davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

lived on the corner of 18th, in the same
block as the Shepherd house. At the time
| now speak of, 1874, there was a Whig
meeting held one night at the east side of
the school house which stood in front Of
where Ryland Chapel now stands Kelly
was an enthusiastic wing. l was a boy
and enthusiastic also. | had trans parencv
which | had made myself and painted
Henry Clay upon it. Kelly borrowed my
transparency to put over the coon cage on
the speakers stand. l was a proud bow
and never got tired of admiring that trans
parency that night as the best thing in the
whole lay out
l can't remember anything that was done
or said at that meeting, excepting the popu-
lar refrain
Wen give them a touch of that same old tune;
Well meet them again 10y the light of the moun;
Hurrah, for Harry Clay"
Before / could reclaim my transparency
the next morning the boys broke it up,
and Mr.. Lambell southed my wounded spirit
by the promise of 12ie cents.
He owes me that levy yet.
The birthplace of Grace Church remains
nearly the same, barring slight cutting
down of 18th street where the house now
stands Just below Maryland avenue This
was young ladies' ACADEMY, kept by the
Misses Rocker, as estimable ladies as
ever knew In addition to the academic
courses, they started a Sunday school in
the afternoon. The school grew hevond
their capacity. and they called in the Misses
Riley and others to help them The school
still grew and larger quarters became
necessary. Mr. VIM. NJ Morrison kindly
offered the use of building on 10th street
adjacent to his residence, which he had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
CHAPTER III.
The tnIbassadOr's Wager.


As l walked on, however. my mind was
working like n clock. Lorgnac's agitated
manner. his strange words at our partinc,
the presence of Condo in Paris, the fact OF
his being spied upon by the Spanish en-
5&ssy. and by such an agent as d'Aramgn:
all these pointed to some mystery NJ
curiosity was excited to the highest pitch
A. that time no badaud of Paris was as
eager as l TO poke his nose into matters
that did not concern him. And now that
am speaking Of myself, 1 might as we'll de-
scribe myself as l was then | was tall
and slightly built but strong and active as
a cat My features were sharp and pointed
SO that NJ college I got the unenyiable nick
name of La EQUINE. or the Fitchet. The
mention Of this always led TO trouble. so-,e-
times for me, sometimes for my torment
ors. But the name had dropped into obIiv-
ION since | had come to mans estate nj
though my sharp features remained
In the meantime. there was this mystery
10 be solved, and | was determined to got
at the bottom of the we'll. 1t was clear
that II was political matter, and thc,-I
looked around me, and saw that I was near
a most inviting-loolling seat where the
branches of a fallen tree spread out like an
easy chalr. My companion. whose percep-
tion III matters Of this nature was even
kcener than mine. was already there. and
following Pompon's example. / settled nv
SgIf down to unravel the skeins of the puz-
zlp " PNN
had not been there above half an hour.
during which l made but little progress
Wren heard my name called out and saw,
I.orsnac walking toward me with hasty
steps.
Well he said. as he came up to me.
haze you seen any onc?"
did not exactly like 10 give away my
nuts for nothing. but 1 swear that had
known how matters stood / would MOI
| have played with him as | did but have
SPOKEN out at once As it was. l answered
tdbhaE" Tor cabbage, Lorgnac-tcn me
Your secret and I'll ten you mine
Ny secret Is not my own" ne answered
Nor. l suppose, is mine; and l am grow
ing oil and wise. You remember the pro-
| Nero-a clos" mouth catches no flies"
He stamped impatiently Look here T..
/ ErES'luetl IT you have seen any one lei m.
| know who it is. If the prince has benn
! sI.sd upon and SEEN there will be a fright
| iui disaster. unless We can prevent it Not
/ only disaster for him, but for He stop.
| ped. hesitating, and lifted my hand
! DO not give away your secret! Sit down
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

