Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-22
WAsHINGTON.S BIRTHDAY.
ITS OBSERVANCE HERE.
The Oldest Inhabitants, The Fire.
mems Parade. ETC.

Although the birthday OF George WaSnlng-
ton Is not to be legal holiday In this DlstrlcI
until next year, yet to-day the anniversary vi
the birth Of "The Father Of His Country" was
very generally observed here as holiday. me
federal and local government offices were ciosed'
as were many business houses; flags were ny ihS
from all prominent points, and there were se N-
eral ceie bTatiOnS OF the day, not"iuhStdhuLIlS
the threatened snow storm. AL sunrise Sd
lure was fired by the District OF Columola az
tiEefy. ana SaiuteS were also Hitu az Iho ho0-
nal and Navy Yard.
The Eiremen,s Parade,
the first since the full organization Of the
present force, was the event OF the day. The
various companies assembled, as per orders, at
the truck house, on Massachusetts avenue and
at the Union engine-houSe, No. /. On X, between
l6th ard ltth streets. at II O'Clock a. m, all In
perfect order, thoroughly manned and equipped
the nTemen In their new winter uniforms the
fine horses handsomely caparis0ned. the appa-
IaluS OF each company FURNISHED ana decorated
" ltn naS and WTeathS OF tIOWerS forming alto
Gether, the most imposing firemen'S display
ever witnessed In tbs city. and reflects ullcl
cIedlt upon the District authorities Chief Cro-
mn, ms assistant. the iremen. and all con-
Cerned. The second battalion met az 1890
O'Clock, at the truck-hOuSe on Massachusetts
avenue, and was composed OF company 1, VIM.
/. SoTrell foreman; No. 3. s. ID. Mackey, fore
nan; No. C, Charles Meriiatt foreman: truck A,
George Splllman foreman. They were formed
In the order named, and, headed by the Marine
Band, thirty pieces, under the leadership OF
Professor Louis Schneider, preceded by Lieut.
johnson with g mounted policemen, with
SeIgeantS McCathran and Fifield, they
marched by way OF Massachusetts avenue u
5tn, up 5tn TO h. and so on to the mon engine
house No. l, On X street. between 10th and 18th
streets. where the first battalion was in walt
liig drawn up In the following order: Company
NO. 2, VIM. a. Shedd, foreman; No. l. Joseph
PARIS. foreman; No. 3, Lewis +. Lowe, fore
man, and truck b. James Sprngman, fore
man. No. Engine house was handsomely feS-
TONED in front with flags and banners, and the
apparatus. Men. and harness made az excellent
showing. Prior TO taking UP the line Of march,
Chief Cronin assembled the tirenen together
IN the hall OF the engine house and instructed
them in the programme 20 be carried ont. Tue
instructions were giving in the presence Of Fire
Commissioners Collins, Bacon and Hume and
Major Thomas p Morgan, chief of police. The
lire Of march was then taken no by WAY OF X
to 18th streets, PENNSYLVANIA av1nue. when the
procession passed through the west cate OF the
grounds in front or the Executive Mansion.
AT The WHITE HOUSE.
Here the companies were reviewed by PTeSi-
dent Hayes, Secretaries Sherman. Thorn 1SOI.
MCtTary, and SCluZ. District COMMIT SSiOacrS
Dent. Phelps, and TWining. the Fire Commits
sioEefs named, Major Morgan. and others
Tie grounds surrounding the front of the
Executive Mansion and the Avenue Were
thfCnGed WITH spectators, and the scene
was exceedingly animated and pICa5in"
crowded With ladies' and children, and on the
whole line Cf march the windows and doors OF
residences were filed with spectators The
liue HE'D out through the east cate thence
along Pennsylvania avenue TO the CAPITOL pro-
ceeding to Tie east front b.: way of The north
approach.
DRILL AT TIE CAPITOL.
