north america-2-第2部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Street； both right and leftV Street North and V Street South。 Those really known to mankind are E； F； G； H； I； and K Streets North。 Then those streets which run from north to south are numbered First Street； Second Street； Third Street； and so on； on each front of the Capitol； running to Twenty…fourth or Twenty…fifth Street on each side。 Not very many of these have any existence； or； I might perhaps more properly say； any vitality in their existence。 Such is the plan of the city； that being the arrangement and those the dimensions intended by the original architects and founders of Washington； but the inhabitants have hitherto confined themselves to Pennsylvania Avenue West； and to the streets abutting from it or near to it。 Whatever address a stranger may receive； however perplexing it may seem to him； he may be sure that the house indicated is near Pennsylvania Avenue。 If it be not； I should recommend him to pay no attention to the summons。 Even in those streets with which he will become best acquainted； the houses are not continuous。 There will be a house； and then a blank； then two houses； and then a double blank。 After that a hut or two； and then probably an excellent； roomy； handsome family mansion。 Taken altogether； Washington as a city is most unsatisfactory； and falls more grievously short of the thing attempted than any other of the great undertakings of which I have seen anything in the States。 San Jose； the capital of the republic of Costa Rica； in Central America； has been prepared and arranged as a new city in the same way。 But even San Jose comes nearer to what was intended than does Washington。 For myself； I do not believe in cities made after this fashion。 Commerce； I think； must select the site of all large congregations of mankind。 In some mysterious way she ascertains what she wants； and having acquired that； draws men in thousands round her properties。 Liverpool； New York； Lyons； Glasgow； Venice； Marseilles； Hamburg； Calcutta； Chicago； and Leghorn have all become populous； and are or have been great； because trade found them to be convenient for its purposes。 Trade seems to have ignored Washington altogether。 Such being the case； the Legislature and the Executive of the country together have been unable to make of Washington anything better than a straggling congregation of buildings in a wilderness。 We are now trying the same experiment at Ottawa； in Canada； having turned our back upon Montreal in dudgeon。 The site of Ottawa is more interesting than that of Washington； but I doubt whether the experiment will be more successful。 A new town for art； fashion； and politics has been built at Munich； and there it seems to answer the expectation of the builders； but at Munich there is an old city as well； and commerce had already got some considerable hold on the spot before the new town was added to it。 The streets of Washington； such as exist； are all broad。 Throughout the town there are open spacesspaces； I mean； intended to be open by the plan laid down for the city。 At the present moment it is almost all open space。 There is also a certain nobility about the proposed dimensions of the avenues and squares。 Desirous of praising it in some degree； I can say that the design is grand。 The thing done； however； falls so infinitely short of that design； that nothing but disappointment is felt。 And I fear that there is no look…out into the future which can justify a hope that the design will be fulfilled。 It is therefore a melancholy place。 The society into which one falls there consists mostly of persons who are not permanently resident in the capital； but of those who were permanent residents I found none who spoke of their city with affection。 The men and women of Boston think that the sun shines nowhere else； and Boston Common is very pleasant。 The New Yorkers believe in Fifth Avenue with an unswerving faith； and Fifth Avenue is calculated to inspire a faith。 Philadelphia to a Philadelphian is the center of the universe； and the progress of Philadelphia； perhaps； justifies the partiality。 The same thing may be said of Chicago； of Buffalo； and of Baltimore。 But the same thing cannot be said in any degree of Washington。 They who belong to it turn up their noses at it。 They feel that they live surrounded by a failure。 Its grand names are as yet false； and none of the efforts made have hitherto been successful。 Even in winter； when Congress is sitting； Washington is melancholy； but Washington in summer must surely be the saddest spot on earth。 There are six principal public buildings in Washington； as to which no expense seems to have been spared； and in the construction of which a certain amount of success has been obtained。 In most of these this success has been more or less marred by an independent deviation from recognized rules of architectural taste。 These are the Capitol； the Post…office； the Patent…office； the Treasury； the President's house； and the Smithsonian Institution。 The five first are Grecian； and the last in Washington is calledRomanesque。 