formerly and unsuccessfully used as a
cocoonery. Here gentlemen were brought I'm
70 assist VIM r Riley, obadiah Morrison.
VIM. s. Roberts and others whose names
have escaped me lent assistance. Then
students from the Theological Seminary
came In TO help. From that time church
services were he'd as often as volunteer
preachers could be obtained Among these
L remember the Rev. Mr.. Rsmbn. who
a1terward went as a missionary 20 Cape
Palmas, I'm Africa. and died There. Soon
chGrCh congregation was formed and the
meetings. transferred 90 thu school house
1 nave referred TO. whore the WING meet
ing was held. Then the Rev. Alfred Hol-
mead was regularly called as IN, pastor.
A. the meeting houS" was about to be
pulled down, as il stood in the street. re-
moVal was made tn ihr Caldwell School
House, which had icen removed to ID
street between oh and 10th streets
Public wcrs hiy WAS continued there until
the present cditi,a ou the corner ui .lh and
II streets was built / have been thus par
ucular in noting the rise 81 Grace Church,
because a mistaken version has been given.
l know whereof l speak. as I was with
them from the start.
Major Howie's residence. oa thu corner
OF l4th ana . streets, recently 0wned 10y
the late John n Young. was uHC of tho
noted residences n S'uS Washington
There was nothing shndjy about these peo-
pie Ihs girls N'r- Ta .uTr.S Urh-, women.
The boy, Parzo HOWE. named after his
father | used tn play with. ! know not
what has become of him
StiIl Standing.
I mentioned before the old mansion house
and its owner Thomas Earb,ry. The Car
berry house stood ana yet stands on the
corner of nth and G streets opposite tho
Van Ness place. Can't. Carbcrv was the
prcsiden, of the Bank or The Metropolis.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

has been employed at Harvey's for thirty
four years.
II Sans brother Dennis, who used
to make me boats ami tote me on his back,
and | retain many kind recolections of his
many amable qualities.
The birthplace If Alex r Shepherd is on
E street between 18th and 18th. The illus
tratiOn shows the house as II is at present,
and also shows where the street has been
cut down since he lived there. It was af-
terward occupied by John Van Riswick for
a number Of years.
Alexander Shepherds father was the su-
perntendent of the Sunday school located
in the angle of Mary land avenue, ID and
18th streets and known as CaldwelPS school
house. from the name of owner, who re
sided in the same square.
y day school was kept there by Miss
Peckham, and was patronized by the Mat
tingiys, Rradleys, Randolphs, Howles,
Rileys and others whom / have forgotten.
DR.. D. B. Clarke was a pupil. So was Geo.
Byington, son of Samuel, a stalwart fellow.
The last time | saw him he was marching
down Pennsylvania avenue at the head of
Capt. Bruf's company on the way to Cali
fornia.
Going back to E street, Kelly H. Lambell
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

adequate protection. The house being in
street, all except the northwest corner,
was pulled down when q street was opened.
1t nominally belonged to Capt Thomas
Carbery, whom l will mention later. and
because of its precariOus tenure was suf-
fered to decay for years.
AT one time it was occupied by an old
lady who owned a number of slaves and
who depended upon them for support. She
was very !enieHt toward them. and espe-
cially to one Phil. She had threatened to
sell Phil or numerous occasions OF dis
obedience, so often that Phil was not
alarmed at the cry of Wolf once, eXaS-
perated beyond measure she declared she
would send for Mr.. Williams. the slave
dealer to buy him Huh" says Phil, you
needn't send for him: I'll so myself" Phil
was as good as his word and brought Mr..
Williams down to buy him.
Alter a prctense Of bargaining. she said
Phll' I'm no longer your mistress. go
along with your new master, Mr.. Will
liams."
Il didn't bring him here to buy me. l
bi ought him here for a beau for YOU" Phil
said. She never sold Phil.
The last time | saw Phil was lust after
the conclusion of our civil strife. Going
down 9TH street one day | saw a familiar
dark counteuance smiling as it approached.
Hello! Phil. is that you?' | exclaimed.
Dis is me, Mars George"
why. Phil, thought you were dead and
gone to Old Nick long ago"
oh! no, Mars George, Use here yit: has
you got quarter for 4 pore ole feller?'
In the same house also resided an old
couple from down the river with thirteen
slaves. On his death bed the old man man
united them on condition that they would
support his widow She did not live long
thereafter, and died in the almshouse.
The old tavern, foot of 11th street, was
kept by Peter Jones, who was well known
in his day. He afterward moved eastward
TO a building. which was torn down upon
the opening Of 10th street. it stood di-
pnf in h.. 70, ,Alsa
that I first knew Sam more than fifty years
ago. Everybody knows Sam, so | will not
enlarge upon his many good qualities ex-
cept to say that no one knows better how
to open an oyster than he, as the visitors at
Harveys so we'll apprec iate.
Sam is now seEentN-fiNe wears of age and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
South Washington Was Then the
Most Favored Section.
HOUSES OF HISTORIC INTEREST
Where Men Since Prominent
Passed Their Years of Boyhood,
MEMORIES AND PICTURES

