Evening star. [volume], November 10, 1934, Page B-2, Image 16

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
SPARTA WAS BUILT
FOR SELF-DEFENSE
Ancient Metropolis Not Be
lieved to Have Been
Ideal City.
BY JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
Just a century ago the site of ancient
Sparta, capital of Laconia, was a scene
of busy activity. The Greek War of
Independence was over, and patriotic
souls were stimulated by the emotions
of victory to dream of a resurrected
city in the Peloponnesus. Baron
Jochmus was enlisted to prepare de
eigne. and a glorious metropolis was
anticipated. But the enterprise was
destined to meet with but little success.
Today Sparta is only a small town, the
capital of nothing but a prefecture and
the post office address of no more than
«even or eight thousand people.
But Americans, on tour in Southern
Greece, make the place an ob
ject of pilgrimage in the hope of
Rdding their personal impressions of
the location to their store of memories
of the mighty events which happened
there and with which they are ac
quainted by grace of the pages of
Herodotus, Plutarch and Pausanias.
Ruins are Uncovered.
Nor is the journey disappointing, for
the beautiful hills have not greatly
changed in a millenium and archeo
logists, laboring since 1906, have dis
closed the ruins of some of the most
notable of the architectural landmarks
cf antiquity.
It is not difficult to imagine what
once was if one may see what still is.
Sparta, however, probably at no
time was an ideal city. Its builders
were motivated by an expedient
philosophy of self-defense. It was
raised on the northern end of the cen
tral Laconian plain, on the right bank
of the Eurotas, to command the only
land routes into the South from Ar
cadia; and situated 27 miles from the
sea, it was invulnerable from marine
attack.
Tradition tells that the town was
designed by Lacadaemon, son of Zeus
end Taygete; but its neighbor cities—
Amyclae and Therapne—were of older
foundation and, for a while, of greater
Importance. Eight decades before the
Trojan War a Dorian expedition led
by Aristodemus gained control of the
neighborhood, but even then progress
was not remarkably rapid. Sparta
■was weak and relatively inconse
quental until the lawgiver Lycurgus
arose to dictate a code of discipline
and aggrandizement. He it was who
framed the policy which elevated the
Laconian capital to military grandeur
If not to civic majesty.
Marcus N. Tod of Oxford University
has written: '"Nowhere else was the
individual so thoroughly subordinated
to the interest of the state. The whole
education of the Spartan was designed
to make him an efficient soldier.
Obedience, endurance, military suc
cess—these were the aims constantly
kept in view, and all other ends took
a secondary place." In a city gov
erned by such a doctrine, the gentle
ert of architecture, necessarily, was
not highly regarded. The state had
charge of all construction, and prag
matic utility was the principal ob
jective of every structure. Spartan
ideals of beauty were defective, and
the Spartan race produced no artiste
truly worthy of the name.
The "key" to the topography of the
ruined capital is the remains of an
ancient bridge over the Eurotas. From
the spot the range upon which the an
cient city stood rises against the sky,
a hollow way leading through the hills
to a plain on the southwestern side of
vhich was the theater with two wings
framed of massive quadrangular stones.
The stadium, nearby, occupied a horse
shoe valley and was incloeed with
walls of earth still traceable.
Site of Public Buildings
To the east was the Agora, "a spa
cious place, surrounded with colon
nades. from which the streets issued
to the different quarters of the city.
Here were the public buildings of the
magistrates—the council house of the
Gerusia and senate; and the offices
of the Ephori, Nomophylaces and
Bidiaei. The most splendid building
was the Persian stoa, which had been
frequently repaired and enlarged, and
was still perfect when Pausanias visited
the city." A subdivision vu an area
called Chorus, "because the Spartan
youths nere danced in honor of Apollo
at the festival of the Gymnopaedia."
The place was adorned with statues
of the Pythian deities, and a colossal
etatue representing "the people of
Sparta" was a feature of an adjacent
section of the Agora. Temples of
Earth, Zeus Agoraeus, Athena Agoraea,
Apollo, Poseidon Asphaleus, Hera and
of the Fates, the old Ephorea or courts
of justice, and the tombs of Orestes,
Epimenides the Cretan and Aphareus
the Aeolian King were other monumen
tal edifices in the Agoran quarter—all
vanished in repeated storms of war
and revolution.
The Acropolis northeast, had for its
chief building the so-called Brazen
House, the temple of Athena Chal
cioecus. tutelary goddess of the city.
"It was said to have been begun by
Tyndar»us, but was long afterwards
completed by Gitiadas. who . . .
caused the whole structure to be cov
ered with plates of bronze or brass."