Had I been left to classify it by my own unaided lights； I should have called it bastard Gothic。 The Capitol is by far the most imposing； and though there is much about it with which I cannot but find fault； it certainly is imposing。 The present building was； I think； commenced in 1815； the former Capitol having been destroyed by the English in the war of 1812…13。 It was then finished according to the original plan； with a fine portico and well proportioned pediment above itlooking to the east。 The outer flight of steps； leading up to this from the eastern approach； is good and in excellent taste。 The expanse of the building to the right and left； as then arranged； was well proportioned； and； as far as we can now judge； the then existing dome was well proportioned also。 As seen from the east the original building must have been in itself very fine。 The stone is beautiful； being bright almost as marble； and I do not know that there was any great architectural defect to offend the eye。 The figures in the pediment are mean。 There is now in the Capitol a group apparently prepared for a pediment； which is by no means mean。 I was informed that they were intended for this position； but they； on the other band； are too good for such a place； and are also too numerous。 This set of statues is by Crawford。 Most of them are well known； and they are very fine。 They now stand within the old chamber of the Representative House； and the pity is that； if elevated to such a position as that indicated； they can never be really seen。 There are models of them all at West Point； and some of them I have seen at other places in marble。 The Historical Society； at New York； has one or two of them。 In and about the front of the Capitol there are other efforts of sculptureimposing in their size； and assuming； if not affecting； much in the attitudes chosen。 Statuary at Washington runs too much on two subjects； which are repeated perhaps almost ad nauseam： one is that of a stiff； steady…looking； healthy； but ugly individual； with a square jaw and big jowl； which represents the great general； he does not prepossess the beholder； because he appears to be thoroughly ill natured。 And the other represents a melancholy； weak figure without any hair； but often covered with feathers； and is intended to typify the red Indian。 The red Indian is generally supposed to be receiving comfort； but it is manifest that he never enjoys the comfort ministered to him。 There is a gigantic statue of Washington； by Greenough； out in the grounds in front of the building。 The figure is seated and holding up one of its arms toward the city。 There is about it a kind of weighty magnificence； but it is stiff； ungainly； and altogether without life。 But the front of the original building is certainly grand。 The architect who designed it must have had skill； taste； and nobility of conception； but even this is spoiled； or rather wasted； by the fact that the front is made to look upon nothing； and is turned from the city。 It is as though； the facade of the London Post…office had been made to face the Goldsmiths' Hall。 The Capitol stands upon the side of a hill； the front occupying a much higher position than the back； consequently they who enter it from the backand everybody does so enter itare first called on to rise to the level of the lower floor by a stiff ascent of exterior steps； which are in no way grand or imposing； and then； having entered by a mean back door； are instantly obliged to ascend again by another flightby stairs sufficiently appropriate to a back entrance； but altogether unfitted for the chief approach to such a building。 It may； of course； be said that persons who are particular in such matters should go in at the front door and not at the back； but one must take these things as one finds them。 The entrance by which the Capitol is approached is such as I have described。 There are mean little brick chimneys at the left hand as one walks in； attached to modern bakeries； which have been constructed in the basement for the use of the soldiers； and there is on the other hand the road by which wagons find their way to the underground region with fuel； stationery； and other matters desired by Senators and Representatives； and at present by bakers also。 In speaking of the front I have spoken of it as it was originally designed and built。 Since that period very heavy wings have been added to the pilewings so heavy that they are or seem to be much larger than the original structure itself。 This； to my thinking； has destroyed the symmetry of the whole。 The wings； which in themselves are by no means devoid of beauty； are joined to the center by passages so narrow that from exterior points of view the light can be seen through them。 This robs the mass of all oneness； of all entirety as a whole； and gives a scattered； straggling appearance； where there should be a look of massiveness and integrity。 The dome also has been raiseda double drum having been given to it。 This is unfinished； and should not therefore yet be judged； but I cannot think that the increased height will be an improvement。 This； again； to my eyes； appears to be straggling rather than massive。 A
