THE LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFUL 



the best of our American cities in point of 

 design. This is largely due to the fact that 

 it was designed at the start, instead of 

 being allowed merely to grow. The work 

 of L'Enfant was so well conceived in the 

 first place, and so well established at the 

 beginning, that it has been proof against 

 meddling or neglect. The city of Wash- 

 ington has always been rather fortunate 

 in all matters connected with its general 

 design. Good architects have been em- 

 ployed on the public buildings (with a few 

 exceptions), and good landscape architects 

 have given what help they could on public 

 grounds. Andrew Jackson Downing in 

 his day did a good work in Washington, 

 and the White House grounds have never 

 been debauched by bad and expensive 

 gardening. 



In recent years Washington has taken 

 up anew the whole business of civic im- 

 provement and has employed in its behalf 

 many of the best architects and landscape 

 gardeners of America. While it is not 

 possible here to analyze this work, to point 

 out its best accomplishments or its weak- 

 nesses, we may well accept Washington 

 as the American model of city building. 



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