Other shrines were those of Athena
Ergane, Zeus Cosmetas, Ares Areia and
the Muses. Within the temenoe, ac
cording to Plutarch, was a temple of
Optiletis, established by Lycurgus in
a commemoration of an injury to one
of his eyes.
Principal Street Intereating.
The principal street, leading out of
the Agora, was named Aphetals and
was bordered by a succession of re
markable structures, including the
house of King Polydorous, the office of
the Bidiaei, the Hellenium or council
place, altars and statues dedicated
to Apollo, and a temple to Dictynna.
Another thoroughfare, called Solas,
proceeded in a southeasterly direction
from the Agora and was lined with
temples, tombs and markets.
Pausanias. exploring the capital In
the Burton Holmes manner, mentions
scores of buildings used for religious,
state and other public purposes and a
large number of notable residences,
but only the ne mes as he lists them
remain—it Is impassible to tell whether
they really were architecturally worthy
or not.
The history of the city may be sum
marized in a roster of dates: 1490
B.C., town founded; 1204. abduction
of Helen of Troy by Paris; 1194, be
ginning of the Trojan War; 1176, re
turn of Menelaus and Helen; 1104,
kingdom seized by the Heraclidae;
884-850, rule of Lycurgus; 743-724,
war with the Messenians; 685-674,
revolt of the Messenians; 547, war
with the Ar gives; 505, war with
Athens; 491, war with Persia; 480,
Leonidas, with 300 Spartans, at the
battle of Thermopylae; 468, earth
quake destroys 30,000 persons; 454,
war with Athens; 404, end of the
Peloponnesian War. Sparta at the
height of its power; 395, beginning of
the Corinthian War; 376. Sparta loses
dominion of the seas; 362, Spartans
defeated by the Thebans at the bat
tle of Mantinea; 344, Sparta overcome
by Philip of Macedon; 147, Sparta,
protected by Rome, again a leading
state; 396 A.D., city taken by Alaric;
1460, taken by Mahomet Π; 1463,
bumed by Sigismund Maletesta.
Victim of Militiaiism.
To understand how, though Sparta
made a profession of patriotism and
of the science of war, the capital
nevertheless repeatedly was captured
by enemies and eventually was de
stroyed, it is necessary to know only
two facts: Spartiates were debarred
by law from trade or manufacture,
and the state was but nominally a
republic. Without domestic sources
of wealth and without civic spirit of
a responsible democratic type, the
wonder is that Sparta ever amounted
to anything deserving of remem
brance.
Paint Protects Surfaces.
Less than half a billion dollars
worth of paint protects $23,000,000.000
worth of building materials. The
painting of metal effects an annual
saving of $450,000,000.
Interior of Modernized Building
The building at 1111 Connecticut avenue, formerly a branch of the Franklin National Bank, has been com
pletely remodeled as the new Washington home of International Business Machines Corp. Above la a view
of one of the show rooms. The walls have been paneled In flex wood, new elevators installed and the exterior
changed. The William P. Lipscomb Co. were the general contractera, while the remodeling and decorating
was designed by George Oakley Totten, Jr.
Two-Family Houses Solving
Problem of Old Residences
There are thousands of large, sol
idly built, but rundown and outmoded
homes which, converted into attractive
two-family houses, can quickly be
turned from liabilities into assets
under the modernization credit plan
of the Federal Housing Administra
tion.
The upkeep of these buildings
would be prohibitive to one family, and
as they stand they are virtually use
less. In effect, with taxes accumulat
ing and the properties depreciating in
value through want of repairs, many
are slipping gradually into the hands
of mortgagees.
Unsatisfactory Type·.
In some instance* boarding house
keepers have taken them over, but
the income derived has been small
and precarious. Others have been
turned into schools, small sanitariums,
etc. Since they had been built for the
convenience of a single family they
usually were found unsatisfactory
when put to this semi-public use.
Almost without exception the in
teriors were laid out in lavish style
with large hall, wide stairway and
spacious, high ceilinged rooms. At
the rear of the house is usually to be
found smaller rooms originally built
for the use of servants.
Except for the wide and usually
winding stairways these homes pre
sent no serious problem to the archi
tect in charge of the job oi re
modeling.
Remade and Rented.
One such house remade Into an
attractive two-family building and
promptly rented, upstairs and down,
had a large foyer hall, front and back
parlors, dining room and kitchen with
large pantry. On the second floor were
four large rooms with a bath room of
extra size. A back stairway led to a
semi-finished attic.
