Evening star., 1901-05-04

! Mr.. William w. Birth,
Aged ninety-three.
the United States for the use of the war
| office which was there located and not
a great while after its occupancy by that
department was destroyed by fire. The
| walls and arches remained as they fell for
| more than half century. | was born and
| lived lot II. just east of the old ruins,
| and have when lad played over the de-
| bris frequently.
The Six Buildings.
| On the opposite side Of the avenue, north
| ward. stand what have always been known
| as the six buildings, that number of houses
| forming the block. These large three-story
| and deep cellar dwellings were erected
| about 1900. and have had many noted oc-
| cupants. While I lived opposite, between
| 1903 and 1892. Richard Rush was tenant in
| the westernmoSt one of the row. He was
| then a member of the Presidents cabinet.
Preceding Mr.. Rush. Mr.. Pollock, wealthy
Jew occupied this house. He died there
and buried in reservation 4, Observa-
| tory Hill. Some years ago an article. ap-
| peared III The Evening Star in which allu-
| sion was made to this old burial ground,
and it said that there were no me-
| morialS there: this was an error, there was
, large headstone to Mr.. Pollock's grave,
| and several smaller ones erected over other
| persons inferred there. l have a perfectly
| clear recollection of this.
The location Of this ground was very
near the northeast corner of the reserVa-
| ton. 23d and f streets.
| There was another place of sepulture in
the vicinity northeast Of the intersection of
| E and I'D streets. 1t was used exclusively
| for colored persons and was called the
| ''Cedars.' because quite number of speci-
mems of that tree grew on the place, and
they We're of considerable size. l am en-
| abed to recall this place because there was
| buried there a coachman of Lincoln Lear,
| son of Col Tobias Lear, Gen. Washington's
/ private secretary. Arthur. the coachman
| had hanging up in the stable large lions
| skin. tanned in Algiers, with the skin of
the head and the teeth preserved This, to
! the youngsters of the neighborhood, was a
| thing of great attraction, and together with
| the coachman's many miraculous stories,
| drew the boys to the stable frequently, and
| made of Arthur a sort of hero. So that
! when he was buried in the Cedar Grove
| many Of the youngsters were present, the
| writer among them.
| In connection with Mr. Pollock T recall
his priest. who was the late Raphael Jones
| who. while officiating for Pollock. married
a young woman, then an inmate of my
| home as seamstress. 1t was not generally
| known. but Mr. Jones was a man of con-
| siderable learning. He was German born
| spoke aud wrote Hebrew and was ac-
| quainted with other languages. After his
| marriage he became a travelling salesman
| and later entered into the grocery business
| in Georgetown. southeast corner of Bridge
| and Potomac streets, accumulated a for
| tune there and moved to Washington,
| where he established himself in the dry
goods trade at what is now Kann, Sons &
| Co. s. corner of sth street and Market
space. at the same time having a grocery
| store the east side of 9TH street one
door south of D street.
The Memorable Mrs. Eaton.
Continuing our eastward course on the
| avenue and reaching the corner of 1 and
2lst streets. upon which the avenue here
| impinges. there stands large block of
buildings. formerly one house, occupied as
| a tavern, as then called, the landlord being
| the father of the ever memorable Mrs. Ea
| ton. Among the patrons of this house
| called the Franklin House." there were a
| number Of distinguished men attached to
| one or the other of the two houses of Com
| greSS. Gen. Andrew Jackson, Gen. Jno II
| Eaton and the sarcastic John Randolph of
| Roanoke were guests of Mr.. O'Nears
| John Randolph of Roanoke
Mr. Randolph was conspicuous because of
his peculiarities in dress, habits manner
and biting sarcasms. lived near the hot el
and saw him frequently. He wore small
clothes (knee breeches) and fair-top boots.
and when out walking always had his col
| ored valet Juba, with him. accomDanied NV
two or three hounds, which seemed to be
great fayorites. as he would frequently
talk to them, calling them by name and
warning his man, Juba to keep the dogs
from rubbing against his immediately pol
lshed fair tops. His riding whip which he
invariably had in hand when out doors
was frequently raped against his boots as
a warming to the dogs. In sarcasm he far
| eAceedea any man In either house of Con-
gress, recall two Instances of its use AS
l have read them. and one case in which
1 was present.
On one occasion while he was a member
OF the House discussion of the tariff wa
!, up. and he. like all the southern members
was bitterly opposed to it, and In the dis
cussion had used the most denunciatory
language. l remember his saving "Why
| Mr. Speaker, the nails made in this conn.
try. sir. cannot stand the sight of the ham
mer. but will bend before the two heads
come IN contact When he concluded his
tirade he retired to the lobby in rear OF
the Speakers chair (old Housed, and Ben
Hardin of Kentucky took the floor. Mr.
Hardin was. 1 think, the only southern
member fayoring the measure in it's ther
form. During his remarks he scored Ran
dolph at such a rate that the friends o
the latter hurriediy dispatched a page t
call the Roanoke man to his seat that hi
| might hear the concluding remarks Of Har
din. Randolph responded to the call ant
opened his reply as follows, in his squeak
ing voice: Mr. Speaker, the gentleman
ened on brickbat, cuts very rough" Thi.
probably had double meaning HardIy
! was large, ferce-looking man. Wearins
his hair bristling up, as did Jackson. Ht
dealt in no fiattering phrases, but went al
rectly to the point in no vanished Ian
guage. He was sincere man, honest anc
fearless. This did not please the descend
ant of the Indian chief, Powhatan, whosf
blood. it is said, Randolph boasted. i VA.
!, present on this occasion and remember tn,
l occurrence.
Randolph and the Tailor
Another similar flash from this sarcasti,
man of overfiowing pride and contempt
read in magazine some years ago. TIL,
occasion was on visit to Saratoga Springs
where Randolph was a guest. AmonI
others there seeking relief was a man from
this city named Ballard, merchant tailor