EXemp}ifcat:On of tie drill was then given
he me consisted Of the engines. single file
fiHead oil the hose carriages. doubled u9 hose
carriages abreast OF engines; in column by blt-
taioa only. engines all abreast; the hose Cai'-
RACES all abreast. Tsle signals arranged were
as t0ll0WS:-GHe, start; two, stop; three, mount:
IGuf. dlSl0ollnt; tWenty-Onc. single file: twenty
three, double up and counter march and form
ccl'h8n, ana tWenty-fOur single file. On the
lille OF EaIch 10 the Capitol, At 49, street the
HfSi battalion formed column without COM
ter-mafchlng, followed by the second battalion
ne same way. At tth street a single file was
ICfined TO the Capitol. The movement of man
ard apparatus At the east front OF the CanftOl,
bttoie The District commissioners Fire COM
lnlSSiOHtfS ana The Congressional committees
on the District OF Columbia was as follows
single ME trGt. mounted: second double 10
mounted; third, single Tile dlsInouuted, passing
In review until The line halted and after one
company at time left Whirled fnte lire. facing
me reviewing officers, each company dressing
on the right company, the officers OF each COM
E*hy taAihS position three PAGES 20 the front
u the center Cf their respective companies. The
tEEohE OF spectators was very large, covering
the steps, ioftIC0eS, aud entire space and
grounds OF the east front of the Capitol
tNCep ing that portion cleared BY the
ponce Tor inspection and review.
At the close OF The review the line Of march
was wa t>e| jersey avenue 10 ID street to the
City Hall, when the men were dismissed and
Iioke rank for their respective stations.
The Oldest Enhabitanss.
The Association OF Oldest Inhabitants and the
veterans of the war Of 1872 celebrated the day
at noon In Wizards hall There was a very fair
attendance, Including number of ladies
Among those present were JOS ilbbey. Geo. A.
Bonrer, ;; Mast, y. Callan. Capt ThurbJ, John
A. Ross, b. Periey Poore James PiIIiDg. George
lill, ". Boron, Theo. McGlue. Jas. Goddard G.
b. Church, T. N. Hanson. Robert Bal g. f.
Cuttings, Thos. Mcdonald, E. Wheeler, L. T.
dlaslStro; J. 3. Blake, G. Mattingly. Or. j. W.
Clarke, John Van K5wick. Jas. A. TAFT, ThCs
b. EntWlse, Gee. savage, 5. E. Douglas, IIora-
10 King, John ID. DeireeS, and eX-Gov. Cooke
Dr. Blake presided, with Mr.. H. y. Easily as
secretary. Major Ben: PeTley P0Ore and Mr.
libbey were also on the platform. Dr. Blake
called The meeting to order, remarking that
since the organization OF the society It had
been their custom to celebrate this day and the
4th OF July, and that custom was now the law
OF the association. Mr.. Libbey was introduced
and after few preliminary remarks, read Sc
It from Nasllipgton'S Farewell Address.
The reading was received with much favor
Major Poore then proceeded to deliver the fol-
lowing address, which was received with great
applause:
ADDRESS OF MAJOR ZEN: PERLEY PooRE.
Mr. President Gnd Gentiemen:-It is eminantly
proper that the birthday of the Fdthef of his
Country should be hOnOrcd at the Metronolis
which lie located, and which bears his name
III IS wei that the Oldest Inhabitants OF the city
OF Washington should annually meet on this
haiioWed day, to revive their friendships: to re-
call their "reminiscences or the past and 10 in
dulge In hopes for the future prosperity and re-
noWn of their Metropolitan home Why l.
more accustomed 10 reporting speeches than TO
making theIn,-WaS selected 10 address yOpand
your distinguished guests, 1t became me nor 70
enquire, and the very sense / eEtPrt aimed Of nv
own UniitIesS enhanced the compliment 81 nm
e&pect6dly PAID me. Although d native aud 4
cltiZ3n or Massachusetts. have never I0rc,r:trnn
ihat ny mother and my wife were born in the
District OK Columbia, and that have passed 4
scod portion Of the last fifty years OF my life
ere. lie numerous faV0rS that haze re-
telFed GufiHS TINS long although not COlttlu1u,
sclouTn nom the citizens OF this District made
Il impossible 10 decline any reasonable request
tnaitat!hS from then.-yej could but feel that
@hen others more learned, more eloquent
more IN the habit OF addressing public assem-
pies were passed over. that might ba SELECTED
as your orator, was far more indebted TO your
NhdneSS, than TO my own merits.
DIFFERENT PHASES OF TASHISGTOS'S LIFE
otheis nave spoken 10 yOn In past years Of
", " ashlngtons peerless purity as citizen of his
integrity as CHIEF magistrate OF his proves
as soldier, and Of his labors as the nroipnI6r
Cf this federal city. 10 which his namP wos
properly given. Let me improve unoccunied
ground and say a few words concerninT an
ether phase or his cherished hfe Great and
good, and brave, Washington had few thinos
dearer at heart than the cultivation OF the soiI
torn ara reared on farm. he there acurIira6
NlSof OF thought and independence of artInn
aid when later in life he became the oyynar ~
Mount vernon, he eyinced a deem tntaras+ in is