Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-02-22
TASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY.
THE NEW NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
celebrations ia the Capital City.

w
forward his natal day should be set apart as
a national holiday. This is the Hath an, -
versary of the birth of the Father 4 his
Country, and the day opened wi a clear
shy and moderate Temperature. All the de-
partments Of the United states And cItv
governments were close. q. and the banks and
nearly all OF our r5ominent business firms
closed their Banking houses and stores.
There was a liberal display of bunting on
the public buildings, hotels and on private
residences. There were, besides, military
parades, the hremen's procession, patriotic
gatherings, and other evidences of reverence
for the illustTious hero OF the American revo-
luton.
At an early hour this morning crowds
were on the southwark bound tn street cars,
en- route for Alexandria by the boats, and at
the Baltimore and Potomac depot there was
a perfect jam of passengers bound for the
same point by the Alexandria trains.
The Military Parade.
Company A, Washington Light Infantry,
Col. W. G.. Moore commanding, assembled
at their armory at O'Clock a. m, and heal
ed by the Marine Band, marched 70 Virginia
avenue and LIST street, where the Maryland
9Th regiment, commanded by Lieut.. Col.
II. ID. Loney, was received, disembarking
from the Baltimore train about 9k o'clock a.
m. Company A turned out about go mus
kets, and wore their. white Aus rian cloth
swallow tail coats and bear-skin shakos, and
looked splendidly. The Maryland 9Th (Which
left Baltimore at o clock, by the Baltimore
and Potomac railTOad,) numbered about 400
muskets, and were headed by a drum corps
of 20 and their fun regimental band. They
wore OveTcOatS and bear skin shaKos, knap-
sacks with blankets rolled fatigue caps sus-
pended, and presented a fine appearances,
their marching-usfng short quick step
attracting favorable comment along their
route. They were escorted by the Infantry
up Pennsylvania avenue TO the PRESIDED It's
House, where they paid Gen. Grant marc..-
ing salute, and by way of Pennsylvania ave
nue. and 18th street marched to their special
train on Maryland avenue; where, shortly
after II o'clock, they embarked for Alexan-
dIia.
The Oldest Inhabitants
The Oldest Inhabitants association, ac-
cOTding TO their annual custom, assembled
al the City Hall, at IL O'Clock, to listen To
the reading of WashingtOn's farewell address
and an Grafton. Among those present wera
DR. J. B. Blake, president; Mr. n. Csltan, act
ing as secretary; Mr.. Clar ke, j. II: Knot. III.
n. Easily. y. Mast, s. Stetinus, VIM. Bacon,
J. W. NARROW, j. q. Bruff, G. Bradley, ]. A.
Kennedy, f. Simms, Captain Bestor, NJ.
Nash, III. n. Zeveley, Capt. j. II. Goddard,
George Mattingly, w. III. Prentiss, John ID.
Wheeler. p. Crowley, n. Mllliken, f. G. Eek
loft, Clark Mills, and VIM. Lord. DR.. Blake
called the meeting to order, stating that 1T
was not business meeting, but one TO pay
homage 10 the mortal ard immortal Father
of his country.
MIR H. N. Easily was introduced, and after
making some preliminary remarks on the
character of Washington, read the Farewell
Address. Several parts OF the address were
heartily applauded.
Mr.. Callan was introduced, and delivered
THE GRAFTON.
After briefly referring TO their organiZa-
tiOn, who owed it as a duty to observe the
day, he referred TO the prophecy of Lord By
ron that every nation of the earth would be
politically regenerated from the thraldom of
despOtism as the inevitable result of the
heritage of freedom left us by George Wash
tngtOn. Our city, with Its remarkably
healthy climate, magnificent public build
ings ard private dwellings, and wonderful
adaptation for all classes of Improvements
that conduce TO health and longevity, has
particular cause for holding his memory in
veneration, for he devoted all his energies to
making it what it now is-the polished seat
of the most liberal government of ancient or
modern times, and a special object of admir-
alton On The part of visitors and travellers.
He referred To the unfinished monument, the
foundation OF which was laid twenty-eight
years ago. While our unfortunate difficult
Ties with sister states were calculated to re-
taId its progress, yet since the happy recon-
ciliiation and peace at home and abroad, the
time seems u have arrived when additional
attention should be bestowed upon this work
So long Neglected. The hard times and the
scarcity OF money has been cOmmonlyset
mp as the cause Of neglect, but that is not
borne ont by exterior appearances, for never
were so many splendid equipageS seen on
Cur streets, more parties or social gatherings
given, nor such magnificent displays of
wealth or costly OrnamentaftOn made nor
any amusement season better patrOniZed,
AS these indications do not belong to coun-
try that is suffering from prolonged money
crisis, let us all indulge in The hope that an
other and more successful effort will be
made, and we shall see the great monuments
al column pierce the mists that now hover
glOOmily over ii.
Mr.. Callan's address was quite brief. but
pointed, and it was well received. Several
ladies and q number OF young men were
present, and Chief Justice Cartier was an
attentive listener.
Mr. Easily suggested that the Presidents
proclamation promulgating the joint resolu-
tion OF Congress making Washington IS BIRTH
day legal holiday, be read.
Mr.. Callan read the proclamation, amid
Mr.. Elliot said he understood the resolu-
ton 10 make this day national holiday, but
1t did lot affect future birth days.
Mr.. Easily differed.
Votes of thanks were passed TO the reader
(Mr. Essby) and the orator Mr.. Callan), and
the meeting adjourned.
Washington Monument Association.
The annual meeting of the Washington
Hall at noon to-day, Messrs Powell, lin the
chair,) Stuart, Watterson, Clark, McDon-
aid, BerIett, Blake, Hall, Cox, Stansbury,
received from Mr.. A. Burrell, rendering his
services as a collecting agent. The commu-
nicatiOn was referred.
DR.. Blake moved that committee be an
pointed to examine the accounts oft the secre-
tary; carried, and Messrs. Clark and Cox
were appointed.
Hon. Il c. Winthrop was elected a ,nen-
Der of the board to I'LL a vacancy occaSioned
by the death OF Mr.. Brent.
The board proceeded to elect officers as fol-
lows: u. s. Grant, President of the United
States, president eX OfficiO; w. w. Corcoran
LIST vice president; Hon. X. G.. Winthrop, I'd
vice president; j. Il. II. Smith, treasurer.
DR.. Nichols said that he was pleased when
he heard that DIR. Blake he'd, on the death of
Mr.. Brent, taken temporary charge of the
Office OF secretary, and he expressed the hope
that he would continue in charge of the Of
fee. He moved that DR.. J. b. Blake be
elected secretary.
Or. Blake said that while he was willing
to act as secretary pro TEN. he would not
consent to an election as permanent Sec
rotary
DR.. Nichols then moved that DIR. Blake be
elected to fill the position until a permanent
secretary be selected; agreed To.
Dr. StansDury read letters from Hon. K. G.
Winthrop, Transmitting 50 copies of his work
on Washington, Bowcoin and Franklin, to
be sold at 50 each for the benefit of the mon
ument. DIR. Stansbury said that the book
contained the grafton of Mr. W. on the lay
ing Of the corner stone OF the monument,
July 4, 1913, and he read from the preface OF
tbe book: GA careful scientific examination
OF The foundations of the structure leaves no
room for reasonable doubt that they are suf-
fcient for its contemplated height. Mean
time the design . = has been so simblified as
TO remove all grounds for the adverse criti-
.cism 10 which originally IL was but too
OPEN" he expressed the hope that the mem
beers would take the dfty copies.
Some conversation took place as tn the in