The architect altered the front stair
at Its base so that it led to a separate
vestibule. This stairway was Inclosed
and each apartment was given its own
entrance from the porch. The back
parlor and d'nlng room were con
verted into bea rooms and the kitchen
became a dining room. The kitchen
pantry became a fully equipped kitch
enette and the butler's pantry became
the bath room.
Made Into Kitchenette.
On the second floor, the old bath
room was made into a kitchenette and
the adjoining bed room became the
dining room. The large attic was con
verted into bath and extra bed room.
The new bath was tiled and the latest
fixtures were installed. A heat unit at
the rear of the second floor supplied
independent hot water.
The rent now being obtained for
each apartment Is more than the
owner had received for the entire
house before renovation.
Many sturdily built old homes now
vacant because of the large upkeep
they entail would present leu diffl
culty and involve less cost In th<
alteration process. They could be con
verted into revenue producing proper
ties under the modernization credll
plan of the Federal Housing Adminis
tration and rented.
ENAMEL KEEPS FINISH
Flay Room Furniture Can Be
Brightened Easily.
Discarded pieces of furniture with
mahogany or walnut finish may be
given a new air of smartness for use
in adult play room or nursery with
a few touches of enamel. The edges
or the top· of tables and the edges
and part of the back of the chairs
may be painted a bright accenting
color, leaving the rest In the wood
finish. Chints cushions, either figured
or plain, aid in the transformation.
VIRGINIA FARM SOLD
Alexandrian Buya 80 Acres Neai
Warrenton—Will Build.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
WARRENTON, Va., November 10.—
Benjamin Cain, formerly of Alexan
dria, who has been living here foi
several months, has bought from Wil
liam R. Rowland 80 acres of land or
Lee Highway, east of Warrenton. neai
Cedar Run, and expects to build a
home there.
I
BUILDINGANDLOAN
HOLDS BUSINESS
Associations Have Largest
Block of Mortgages
in Nation.
Savings, building and loan associ
ations still bold by far the largest
single block of home mortgages of any
lending group in the United States,
having total mortgages outstanding of
$5,518,899,600, as of the first of the
year, according to statistics just re
vealed.
In his annual report as secretary
treasurer of the United States Build
ing and Loan League, H. P. Cellarius
of Cincinnati gives this figure, adding
that three States have more than 90
per cent of their total building and
loan resources Invested in home mort
gages, while 14 others have between
80 and 90 per cent so Invested.
Outstanding loans were made foi
home buying, building, remodeling,
and refinancing of obligations formerly
held by other types of mortgagees.
Total Is Unpaid Balance,
This year's 5,500,000,000 outstand
ing mortgages are the unpaid balance,
or 38.8 per cent, of the $14,443,000,000
loaned by the associations to home
owners during the decade 1924-1933,
the league secretary said. By far the
greater portion of the settling of these
debts has been by the orderly m on this
repayment method, characteristic ol
building and loan.
By the first of the year not more
than $35,000,000 of mortgages had
been transferred from the associations
to the Home Owner's Loan Corp.,
and the amount of real estate owned
had increased only $147,158,888 du»ng
the year, so that even in 1933, repay
ments by monthly installments or
principal and interest continued to be
the rule rather than the exception.
Monthly Payments Hold Up.
"The indebtedness of the 2,000,00(
home borrowers who constitute oui
mortgagee· list has thus been partialis
resolved In a much more orderly fash
ion than 1s generally believed." saic
Mr. Cellarius. "Within the last tw<
years we estimate that at least 75.00(
of the borrowers from our Institution!
have paid ofT altogether the debt or
their homes and gotten clear title tc
the property after 10 or 11 years ol
perserevance In the monthly repay
ment program. Some recent figure;
from associations show, for example
one small Institution in which foui
borrowers completed the repayment or
loans amounting to $17.550 on Septem
ber 14 of this year. We have numer
ous instances of these repayment)
which are distinctly encouraging ai
this time, and the third quarter of th<
year showed a notable improvement ir
collections.
"With such a background of experi
ence, with this evidence that we car
trust the average home borrower tc
meet his obligations when economic
circumstances and the public psychol
ogy permit it, building and loan asso
ciations are preparing to make theii
largest lending record ta years dur
ing 1935. It Is a noteworthy fact thai
the loans which have been made b;
associations since late 1933 and lr
1934 are, as a rule, causing no trouble
as to repayments by the month, anc
are some of the best possible assets or
the books of the Institutions."
Sprayed Paint Is Thinnest.
Paint that is sprayed on should b<
of thinner consistency than that ap
plied wtih a brush.
