National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-24
WASHINGT0N'S BIRTHDAY.
The Observance in this City and
Alexandria.
The Oldest Inhabitants and the Monument
Sooiety-Parade and Inspection of the
Fire Department-Closing of the
Century saGe-Public Meeting
at Mount Pleasant-Gala
Day in Alexandria.



was very general in this city. The Depart
ment and District government buildings and
many private business houses were closed;
flags were flying from many buildings, and
here and there houses were profusely deco
rated with bunting. The chief public events
of the day were the celebration of the Oldest
Inhabitants the parade and inspection of the
Fire Department, and tho ceremonies of clos
ing the century safe at the Capitol.
THE OLDEST INHABITANTS,
In company with the veterans of 1912, cello.
brated the day in their usual appropriate
manner at Wizards Hall, DR.. j. b. Blake pre-
siding. The Farewell Address of Washington
was read by Mr.. Joseph Libbey aud Major
Ben: Perley Poore delivered a lengthy and eX-
cccdingly interesting Grafton The attendance
was very large, and included q number of
ladies.
THE MONUMENT SOCIETY.
According to custom, tho Washington Ma
tional Monument Society held meeting,
which was presided over by Hon. Robert VIM
throp, who laid the cornerstone of the monu-
ment The election for officers resulted in the
choice of President Hayes, president er-o9icio;
w. w. Corcoran, first vice-president; Robert
Winthrop, second vice-president; A. B. Smith,
treasurer. The resignation which DIR. j. b.
Blake bad rendered as secretary of the society,
society refused to receive, and DIR. Blake was
reelected secretary unanimously. During n
general conversation Mr.. Winthrop said that
he assents to the modification of the monument,
as designed by Mr.. Story, il Congress should
think proper to adopt it, but would prefer the
old plan of the obeisk He preferred any
thing to having the work already done pulled
down. Those present were Admiral Powell,
General Dunn, DR.. j. NJ. Brodhead, Hon. Ho-
: ratio King w. S. Cox, DIR. ID. B. Clarke, Hon
Robert Winthrop, DR.. John Is. Blake, and Col
onel Berrett.
THE FIREMENs PARADE.
The parade and inspection of the Fire Depart
ment attracted more attention than any other
: event, and during the progress Of the process.
i sion along the Avenue the sidewalks were
= crowded with spectators. At the Capitol sew
! eral thousand people witnessed the drill and
inspection. The procession, headed by force
u of mounted police aud the full Marine Band,
. moved shortly before noon from No. Engine
y. House, and, turning into Pennsylvania ave-
u nue., passed through the grounds of the Exec
IL utiye Mansion, where they were reviewed by
!. President Hayes, Secretaries Sherman, Thomp
y son, McCrary, and Schurz, the District Com
e missioners, the Fire Commissioners. MaO
Morgan, and other officials. Leaving tn,
!. Executive Mansion the line of march wa
- taken up to the eastern front of the Capitol
u where the Department was drilled under thu
= direction of Chief Cronin. The drill was yer,
= interesting. The rapid evoluSions of the en-
:, gines, trucks, aud carriages showed the perfec
y discipline of both men and horses.
There were six enGj mes and two trucks, will
:, hose carriages, fully manned and equipped, |,
II line, showing the whole available force of tn
v Department. Two engines belonging to tn
. Department, for which no companies have BEEF
y provided, were left in their houses. Both new
!, engines Nos. and 8, and the new truck wcr
80 in the procession. The appearance Of tn
~ horses and apparatus, and Of the men, VIII
~ were attired in new uniforms, was highl,
y creditable to the Department. The Depart
y ment was inspected by Congressman Black
IA burn, District Commissioners Phelps Dem
~ and Twining, Fire Commissioners Hume
y Collins, and Bacon, and Major Morgan. Upo
~ leaving the Capitol grounds the route wa
!! along New Jersey avenue and d street to tn
City Hall, where the companies were dsmisse
~ and repaired to their different houses.
g THE CENTURY SAFE.
y, Several hundred people assembled in Staff
II airy Hall in the Capitol at noon Saturday
W witness the formal ceremony of closing tl
century safe. During the morning the SAT
which is located in the southwest corner of I'll
90 Hall, was hidden from the public by screen
~ and Mrs. Diehm and others interested in IL
successful launching of tho safe and its carl
down the stream of time busted themselves
the inclosure arranging the articles to be d
l., posted. At noon the screens were remove
and the inner glass door of the safe was locke
by Senator Ferry. President Hayes, who vi
. to be present, was represented by his priva
IS secretary, Mr.. Rogers, who expressed the rcgr
nd the President felt in being unable to be preset
#. on so important an occasion. As the spectacle
u generally expected some more extended Ger
~ mony il was some time before they compr
re hended that it was all over. The different a
IT. ticles deposited are arranged neatly on Il
N, shelves. The photographs arc placed in u
ed right frames.
In addition to the articles already enume
w. ated in The REPUBLICAN the following ar
oil Giles were deposited Saturday, A book on II
Ia tiOnal banking laws, by Representative O'Nei
ny of Pennsylvania; sermon preached at u
Il, Foundry Church on the last Thanksgivir
'nl Day of the first century, by Rev. S. Dome
no and three stereoscopic views of the Centenni
M. chimes, with Professor widows playing ther
~. Mrs. Deihm expects the House and Soma
soon to receive the safe formally on the part
,,,. the nation, whereupon the key will be pac,
.Iiss in the Smithsonian Institute, not to be 7
iss moved until July 4, 1876, when the safe is
nix be unlocked. As only the glass door has bee
or formally closed, there will be nothing to hind
iss an occasional inspection of the articles enclos
nd in the safe by opening the iron doors and loo
nj. lug through the glass.
'rs MOUNT PLEASANT
ma The patriotic citizens of Mount Pleasant q
rs sombled in Union Hall on Saturday evenil
W. and celebrated the one hundred and forty-se
nc. Ond anniversary of Washingtons birth in
90 appropriate manner under the auspices of /
Irs Mount Pleasant Assembly. Speeches were ma
Ic by j. w. Buker, esq president of the Assc
NJ bly, l.. s. Emery, Is. p, Davis, IL. c. HarmC
n.y. Judge Freeman, S. G. Arnold, and others.
eW THE DAY IN ALEXANDRIA.
in The ancient city Of Alexandria was I'll
rc. with spectators aud patriotism last Saturd
on the occasion Of the annual parade of I
Iios firemen and military in honor of Washington
aJ. birthday. The Washington Light Guard,
,cy this city, under command of Captain Don't
IrS McCathrau, was tho only visiting military
The ganization, and turned out about forty m
kets. They were enthusiastically received, Il
ot. their soldierly bearing was the subject of ma
md complimentary illusions.
hor The procession was very crodtable, q
ms. every detail was crefully attended to by
for committees having it in hand. 1t was divd
iIv into three divisions, and comprised the AL
'' andria Light Infantry, st. Johns Battalion
mia Cadets, Washington Light Guards, Hydrauli
,an, and Columbia fire engine the Relief Hook a
ove and Ladder Company carriages containing
tbo mayor, members of the city council, and
,tar yited guests, ard wagons OF the leading br
=, In ness houses, bearing appropriate banners. ]
engines, hose-carriagcs, aud truck were imb
re- ed in flowers, aud each nut, bolt, screw,
lv's patent escapomenL shown in manner VIII
.ing bctokcned great deal of labor. At the G
she clusion of tho parade the Washington Lii
~ Guards Were pgcOrtpl To the Mansion Hon