Written for The Evening Star by IAN Oldste-''
When L first knew South Washington it
was termed "the Island cut off as it was
from the rest of the city by the Tiber and
its extension eastward to the Anacostia
river. The designation island" was popu-
larly confined to that part west of the
James creek valley. 1t was a place of
garuens, fields cultivated in wheat, corn,
clover, &c, with winding roads and but
few well-defined streets. There were but
three approaches to the Potomac-6th, 18th
and 1871 streets.
The rest was high banks, clothed with
locust trees entwined with trumpet flower
creepers, and the river at high water law
ing the banks.
The river bank on Sundays was popular
resort, where one might watch the arrival
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

die. I suppose he has forgotten 1t. but 1
never did.
Mr.. Riley, by his slaves, cultivated va
rious squares of ground in corn, lying be-
tween 9Th and 9TH streets from Virg mia
avenue southwark. / remember on one &C.
casion seeing them hoeing the corn
warm day and my asking my mother why
they Wore hats. 1t had been fully i'm
pressed upon my infantie mind that if L
went out without my hat | would burn
black and they were b ack already l
could not understand why they wore hats.
The Sca-Captain's House.
The old house corner of G and 10th
street. as it now stands gives some idea of
the leveling process. This house was built
by some retired captain. whose name
was never able to obtain.
When | first knew 1t it occupied by
Nicholas Halter. The parlor walls We're
decorated with the pictures of the wander
ings Of Telemachus in search of Ulysses.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
The Local ConstaBuIary.

There were no policemen and but one
constable, a Mr.. Magyar who was inclined
to be tolerant under gruff demeanor sim
ulated to uphold the dignity Of his office
We We're not much afraid, as We could out
run him.
Easter was our time for picking eggs. not
only even" and pint and butt'' against
side of goose and keet eggs, but many hens
nests were surreputiously picked before the
eggs got cold.
Every game had its season, some to last
longer than others, but all with q remark
able recurrence. Why this recurrence no
one could tell, even if he asked himself the
question. OF course. All HallOw's eve wIs
set apart by the almanac and this was a
night when tuTnip and cabbage fields Suf
fered, ana those who had no such fields
were gamers. Speaking of almanacs, near
ly every family had the HagcrstOwn alma
nae, which is still published with the same
old illustrations and the same old predic-
tons which our fathers religiouSly con-
suited and belieN ed. But few families had
more than the almanac. the Bible, jose
plus and a prayer book, If Of one faith, and
a HYMN book II of another.
Shilling prints with shilling frames were
the only ornamental wall fixtures in most
domciles. Wonderful works of art were
they but they filled the artistic soul Of the
multitude, and were opponents Of better
things to come.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

from cellar TO garnet, which last all Of us
children were afraid to visit on account OF
the ghosts supposed to inhabit II, as this
house was also haunted. The west rooms
were in pairs. large, square, with high CELL
fngs and windows. with inside blinds or
shutters. the first and only ones | saw for
many years. The cellar was divided into
several compartments for storage. This cell
lar was the scene of a tragedy. During the
Morus Multicauiis fever procured some silk
worms from Mr.. VIM. NJ. Morrisons CO.
coonery and set them to work. but the
chickens got in. ate my worms and de-
stroyed an infant industry that had no
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

