Evening star., 1949-10-03

under auspices OF Lne St0Le departments
Division OF Exchange OF Persons He
broadcast his impressions OF Washington
on, Voice OF America program. bean1ed
to Greece. And the tollo,oing is transla-
tion of ,D1at he saidJ
am going to tell you about green city
and a white house. That's where north, in
America, begins. An endless, interminable
land, fiat, low, without mountains, without
hills, without movement. Even though the
land has no movement the waters do. There
is movement in the waters Of the rivers, in
the waters of the Atlantic, which wash
upon the shores and in the waters Of the
Potomac The waters 60 deeply into the
gigantic bays. The bays seek freedom. They
rend the EARTH looking for another place.
Because of these things there is great
deal of water, a great deal Of land. In this
way the wonderful game which the water
Sand the land play becomes. in this country.
another type OF harmony and movement.
And then, later, just as though there weren't
enough water, there comes the blessing from
the clouds-the southern rains. During the
summer both the days and the nights are
unbearably hot And while the sun makes
the earth boil, suddenly from one moment
to the next. the sky is filled with lightning.
And the storm comes.
So much water, such heavy rain in such
a short while, Is unbelievable to those Of us
who live in the Mediterranean and Aegean
area. This water becomes green grass and
giant trees. The earth is green here, both
in winter and in summer. And the trees
endless forests Of wild cherry trees. oak
trees, plane trees and cedar trees. Trees
of tremendous height, stately, massed to-
gether, give this land q grave look. They
give serious look to the people Of this
io0 ~ 1,nvie1HinD Qffecs
ton for the land which grows such forests,
a feeling of simplicity. security and strength.
A Visit to Mount Vernon.
The waters of the Potomac River in vir-
ginia feed gently into Chesapeake Bay. and
from there they meet the Atlantic. We
arrived ut the banks Of the Potomac on
morning when the sun burned brightly. We
arrived at Mount Vernon. It is called
Mount" even though 1t is just q slight
rise in the land, just a>few feet high. George
Washington rests here, beside his old coun-
try home. His house Is surrounded by giant
trees and earth-loving holly which was ad-
mired so by English poets. What peace must
the General and Martha Washington enjoy
here. A simple phrase has been placed on
the railing around their grave. Inside this
railing lie the remains Of Gen. George
Washington" and one more phrase is writ
ten there, this one from the Holy Bible-1
am the Resurrection and the Life"
went to Washington's grave with an
American friend Of mine, q Mr.. Damon.
who is also friend Of our country. asked
him question. said:
I'm the history which you teach the chill
dren here, are they taught that washington
was the greatest President that America
Or JefYerson?"
"Our children" he said. do not learn to
make such distinctions among the men who
served our country. When they grow up
they win decide individually who was the
greatest. However. Washington is the father
Of this Nation"
Washinrton-An Endless Green Wave.
The town, which will forever remember
the General Of Independence. Is not far from
Mount Vernon. Washington Is not really
q city: it isn't possible to feel that way
toward it.
It is an endless green wave, an apotheosis
Of the land which was blessed, which bore
good fruit and strong trees and moving wa
ters. And In this green wave, among the
endless parks, the wide avenues, there exists
Greek style. And Greek rhythm. Harmony
prevails, strong forces have been lesseneo.
It has become restful and joyful place tor
men. There Is no other city which avoids
shouting, as Washington does.
The only thing that it has allowed to pre-
vail has been Greek style. It is apparent IN
its buildings, its columns Its Doric ano
Corinthian styles, its esthetics OF line. And
even when the gigantic column Of the Wash
ington Monument was built they tried to
give it a warm look by surrounding 1t with
water. The pool nearby Is as long as the
obelisk is high. Day and night it reflects
the columns line. It gives to 1t feeling OF
intimacy and gentleness.
Pierre Charles L'Enfant was q French
corporal, a dreamer and an architect. He
followed Lafayette to America. Gen. George
Washington had the foresight to intrust
the Capitals design to him. Many people
thought that L'Enfant was crazy when they
saw hts designs at that time. His grave IN
Arlington Is placed In such a way 50 that
at his feet lies this exceptional scene. Amer
ica's heart is with him.
Washingtonians-Gentle and Warm.
The people who live in this green city tire
gentle and warm. This city Is the heart OF
the world. Nowhere, not In the streets, nor
in the homes, nor in the ministries, nor IN
the faces of men, women or children Will you
see sign of nervous tension-of faSt pace.
Everything is simple and quiet. The people
do not shout. do not crowd, do not run.
The automobiles don't blow their horns
everything is regulated by the lights. The
faces are peaceful and smiling. they have
the warmth and gentleness Of the south
the gentleness of the Mediterranean.
Each person is proud to tell you about his
origins about his faraway corner OF the
country, about his humble ancestors. Every
one takes pride in his country. DR.. Luther
Evans, the librarian OF the Congressional
Library, said to me: "Of course, you are
going to visit Texas. # you don't go to
Texas, you won't know America"
At the Public Health Service, its director,
q strongly built young man, has a Landscape
with bare, yellow rocks and lake in 1T.
It is a northern landscape of site near the
Canadian border. He shows It, He touches
it with his hands as though he were caress-
ing it.
"They say that these are naked, cold
rocks" he says. Let them talk. I'll tell
you that they are the warmest rocks IN
the world
Thus. each person will tell you about
- AoA all ~