
view is presented.
The other day when Queen Marie
visited the Tomb Of George Washing
ton she was driven by a route that
should be a scene OF unbroken charm.
but that Is in many places sordid
and unkempt. One OF the links in the
road to that shrine is long, shaky,
narrow wooden bridge across an inlet
Of the river. which has been the bane
Of travellers for many years. but
which is soon to be replaced by
another. A project for a grand boule.
y 20 Mount Vernon Is under way.
SvI..t day . Will eventuate It will be
an arpro. approach to that
sacred spot Q. = 'nrican patriotic SEN
timent. But now the way there is
such as to cause a conscientious guide
to engage in explanations that tell a
story Of incomprehensible neglect.
The road to Arlington, where rests
the Unknown soldier on whose tomb
ell distinguished visitors place wreaths
OF honor, Is, by either possible route,
rlsrred by diShgurements which like.
wise must be explained away In terms
OF CAcUSt lOT ueI5SS. 4 Ie cure VI
these conditions. by the provision Of
another bridge and a new and direct.
unmarried route, is now coming In a
few more years that cause Of chagrin
TO the Capital-lovin2 American will
have been eliminated.
These are but examples. There are
others. sadly numerous. Time will
cure them. Already long period has
elapsed. ami there is a fear in the
hearts of Washingtonians that by the
time that these blemishes are correct.
ed others will have developed through
Jack of attention. However. hope re.
mains that the new plans for Capital
development will he pressed with uni.
location and with prompt provision of
the means necessary TO carry them
into execution. so that by the time the
next royal visitor comes here Wash.
trgtcn and its Government. controlled
environs will present no features for
which apologies and explanations
must be offered.
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