the prince stopped. for Lorguac made a
warning gesture that stayed his words
For space we three young men looked
at each other, and then monseigneur held
out his hand to me.
n lie Gesme. / spoke in haste. thank
N'H Tor your promise Adieu! Till better
took the hand he held out to me. and
his grasp was firm and cordial Then he
went back as he had come. and Lorgnac
with him; but, ere the latter I-tt me, he
bent forward, and said in a low voice:
Stay here for an hour or so, Let me
know if any one passes. There is life and
death on this, Old friend"
With that he followed the prince, leaving
me with all my day dreams Knocked out
OF my head a prey to the most complete
wonder ana astonishment
| made up my mind To do what LOrgnac
wished. There was council that day. al
which it was not necessary that lie Brus-
quet should attend, and l world not b. re
CURED until after the dinner hour. Be
sides. my curiosity was stirred t. its
depths: and 50 l fingered, keeping care
ful watch to the right and left OF me, but
saw nothing. At last l began to weary of
this, and on rejecting that there We're
three ways out OF The gardeu-One by the
wicket leading into the Louvre, the second
near the Porte st. Honore, and the third
az the tour de BOis-I came 20 The Cuuclu-
sion that If there was Syy about he
would have plenty Of chance 10 escape
So l consulted the oracle. | picked Pom
pom up ana let HIM drop on the sNard, de-
termined to follow the course he took. AS
he touched ground, the little beast gave
chuChle and sCampcred across the grass In
the direction of the river. In brief, il was
the river bank near the tour de tjoiS that
the oracle pointed at. and / followed Pom
pom across the hedge, and We went noise
leSSly through a tangled maze OF brush
ana shrub and tree, until W came TO the
old city wall, that ended here on the rlNcr
tdCD. No sooner had reached II man
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

1t was afterward bought by Richard Ken
drick, the owner of number of hacks
and whose funeral is said to have been the
largest private funeral in Washington up
to that time. For number of years sub
sequently. and until recently, it was owned
and occupied by Lewis Thomas and his
heirs.
To the southeast and about one hundred
feet from it, stood the old Mansion House
with wide halls on the two floors running
from front to back. The stairs ran be-
tween the pairs OF rooms on the east side
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

and departure of the various steamers,
Powhatan, Osceola, Columbia, Phoenix, Jo-
Seph johnson and others.
As in most cities, the first buildings We're
erected near the water, and while some of
the older buildings have disappeared, others
remain. Among the old houses which still
remain is the ancient historical mansion
at the corner of 9Th and n streets south
west, recently occupied by the late E. G.
Wheeler. This has been slightly altered
by an exposure of the basement, which
was formerly entirely below ground. For
many years 1t had the reputation of being
haunted. How truly it deserved the repu-
tation / know not, but, in fact, no one
lived there for more than a few weeks at
time before the recent occupant. A Ger
man musician once tried to lay the ghost
with piano music all night. but signally
failed and left ingloriOusly. There former
ly existed large sewer connecting the eel
lar with the river bank, and l suspect Two
or four-legged rats personated the ghosts.
This house was built by Thomas Law, Sec
rotary of Warren Hastings, and was first
occupied by Richard Bland Lee, uncle Of
General r. E. Lee.
Historic Houses.
An old house in the same block, on Union
street (now gomez, was the residence of
Samuel Byington, master armorer at the
arsenal on Greenleaf's Point, when 1 first
knew 1t, with large garden full of fruits
and flowers. In the early part of the CEN
fury it was occupied by Lund Washington.
the father of Peter G. Washington. On n
street, next to the corner Of 49, now stands
what was then the residence of Lewis
Washington, who married the daughter of
Lund Washington.
Wheat row." still standing on AZ be-
tween N and o streets, was occupied by
naval officers.
What was known as the old White ware
house still stands at the corner of NJ and
Water streets. The third story was ap-
preached by bridge from the bank in the
rear. and was used carpenters shop
the first floor as a ship chandlery.
The house at The corner of 9th and H
streets, still standing in an altered
dition, was the residence of Thos. r. Riley,
the father of VIM. R. Riley and numerous
other children. He came from Accomac
county, Va, bringing with him a retinue
of slaves, of whom l remember Aunt Can
dice, Aunt Grace, Isaac, George, Levi and
Sam.
The whole square was inclosed and cult
waited in fruits, flowers and vegetables. AS
a child it was paradise to me, but for the
fear that one of the older boys would cut
my ears off, he pretended he would do.
as he whetted his knife on the pump han
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
o

\ little girl in England was asked out to
tea. On her return her mother said: I
hope you were very polite Caroline
oh, yes. mother" said she. The first
time they handed the cake 1 said. Yes.
thank you. And the second time / said. A
said Not any more, thank YOU But the
fourth time ! did not know what to say
Well said her mother what did you
do?"
'Oh. I said just what daddy says, oh.
take the id thing awayr Life.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
Making Ii Plausible.


