Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-05
THE OLD GENTLEMEN CELEBRATE
A Fourth of July Meeting Conducted
on Old Fashioned Meth0dS-The Dec.
laratiOn of indie pendence Read-Ad.
dresscs by Zen: Perley POOre and
Others.

A Fourth. of July Meeting Conducted
on Old Fashioned Meth0dS-The Dec.
laratiOn of indie pendence Read-Ad.
dresscs by Zen: Perley POOre and
Others.
The Oldest Inhabitants met at noon in their rooms
at the Corcoran building yesterday to renew their
vows of patriotism celebrate the glorious Fourth in
an old fashioned way, and elect officers for the
ing year. The room was decorated with festoons Of
patriotic bunting, and some OF the members Of the
society wore red white and blue rosettes their
white silk badges.
Among those present were the president, Major
Jenkins Thomas; the secretary, Mr. Nicholas Caan
the recording secretary, Mr. j. Goldsborough Bruff
the treasurer, MI. Robert Ball, and MeSsrs G. A.
Bohrer, Jas. A. Wineberger.J W. shiles, n D. Lar
Jonas Ellis, E. w. Drew, Jos T. Libbey, Leonidas
Knowles, John MarbuTy, J. D. Hendley, ". E.
c. c. Calvert, B. r. Dyer, John w. Martin, A. II.
Young, Thos. A. Mclaughlin, Edward Mankin and
John Pettibone
MIR. Ben: Perley Poore, an honorary member was
guest OF the society. The Fourth of July gather
Ing Is sort of annual reunion, and many members
monthly meetings There are many trte Jokes
about the youthfulness OF the members which are
uttered every Fourth OF July, and laughed over as
heartily as though they were fresh Inspirations.
Mr.. Chas. II. Trunnell and j. Edwin Krouse of
Georgetown. were nominated for membership 10y
Mr.. jenkins Thomas
"a West Washington man, amt hep" inquired
Mr.. Parker, referring to Mr. krouSe.
mo, sir, he is not" said Mr.. jenkins Thomas,
who halls from that section of the city west OF
Rock creek.
AZ Georgetown man." suggested Mr. Bohrer,
thinking he saw the point which the president had
in mind.
mo, Sir, he is not" said Mr.. Thomas firmly but
kindly. lies Washington man, sir, Washing
ton man. and having thus rescued Georgetown
from the 1gn0miny OF being considered a mere
suburb. he settled back in his seat with smile OF
satisfaction.
Mr.. John II. Thompson was nominated to men,
beTship. and as he was present he was elected
without reference TO committee, that fornality
is dispensed with on Fourth OF July. The presi-
dent presented to the society," in behalf OF Mr.. RW.
Clarke box containing SIX old coins.
The secretary announced the deaths of John
Moore and George Mattingiy, members Of the So
ciety.
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The society then proceeded to reelect officers. Mr..
jenkins Thomas was reelected president, and In
his speech of acknowledgment announced that this
was the first time in the history OF the society that
that there had been a cent in the treasury over
and above liabilities. Mr.. Bruff suggested that
they would have enough money to buy safe with
not reelected entire, as complaint was made that
some OF the vice presidents never attended the
eeng The list Of vice presdents Chosen
Was ' JDo cafk Noble D. IarneT ANTHONY TN ny
Mclaughlin and Edwin NJ. Drew. Mir. Nicholas
Cailan was reelected secretary, Mr.. J.. G. BruI,
Nr 5e M Robert % B
marshal In place of Seraphin Masf, deceased, and
Mr. Z. {. Calvert was elected tanitOr.
READING THE DECLARATION
Mr.. Thomas then introduced Mr.. John Marb ury
jr., to read the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Marbury piefaced the reading by saying
that 40 years ago he had the honor of being Sc
lected TO read the same instrument before an as
SeInbly Of coo or 1900 sunday school children OF
all denominations III what was then Parrots wood,
now Oak Hill cemetery. He then read the declara-
ton with considerable elOcutonary grace. When
he mad concluded he said that OF the Sc Sgners "A
were lawyers, IA farmers. merchants, physi-
clans, one was minister OF the gospel though
had been educated for that profession, but had
chosen other avocations, and one was manufac-
tuTef. lie mentioned as matter OF special inter-
est to the Oldest Inhabitants that these good men
lived TO good old age nearly all living to be three
score ana ten. 1hrr6 lived TO be over 80, ten over
~, ana eleven over 10, and but one, who was
drowned, died at 80
MR.. BEN: PEKLEY PooREs REcoLLECTIoSs.
The president then called Mr. Ben: Perley Poore
10 The floor for remarks. MI P0Ore referred to the
practice OF the boys when sliding On the pond, to
get tie largest boy to slide first SO to see whether
the Ice VII! bear his weight. ~ suppose he Oh
served, THAT | owe the honor of being called on
nfst 10 the size of my Wast-band. Mi. POore said
MS grandfather, Allan Dodge, came here from New
England IN 1888 and settled in GEORGETOWN, where
his mother was born. few minutes after She was
born. he said musket was fired ia the house and
nearly frightened the old lady 10 death They had
an Old Mahometan servant, Old Yara, whom many
Oh people remembered According TO the custom
q
salute lis grandfather, the speaker said. went
PACK 10 View England, leaving the business here to
MS brother, Francis Dodge, whose daughter the
speaker married Although lie was not citizen OF
inc District he had spent over half OF his lie here
" lit II he came here John Quincy Adams was Presi-
Gent, MarSht ii was Chief Justice. and John Ran
uolph ruled the Senate. He had always had a great
sympathy for the people OF the District, who had
not, In his opinion, ever had fair show Congress
mad !eglelated for them very capriciously He
closed his speech with pathetic allusion TO the
stars and stripes and TO the government, which
was too economical to fire salute the Fourth OF
july, though 1t could afford to have them fired
when any small politician. who happened to be
secretary, gees to the navy yard.
OTHER EXERCISES.
Mr.. Hollis Amed0n presented to the society list
OF toass drunk at a Fourth of July celebration held
IN 1873, which he attended when little boy. This
celebration was held at a CROSSROADS near AL
bany, New York. Mr.. AmedOn said his father was
fatherS DuckSkin breecheS and long boots with taS-
SelS
Mt. Callan was asked to make speech, but de-
cllned to say anything further than that he was
he believed, the last OF the Mocans-the last sur
VlTor " the original members OF the society, and
now was like
1.-The last rose of summer,
Lett blooming alone"
Mr.. Libbey and Mr. Wtnebnrger made remarks
appropriate to the day, aid Mr.. j. GoidSborOugh
Brufi read an extract from Cid publication CIV
ing correspondence between washington and the
E n