EDUCATIONAL SERIES
CONDUCTED BY N. R. A.
Lumber Industry Feature of Pro
gram, Hiffhly Dramatized, to
Be Broadcast November 15.
The National Broadcasting Co. is
presenting a series of educational
radio programs covering the prin
cipal American Industries, and the
next program, November 15, will be
devoted to the lumber industry. This
program, which will be highly dra
matized, will go on the air from WJZ,
New York, al 8 p.m., and, perhaps,
simultaneously from WMAL, Wash
ington, D. C.. and other Ν. B. C.
stations.
It has been suggested that lumber
manufacturers and dealers ask their
friends and patrons to tune in on
this program. It is possible that other
stations In the "Blue" network will
broadcast this number If lumber men '
ask them to do so.
LOAN LEAGUE BACKS
STABILTIY IN MONEY
1934 Convention Passed Resolu
tion Urging Sound Measure
of Value Be Xept.
The 1934 convention of the United
I States Building and Loan League is on
, record to support and encourage the
efforts of all public lenders to main
tain a sound and stable measure of
value and a sound monetary system.
A resolution passed at the New Or
leans gathering's last session reads:
Whereas, past experience Indicates
that the wages of labor and the In
tegrity of the savings of the working
and middle classes are most adversely
affected, If not practically destroyed,
by currency inflation, and
Whereas, the savings, building and
loan associations are trustees of the
savings of over 9,000,000 citizens,
Now, therefore be it resolved that,
we support and encourage the efforts
of all public leaders to maintain a
sound and stable measure of value and
a sound monetary system.
Pictures on Nursery Walls.
Pictures for nursery or game room
walls may be displayed in a new way
by pasting them flat on the wall and
tacking a narrow, half-round mold
ing along the edge. They are then
given a thin coat of varnish, and the
molding is lacquered the desired color.
The lacquer is best applied before
nailing the molding to the wall with
headless nails.
Paint Needs Dry Surface.
Paint adhesion cannot be expected
on a damp surface, or on one covered
with wax, grease, oil or grime. Shel
lac all knots and pitchy places. Allow
the first coat to dry thoroughly before
applying the second coat of paint.
ROOSEVELT RENT
PUN EXEMPLARY
Reconditions New York City
Residence to Make Prop
erty Ideal.
Typical of the extensive moderniza
tion and repair work on tenanted
jropertiee all over the country is the
-epalnting and reconditioning just
indertaken on President Roosevelt's
*ew York City house on Sixty-fifth
itreet.
A corpe of painters, decorators and
jther skilled artisans descended on
this dwelling recently to renovate It
throughout, preparatory to offering It
for rent. It is this factor—"increas
ng rentability"—that is the motivat
ing force behind countless recondl
tloning jobs undertaken by landlords
Jn communities everywhere.
With the provisions of the national
housing act's modernization credit
plan providing the means, owners of
investment properties are availing
themselves of the opportunity to re
paint and repair and thus add to
their income. The Federal Houeii.g
Administration said in a recent re
lease that surveys In verious cities
indicate the greatest proportion of
needed property reconditioning existed
in rented properties rather than
owner-occupied.
A "breakdown" of a group of typical
loans reported to the F. H. A. this '
week showed that Interior decorating,
heating equipment and exterior paint
ing occupied the first three positions
m the list of operations for which
modernization credit was extended. Of
a total of 10,769 jobs covered in the
summary, 1,527 or 14.18 per cent were
interior decorating; 1,221 or 11.34 per
cent were heating, and 1,182 or 10.97
per cent represented exterior paint
protection.
The Housing Administration points *
out that Its regulations permit an in
dvidual owner to obtain loans up to
$2.000 each for several pieces of prop
erty. The number of such loans, how
ever, cannot exceed five unless speci
fic approval is given by the Federal
Housing Administration.
(Brppmutrh jForcst
TRULY AN ACHIEVEMENT
A carefully planned home community
Amazing beauties - Astounding values.
Have you seen this delightful suburban community with its wide
and winding paved streets, its park and beautiful pool and cascades,
its ornamental lamp standards with their city illumination, its beau
tiful trees, shrubbery and lawns, its magnificently planned homes,
each designed for its specific setting, the best of construction and
equipment which challenges comparison?
In the selection of a community In which to establish a home for
permanency, one should give careful consideration to the many fac
tors, tangible and intangible, which assure the ultra in contentment
and the Inevitable enhancement in values.
In Greenwich Forest you will find every known element for con
venience, contentment, beauty both natural and contributed, and
values incomparable.