Newfoundland why wouldn't the Gus
toner buy that tiger skin?"
Office Boyle said il wasn't genuine"
Newfoundland didn't you make il ap-
pear plausible to him that II was genuiney'
Office Boy-"Why, Of course. l even told
him | shot the tiger myself"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
Why ASSie Eats Beans.

From the Chicago News.
mo, 1 don't like pork and beans" said
Aguinaldo.
Then why should you eat them?" ven
tured the subordinate.
Because they remind me of Boston, the
home of our friends
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

now the National Metropolitan Bank. and
served one term as mayor of me city.
Strangely. Mr.. Webb omits an reference TO
him in the chapter on banking in his his
tory of NaShinCt on. Yet no man was better
known in his day. He was somewhat Of
nat Gralist and student. His library. which
occupied the back building. con aimed more
books than / had ever sen i'm all my life
before. Bugs were pinned TO the wood
work, and above and below were an man
neT of sea shells.
The social conditions prevailing at the
pc riOd Of which | write We're m,irn different
from these prevailing now Then the rich
and the poor lived tDget her, and there was
tacit admission that The Lord was father
of them all The humblost man was not
benc the notice of his rich ncighbor,
nor was he permitted To suffer when over
taken with adversely
How the Cooking WAS Done.
Cooking was done in the fireplace by
open fires. These were kindled by borrow
ing a shovelful of Goals from a neighbor.
kept over night by covering with ashes or
made afresh with finder. by means OF a
steel and flint, the latter requiring both
skill and patience in their use. For even
ing light used whale oil in lamps or
else candles. The poorest peopl, could af-
ford neither, and used the fire light by
which to knit stockings ana seines, to pick
oakun, &c.
These were the days Of minor industries,
which have been crowded out by machin-
cry. Many kept a hog or two and cured
their own bacon, kept few chickens.
cured their own herring and shad and
raised "A few vegetables.
lee was a luxury unknown to the multi
tude, but Instead we had public pumps
furnishing good and cool water.
Matches ware first introduced into our
neighborhood by some Germans. who set
tied on + street near 10Th. They made
them themselves, and sold them mainly in
the Mash market. | hadn't heard this
term for many years until recently. going
through the agricultural grounds I met
two boys inQuiIing the way ththcr. 1t was
odd that they should have inquired Of the
only person. perhaps. who could have IN
formed them If they HAD searched the
whole day l think these boys hailed from
Virginia.
We had no street lamps, no water service
and but few sidewalks except those made
of gravel and raised above the level Of the
streets
Our amusements. As boys, were simple
and required no outlay. We made our balls
with which We played crack and crack
about of old rubber shoes. our golf was
handy. and played with sticks OF our own
cutting. We had our firecraCkers on Christ
mas day. instead Of on the Fourth Of July.
and we commenced to save our Christmas
money. wherewith to buy them, months
before. cent was in many respects much
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
sympathetic,

From the New York Herald.
Hix-"Slm looks badly; he tells he he
hasn't eaten anything for nearly d week.
''DiX-'I don't doubt it. His wife and
mine graduated from the same cooking
school,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25
Mutually Careful.


From Fuck.
Bobby, you mustn't play with that little
Dicky Jones; he isn't a good boy"
"All right, ma! / cant play with him
anyway; that's what his mother told him
about me-"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

bigger then than now. As the sale Of fire.
crackers was prohibited by law. We en-
ployed colored boys TO buy them. and paid
them in crackers. Nearly all the boys went
barefooted. even those moderately well-to-
do. until frost suggested a covering.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-10-07
sUPT. MEBANE COMMENDED.

Jonesboro. Y. c., October 6.-(Special)
At the session of the Moore County
Teachers Association. held at the James
Maske Academy, addresses were deliv-
cred by Rev. G. " Brooks, Rev. B. w.
Spilman, Prof. T. NJ. Langley, Prof.
Arthur Arlington and Prof. III. G..
Scholtz. 1t was an occasion of deep
interest A resolution commencing the
State Superintendent was unanimously
adopted in these words;
'.Resolved, That we heartily endorse
the administration of Hon. Chas. II.
Mebane, Superintendent of Public In
struction; that we commend his efforts
to take our school system out of the
clutches of politics; that we pledge to
him our loyal support in his efforts to
improve our public school SYSTEM"
Rev. G. Y. Brooks was reelected pres
ident, Prof. j. 4. King elected secre-
tary, Miss Addie Matthews treasurer.