Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-17
THE NEW COURT H0ISE.


of the District of Columbia. iudoes and
other magistrates, with great thronp
OF people, attended on the occasion.
The State officials intending to par.
uclpate IN the dedication lef5 Alexan
dria about l o'clock. The throng be-
gan to gather on the hill around the
! courthouse before noon. The ordinary
roads had been cleared and a plank
iootway newly laid from the Falls
Church Electric Railway station, half
mile on, TO the courthouse. Electric
ny, horse power and active pedestrian.
ism had brought over thousand peo-
pie to the vicinity before the exercises
were begun, and this number was after
wards increased. Judge J. R. Love,
the county judge, arrived about 80,
and under the lead of the chairman OF
the board of supervisors, inspected the
building for the first time.
Governor Tyler reached the ground
about o'clock. He was accompanied
by his aide, Colonel Shelton, Mr.. Frank
Hume and Mr.. J. E. Clements. Com
missioner Wight, of the District of
Columbia, arrived at the same time as
did Hon. ]. r. Rixey.
Soon afterward Mr.. G. n. Saegmul-
Ter, chairman of the supervisors took
the chair on large platform, which
had been erected ia front of the court.
house. Among those occupying seats
on the platform were ex-Mayor Henry
Strauss, VIM. II. May, Mr.. S. H. Lunt,
MIR. Park Agnew, Col. K. Kemper and
Others. Most of the seats were occu.
piea by ladies.
After music Governor Tyler address.
ed the assemblage, illustrating his posi-,
tion in being obliged 10 respond TO the
kind invitation by az anecdote of a
criminal, who told the judge that his
case was an instance where the place
sought the man and not the man the
place. He jokingly said that he had three
speeches, but be had given two of his
best to the speakers who were to sue
coed him. The Governor finally gave
vent to more pathetic and poetic
thoughts, aud among other things said:
''In the shadow Of the great Capitol
at Washington you have erected this
imposing structure, which, while it will
be monument to your. enterprise and
public spirit. will also be q testimonial
| through years to come to the devotion
| of your people to justice, law, and Or
der. We are here upon historic ground,
and may inspiration from the past con.
strain those OF the present and the future
to walk uprightly and dispense justice
with an even hand, and declare the
law without fear and without favor.
You have reared this temple on the
banks Of this beautiful river, whose
| waters ripple ia musical notes, telling
in ceaseless songs Of the grandeur Of
the scenery along their banks, and of
the bravery Of the men and loneliness
of the women who have enlivened and
made glorious these historic hills and
plains, cultivate these grounds, adorn
and beautify them andmake this ftset-
ting among the orher jewels with which
art and nature have adorned this favor
ed locality. This is not only the near
est temple of justice that Virginia has
10 our great nations capital, but it is
the nearest public structure she has to
Arlington, the home of our peerless
Lee. May the memory of this illu5tri
Gus hero be q constant inspiration in
she performance of all obligations by
those who will preside within these
walls, and may that noble sentiment OF
his. that duty is the sublimest word
10 The Eoglish language, be the watch
word and talieman Of all who decide
and execute the laws for this people"
Tremendous applause followed.
Commissioner Wight, of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, then congratulated
the assembly upon the fact that they
were couutrymen of Washington, who
not only won the liberties of the PEG
pie, but who laid out the city of Wash
ington. He did not congratulate the
county upon the fact that Weshing ion
gamblers abused their hospitality, but
he gave them assurances that the Dis
trict authorities would cooperate with
the people of the county in ridding the
neiehborhood of the ''s.ain which had
rested upon it,"
Mr.. ]. E. Clements followed, giving
history of the courts, which led up to
the erection of the new courthouse at
its present site.
lie then introduced Mr.. NJ. W. Trim
mer. of Pennsylvania, who expressed
the qualification ne had experienced IN
meeting Virginia hospitality, and an.
ticipated the good results which would
crow from investments made IL that
neiphborhood. If be were q benefactor
who made two blades of grass succeed
one. how much more be who turned
the wilderness and the jungle into the
smiling abode Of man.
Representative Rixey was received
with loud applause, and devoted hi:
speech to Virginia and Her Interests"
He was listened to with marked atten-
ton and received three cheers.
Hon. E. e. Meredith and Mr.. A. A
Lipscornh also delivered stirring al
dresses.
A handsome collation. was set on ia
bles upon the court green, and many
participated and enjoyed the good
things which refreshed the inner man.
Rustic amusements added to the H.
terest of the occasion. The most pop
ular of them was creased pole, al
whose top was hung watch, clock,
hair brush, etc, fer which many
elm bers stroye, much to the amuse-
ment of portion of the gathering. a
fine hand of music added considerably
70 the enjoyment of the occasion. The
6av was not bright. the skies were
Iaeien and a cool wind seemed to
threaten snow. The crowd separate O
earlier than would have been the case
had the afternoon been talr one;
4, Afnf