Homes now available or under construction.
Every known city convenience PLUS the Inalienable right ot
every American Citizen to vote.
How to Reach Greenwich Forest
This community ** reached bv driving out Wisconsin Avenue to traffic light
in Bethenda. turning left on Old Georgetown Road txco blocks and then turn
left on Wilson IAne to property at Hampden Lane Or dnre out Bradley
Lane to Wilson Lane, right on Wilson Lane one block to property.
The Homes Sow Available Are Equipped With
GENERAL ELECTRIC KITCHENS
Through the Cooperation of the Potomac Electric Power Co. and
National Electrical Supply Co.
HlLLEfçElST
1621 Κ St. R.altàr, NAt. 8500
r
2 Remarkably Fine Values I
1500 Allison St. N.W.
One Block from 16th St.
A large center hall plan corner brick
home in the «elect upper 16th St.
Section. You would judge a home of
this type in thi· location tubitantially
higher in price. Attractive center
hall plan, living room, dining room,
•un parlor, immaculate kitchen.
There are four bedrooms, «mall sew
ing room, bath with shower, gas
heat, garage. House completely
renovated. Wide frontage, nice
shrubbery.
*13,750
10 Grafton St.
Just Off Chevy Chate Circle
Truly a livable home, in "Old" Chevy
Chase—one of the choiceit location*
in the entire Chevy Chase area. The
home is spacious in plan and in new
house condition throughout. A beau·
tifully landscaped lot 125 ft. by 125
ft., provides a lovely setting. Twelve
rooms, 3 baths, large front and tide
porches. Convenient location near
Conn. Ave. stores and the Ε. V.
Brown School.
THESE TWO HOMES
OPEN DAILY AND
SUNDAY
I
ν
WM. M. THROCKMORTON
Investment Bldg. Realtor District 6092 \
—A tt m S
Just Completed—Another Charming
CAPE COD BUNGALOW
Priced
of Only
$6,950
On Convenient
Term·
I»-!-. f
Open for Impaction Day and Evening
123 GLEBE ROAD
WOODLAWN VILLAGE
One of Nearby Virginia's Newt
an J Fastest-growing Communities
Drive out now and tee thit ever-popular Cape Cod tvpe home tcith ί
cheerful, spacious room» and tiled bath, having all the usual appointments
included <n Brumback-Built hornet. Lot with. 10 feet frontage—beautifully
landscaped end attractive rear garden completely tcreened in with evergreen!.
Don't fail to see this and other splendid values
DHu Oat Today Over Key Bridie and Lee Hichwar te Glebe Bead.
Left Eight Square! to Property
Builder «1» * DDTT1ID Α ΓΙΓ Walnut
Developer Λ φ «f · DAUI*1DACXV 8921
ir
I In Shepherd Park
wm
1337 Jonquil St. N.W.
S
$4,000 under original coet. Terms
like rent. Renovated throughout
Open Sunday—11 A.M. Till Dark
or by Appointment
HENRY J. CONNOR
EMenen Jill
a
You Will Go Far to Duplicate This Chevy Chase Home
For $10,500
* « A This lovely house, nestled among beautiful shade trees on a well land
_ _ j scaped lot, is located in a much desired residential section lying between
Lfilftltfl Sf. the Forest Section and Meadowbrook and is adjacent to the Columbia
Country Club. The home is of charming architectural motif. This
ΓΊιο*-*? pL Hi home is financed with a long-term first trust, assuring maximum
^ ° V viasc, economy and protection to the buyer.
To reach, drive out Connecticut Ave
nue to Leland Street, left to home.
Open for
Inspection
Washington
Building
WEAVER BROC
tt realtors Ο
District
9486
Pretentious Chevy Chase Corner
. 5009 39th St. N. W.
Repossessed—Thoroughly Renovated
West of Conn. Ave. In » neighborhood of Imposing homes, occupied by persons prominent
in local and national affairs, convenient to grade and high schools, street cars, churches, etc.
The Ideal appointments are: First floor—step-down living room, dining room, library, break
fast room, lavatory and kitchen: Second Floor—iour bright, cheerful bed rooms, 2 colored tiled
baths; Attic, 3 maids' rooms and bath. There is a 2-car built-in garage, oil burner, electric
refrigeration. Beautiful lawns, lot 88x108, and abundance of well grown shrubbery.
ALL OF THESE FEATURES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LOW COST
PRICE REPOSSESSING UNDER A FIRST DEED OF TBUST.
Open Today and Sunday
L. T. GRAVATTE
729 15th St. N.W. Realtor National 0753
as—ess———