Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-02-23
wAsRINGroN's BIRrHDAY.
How the Anntyersaryfwas Observed In
WashfngtO0.
Parade and Review OF the District
Militia
Meeting Of the Oldest Inhabitaut,s
and the W Washington National
MOnumene Associations.


Father OF his Country has not been generally OBJ.
served but this, the capital city of the republic,
which Washington founded, and near which he
spent the last days Of his life, has never been
derilect in commemorating the event in . suit
able manner. The feature Of tO-day's celebra-
ton was the parade and review of the District
militia by the President of the United States
and Governor Shepherd, Of the District of Co
lumbia. The day was further observed by the
Oldest Iphabitants' and the Washington Ma
tional Monument Associations, both Of which
Urtste Exercises took place. The Houss Of Rso-
Iesentatives adjourned over In honor of the day,
and the Post ONCE department was closed to-
day by order Of Postmaster Creswell, and in
most Of the other departments the clerks were
allowed to leave after IL m. The pupils of the
public schools were given a full holiday, aud all
OF the offices Of the District government were
lie buildings in the District, and from many
private residences. The weather was delight
full, the air being as mild and balmy on day
In May. Below we give q detailed account Of
the Observance of the day:
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT ASSOCIATION
held their annual meeting at noon to-day, when
the following officers were elected: General w.
Il. Sherman, second vice president; w. w. Cor
coTan, third vice president; j. b. III. Smith,
treasurer; j. Carroll Brent, secretary. The
President OF the United States is ex-Officio pres
the District of Columbia ex-oficio first vice
president.
The Military Parade.
The feature OF the day was the parade of the
seen here for some years. The command of the
brigade devolved upon Colonel X. L. Flem-
ing, who was accompanied by his staff, Major
gan, and Lieutenant Woodbridge. The troops
formed on Louisiana avenue 1.-THE right resting
on 5th street) about p. m, in the following
ITde W.T., Colonel fleming and stan Major W.
ident's and Governors Mounted guard, ever
100 sabres; full Marine band. AZ pieces led by
Professor Schneider; LIST regiment numbering
about $50 muskets, consisting of Company A,
Captain Moore, wv. L. Il B, Captain NC
Cathrsn, CIV. l.. Guard;l Q, Captain De Motto,
Nv. L. ID d, Captain Carver, (w. l.. L. and
colored battalion, Major o. h. Fisher, and staff,
numbering l25 men; Company A, Captain
Poland; Company b, Captain Marshall, and
The line Of march was along Indiana avenue
to Sd street, to Pennsylvania avenue, TO 18th
street, to New York avenue, to 18th street, to X
street 70 ps G0nnecnent avenue ana Madison
tive Mansion, where the troops were TO be re-
viewed by the President. The column is then to
march to 18th street and Pennsylvania avenue,
where it will pass in review before Governor
Shepherd, with C0lonels Webster and Fugitt,
of his staff, and march TO 18th street, where the
parade will be dismissed. The first regiment
National Guard will then march to Vermont
avenue, where there will be dress parade and
drill in front of the Arlington, in presence of
President Grant, Governor Shepherd, General
Sherman, and other prominent officials.
The Oldest Inhabitants.
The ASSOCIATION OF Oldest Inhabitants assem-
bled in the court room of the city hall at
O'Clock p. m, DIR. John B. Blake presiding,
with Mr.. j. Carroll Brent secretary, Mr.. n.
Callan treasurer, and 3. Masi marshal. John
w. Marrow was nominated as a member by Mr..
Callan, and elected. The following were pres
emit emit Dr. J.; b. Blake, J; Carroll Brent, n Cal
Neal6 r.. Il.
J. G. Robinson, J. ID. Clark, Jenkin Thomas,
James A. Kennedy, P. Crowley, p. Thyson, b.
Reisf, j; G. Brutf, NJ. A. Rothwell, Capt. Bes-
Bowling, j. w. Martin, D. Hepburn, John
Frazier, Thomas Turbis, Thomas Mcdonald,
E. kingman, james Young, W. II; Williams,
Capt w. S. Mexican brought into the room
hue profile portrait of Washington, which is
supposed to have been painted between 1880
and 1Is5, by Werbuller, in Philadelphia, and
which Is therefore now over 90 years old.
Capt. Mast reported that the annual collation.
would take place at O'Clock.
A short recess was taken, and, upon reaSem-
bling, Ignatius Dyer and Jesse Kitchea, OF
Georgetown, were elected members.
GRAFTON OF JOSEPH GoLDsBoRoUGH BRUPF.
Col. j. Goldsborough Bruff was introduced
Grafton. After referring TO the fact that
the events of washington's life are inscribed on
The brightest pages Of history, he said he
might not slumber in the archives, because they
might prove instructive to some and rebuke
10 others who, from peculiar conceit, ignorance
or degeneracy, are In the habit OF M Mentioning
Washington in terms of disrespectfnl levity,
and others so recrea.. as to iDsnuate that selfish
motives had influenced him in some transac-
lions. The record OF ais unsullied life, of
every transaction, public and private, and of
his pure, devoted patriotism, are so well anthem
tcated that they stamp the base imputations
with the brand of unprincipied fals.ty. The
sum Of his character was one Of such moral
sublimity that We have never known Its coun-
terpart We may recur to his DO yhood in proof
Of his decision OF character, his Judgment, and
ms yalor, at the age OF Is years, when he braved
the hardships and perils Of that long wintry
travel through the trackless wilderness
throDged with hostile savages, in the perform
ance OF duty to the state, and another instance
Of true heroism, presence of mind, and tue
highest qualities of Q military chieftain, exhib-
tied in his young manhood in that sanguinsry
amidst the dead and dying and the dread con-
fusion, defying the unerring rides Of the unseen
foe, to save an army, and that instance OF de-
voted, patriotic yaior when, In his lifes merid-
and bore 1t forward with them to victory, and
we would ask If 1t was not q suffi cient proof Of
bis unselhshness, after oil his arduous and ines
to seek repose for his remaining years to decline
the profered liberal Offering OF his grateful
country and the same OF his native state?
we're, ambitious and remorseless character that
obtained for 30 many renowned heroes of the old
world the historic title Of great It was OF a
different order, of q preeminent character, a
nobility Of nature, and conferred upon him for
the noblest purpose by his Creator
Mr.. Bruf gave an Interesting sketch of WASH
ington early life, noting the fact that in 1854,
when but twenty-five years Of age, he attended
q council OF provincial governors at Gen. Brad
docks headquarters in Alexandra, and bsiRg
commissioned a lieutenant colonel, he was APP
pointed an aid TO the commander. When the
force left Alexandra, it assembled the Potomac,
landed on a rock which jutted out from the foot
OF the hill on which the national observatory
stands, and camped upon that hill. (The black
rock or Brsddock rock was favorite fishing
place, and was destroyed by blasting, being an
Obstruction 70 the canal) He referred to Brad
dock discarding the advice Of his youthful aid,
which would have saved the comm and from
disaster, and eloquently sketched the battle on
docks defeat"
He then recounted the events In washington's
life, on his return to Virginia as q membsr OF
the House Of Burgesses and delegate 70 the
Provincial Congress, by which he was appoint
ed Comm ander- in Chief in 1I75, and the great
events Of the revolution. Referring to the bat
tie OF Trenton, he quoted q revolutionary song
OF that time as follows:
:" On Christmas day of Seventy-six,
Our ragged troops, with bay'nets hx't,
To Trenton march't away.
The Delaware ice, the boats below,
And sky o'ercast by hail and snow