Evening star., 1901-02-22
OLDEST INHABITANTS
Their Annual Observance of Wash
ington's Birthday.
MEETING IN HALL OF ANCIENTS
Interesting Address by Assistant
Secretary Of the Navy Hackett.
BIZ ESS NSACTED

The 22d OF February Is one Of the days OF
national recognition observed by the Associa-
ton Of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District
by a special meeting. and today the organ
ixation assembled at the Halls Of the An
cients where its members were pleasantly
entG-.-.ed by Mr.. Franklin w. Smith. In
charge Of that institution, by description
Of the building and Its purposes. A busi-
ness meeting OF the association followed. ut
which DR.. J. T. Howard read an interesting
paper by Mr.. w. w. Birth. giving his
recollections Of the city. Mr.. Birth is nine
ty-three years Of age the oldest member Of
the organization. and has resided hsre all
his life. The paper was placed In the
archives of the association. A public meet
ing followed, during which Mr.. ]. Madison
Cults read Washington's farewell address
and Mr.. Frank w. Hackstt. assistant secre-
tary of the navy. delivered an address sp-
propriate to the day.
In the absence Of the president OF the as
ISOLATION, Mr.. John Marbury. jr., Mr. A. II.
Ragan, one OF 1t svice presidents called the
meeting to order. The first business trans
acted was the reading and approval of the
minutes of the previous meeting after
which Mr.. Births paper was read by DR..
Howard. Mr.. ]. Madison Cults extended an
invitation to the members to Join the CO.
lumbia Historical Association. Mr.. VIM.
Boron submitted in rhyme sentiments ap-
propriate to the occasion, and q copy of
them was placed In the archives of the as
sociation. Mr.. Charles w. Brown and Mr.
Chas. Kattelmann were elected members Of
the organization.
MIR. Hackett's Grafton.
At the close Of the business meeting, ths
invited guests Of the association. including
many ladies, having meantime arrived. Mr.
Cults read. In an impressive manner. Wash
ington's Farewell Address. and then As
cfc oP ~ Nyoxr
Hackett was introduced. He referred to tho
fact that his native town was the EASTERN
most point OF Washington journey In New
England, and spoke Of the traditions exist.
ing there today that grew out of the visit
of the first President. Mr.. Hackett alluded
to the sorrow felt In England upon tho
death Of Washington. and to the sorrow felt
in this country upon the death Of Queen
Victoria
That such good relations should exist be-
tween these great Englsh-speaking ma
tions, said Mr.. Hackett. is most gratifying
and he expressed the hope that they may
Washington by England, though he rebelled
against her. and the regard felt here for
England's queen were due to II 0igh
character of each. Speaking OF the I het
story as connected with the nam. Mr..
Hackett said that it is unfortunate that
the earlier histories OF Washington not
only did not depict him as he was. but In
many instances made him out one for
whose character one could have little re-
spect or regard. Later histories, however.
said Mr.. Hackett, have given US the real
character Of Washington. and therefore the
more We know of him the greater is our
admiration for him in every phase OF his
character.
Mr.. Hackett briefly sketched the life of
Washington, remarking that to his judg-
ment wise and sagacious, impartial and
unselhsh, are due in no small degree the
growth and the position of this country
today. Party rance; said Mr., Hackett'
lent in the days Of Washington as It is
claimed to be today. and yet out Of all Of
1t George Washington came forth unsullied.
A Great AII-Aronnd Man.
Washington may not have been. added
Mr.. Hackett, a great military genius or .
great statesman. but he was more than
either. a great all-around man. one who
was equal to every occasion and TO every
demand made upon him.
1t Is well that the American people honor
the man, said Mr.. Hackett. for no Amer
lean Is more worthy of it. none whose men,
ory is dearer. none whose life Is purer me
Oldest Inhabitants Association, he said.
years ago set the example of honoring the
birthday Of such man, and that custom.
he Is glad to know. is becoming more gem
| eral every year, and today from one end OF
the country to the other the anniversary
of the birth of the first President is OBJ
served. Happy the country and people,
said Mr.. Hackett, that. looking into the
armament OF the past, can nX their Saz0
upon such star as the immortal Washing
ton.
MIR. Hacketts address was most enthu-
siastically received. and upon its close he
was made. upon the motion OF MIR. B. w.
Reese, an honorary member Of the associa-
tion, and he was rendered . vote Of thanks
for his address,
Upon the motion Of Mr.. Cults the thanks
Of the association were rendered to Mr..
Franklin Webster Smith, president Of the
National Galleries Company, for his gener-
GUS hospitality in rendering 1t the use of
the Halls Of the Ancients during Its COM
memoration of the birthday of Washington.
Among the members of the association
present were: A. H. Ragan. DR.. ]. T. How
ard. Smith Thompson, DR.. ]. D. Clarke, J.
A Wineberger. ]. Madison Cults, w. w.
Birth, VIM. Boron. Max Lansburgh. James
Croggon. Robt V. Laskey. JOS. I. Prather
B. F. Reese, Thos. Brown, Rudolph Eich-
horn. Jacob Viehmeyer, T. H. Langley, S
J. Fague, Jas. T. Boiseau. c. f.
Eckloff Daniel Geneau. w. A. Clarke.
Thomas Brown Thomas Oliver.
w. D. Crampsey. w. B. Britain, Anson s.
Taylor John Johnson, Benjamin I. Lar
combe A H. Stockton. r. NJ. A. Fenwick.
S. D. Houck, Daniel Hannah. DR.. John R.
Major, W. c. Johnson. Charles Behrens.
Frederick Stutz, Louis Mundheim, Peter
Kornig. r. F. King c. c. Purcell, j. Rich
ard Riggles, H. NJ. Dellinger and Anthony
Gaigler.