The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-05
IN An HISTORIC TAVERN
Washington Farewell TO His Off
GERS Celebrated.
New York womer E1oId Exercises on.
the One Hundred and seventeenth
Anniversary OF the Iaent-tforts
BEING Made to- Preserve the Fa-
mons Building Where IL Occurred.

NEW YORK. Dec 5--The 117th ami
versary of washington's farewell to his
officers in the long room of Frances
Tavern was celebrated in That room yes
terday afternoon by the Women's Auxii-
fary 10 the Society for the Preservation OF
Scenic and Historic Places and Objects
The occasion was the hrst memorial
reunion of the society Mrs. ~ Fay
PIERCE. president of the auxiliary, read an
historical sketch of Frances Tavern,
which, she said. was built by Stepnaaus
De Lancey, for his bride, in 1914. 1t was
purchased By Samuel Fraunce, in 1852, and
opened under the sign of the Queens
Head Black Sans Tavern was title
frequently assigned to it, because of the
swarthy complexion of its West Indian
proprietor. The Chamber OF Commerce
was organized in the long room
Mrs. PIERCE drew a vivid picture Of the
parting OF washington and his officers. and
of tie appearance of the old room at thai
time. Since then. she said. many changes
had been made. The two firePlaces, in
which wood fires cracked and snapped On
the memorable occasion, are both gone
4 staircase from one corner 10 The saloon
below disfgured the room, and the pias-
ter ceiling has beer replaced By wooden
ceiling The old Dutch roof was removed
in 1858, and TWO floors were AT that time
added.
Mrs. PIERCE stated that the auxiliary
has taken as lis especial charges The Poe
Gotta &c at Fordham the Morris mansion,
and The. old tavern II would like to see
all OF them owned by the city. The pur-
chase OF the tavern. she thought. should
include the entire block leaving ground
for park around H. The old buiifi1g
should be used as 4 Colonial museum, and
every school child in the city should visit
it at least once
Andrew H Green. president aud founder
of the Society for the Preservation OF
Scenic and Historic Places and Objects.
spoke OF the aims of that organization He
emphasized the need of parks in The lower
as we'll as in the upper part of the city,
stating il as his belief that The project
suggested by Mrs Peirce for the PIeser-
walton of Frances Tavern should be car
ried out. 4 motion made by him thct five
thousand copies of Mrs Peirce's paper
should be printed and circulated Was car
ried
Stephen Y White also expressed his
deep interest in the efforts made 10 save
historic landmarks
Wilson Macdonald the venerable sculpt-
or said that Frances Tavern was the
first point of interest sought by him upon
coming TO this city ffty-one years ago,
and be had visited it every year since that
time
Mr.. Macdonald related an Interesting
story of the Houdon cast of Washington.
which is now IN his possession. II was
made by Jean Antoine Houdon. who came
from France in 17s5. upon the recommen
dation Of Thomas jefferson and Benjamin
Franklin 10 get the studies for the statue
that was put up In Richmond IN 1894. NJ
Houdon was a guest of Washington at
Mount Vernon for two weeks. and while
there made a cast OF Washington's face.
and from Il modelled a bust in plaster
Upon leaving for home ne left the bust.
taking TIE mold OF the face with him The
latter is now in Rome, the property Of
Julian Story The bust remained at Mount
Vernon until iS49 when Clark Mills. the
sculptor. who had had an order 10 execute
a colossal equestrian statue Of Washing
Ton visited Mount Vernon. and made two
copies Of the old plaster bust John Au-
gustine Washington, who was then owner
CT Mount Vernon, suggested to him that
he leave the two new copies and take with
him the old diseolored bust for his mod
el Mr. Mills did so. and kept the east
until 1915. when he proposed. because Of
his advanced age, to give 1t to Mr.. Mac
Donald.