Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-16
A NAMEsAKE GIFT.
senator PnttersOn's Portrait Present.
ed to Patterson School.

senator PnttersOn's Portrait Present.
ed to Patterson School.
With appropriate exercises a portrait, ar
tistically executed and handsomely framed;
Of the late Senator James w. Patterson of
New Hampshire, which Is to be hung in
the recently completed Patterson public
school building, was formally presented
yesterday afternoon to ex-senator Blanche
X. Bruce of the board of school trustees.
by Mr.. w. B. Patterson, supervising prin-
cipal of the public school of the District,
and nephew of Senator Pattersons In the
audience, which was made up Of a large
number of well-knewn colored people, was
a brother of the dead statesman.
Senator Patterson did much for the pub
lie schools Of the District, and In his honor
the new building,a at Vermont avenue and U
street was named for him. The widow,
learning of this action, had Concord ar
list make the portrait referred to, and yes
terday Was the time arranged for the pre-
sentation. The exercises were held in the
e2 hibition hall of the ceiored High School
building. and when they were opened with
patriotic selection byla chorus of eighth
grade pupils, there were.seat on the plat
form ex-senator B. K.ABrlce, Gen. John
Eaton, ex-comm1ssioner of education;J. Or
Mond Wilson, Rev. r. j G1imke, John R.
Lynch. Prof. w. s. Montgomery and Mr..
w. B. Patterson. Mr. Bruce presided in
the absence of Superintendent Cook of the
colored schools. who was unable to attend
by reason OF illness. Tho portrait rested on
an easel at one side OF the platform. and
was hidden from view tt a large American
flag.
Speech by Gen. Eaton. -e-
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Grimke, Gen.
Eaton was introduced and made the open
ing address. He said Senator Patterson
and himself had been lifelong friends, and
then told of how, for ten years, the District
depended on Mr.. Patterson for measures in
Congress relating to education. Gen. Eaton
gave an extended biographical sketch of
the distinguished Senator, and declared him
to be a perfect man physically and intel
lectually, one possessing gre, power to
move the masses. His was a life that
life full of usefulness. 1.-The city of Wash
ington," concluded Gen. Eaton, lis greatly
Indebted to Senator Patterson for what it
has now In the way of public schools. He
foremost of educators" Gen Eaton was
loudly applauded.
Mr.. J. Ormond Wilson was introduced as
enc who had been intimately associated
with Senator Patterson. In the course of
his remarks Mr.. Wilson stated that the
public school system in Washington began
In 1905, with President Thomas Jefferson at
the head of the school board. In 1862, Mr..
Wilson said colored schools were first es-
tablished. with a school fund of but $346.5O
for the year. Mr.. Wilson eloquentiy de-
scribed what Senator Patterson did, par
ticularly for the colored schools, and closed
by characterizing him as a man whose
heart and intellect comprehended all hui
mainly.
John r. Lynch spoke In the same strain
as did his predecessors and Prof. Mont
gomery, after unwilling the portrait re-
lated its history and read extracts from
letters from Mrs. Patterson.
Presented by IL Nephew.
Having stated that his uncle was prac-
tical worker as well as a thorough scholar
and detailed his steps from the school room
to the Senate chamber Mr.. W. B. Patterson
turned over the portrait to Mr.. Bruce the
trustee representing on the school board
the district in which the Paterson school is
located. Mr.. Bruce took occasion to remark
that SenatorPatterson's name was identified
with very important measure acted on
when he was in Congress. and formally re-
ceiyed and expressed thanks for the por-
trait in behalf OF the colored citizens of the
District.
The exercises were brought to a close
with a benediction pronounced by Rev. Mr..
Grfmke. Between the addresses ENJOYABLE
musical selections were rendered by a
chorus of eighth-grade pupils by Miss Ell
len Adams of the High School, and by a
quartet, composed of Messrs Walton.
Wormley, Hurley and Washington also of
the High School. Prof. ]. T. Layton direct
ed the music, and Miss Ross and T. L.
furby served as accompanies.