Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

upon the farmer does upon his plows
and wagons. And even in Washington
there are thousands who would resent the
imputatiOn Of being classed with the igno-
rant, and yet they so about their business,
year after year and never so to the Capt.
tol nor to other public buildings. But it
is sufficient to say that James Smthson,
English gentleman, a bachelor, and a
scientist, the son of the Duke Of Northum-
berland, bequeathed his estate to the
United States for the purpose of founding
a scientific institution which was to bear
his name The words of his will were the
following:
~ bequeath the whole Of my property
to the United States of America 20 found
at Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution establishment
for the increase and diffusion of knowledge
among men"
Mr.. Smithson had never visited the United
States, but, though the son of a noble
man. he q friend of liberty and Of
liberal opinions. He was ambitious, like
most men of perpetuating his name. He
said, The best blood of England flows in
my veins; on my fathers side l am a
Northumberland, on my mothers I am re-
lated to kings, but this avai,s ne not. My
name shall live in the memory of man when
the titles of the Northum and the
Percys are extinct and forgotten" And as
the founder of this great institution he
made his words prophetic and insured their
fulfillment.
Mr. Smithson died in 1929 There was q
condition of his will that his property was
to go to a nephew of his who was dying
Of consumption, and at his death without
heirs Of his body, then to the United
States, for the purposes above stated The
death of his nephew took place about
the year 1884; and in 1885 the American
legation in London was notified that Mr..
Smithson's estate Of the value of about
91G90oO was held in the court Of chan
Gerry for this country. Strange to say,
there was opposition in this country to
the reception of this fund. and even Mr..
Calhoun opposed its acceptance.
When the strict constructionists were
overruled, and the bequest was accepted,
suit was brought in the court Of chan
Gerry and it was thought a great achieve
than two years. The fund amounted to
sos, 31S.46 This sum was soon after in
creased to s515 169, and in 1867 a residuary
legacy Of s26, 21O63 fell in. The money
was invested at per cent and notwith-
standing the expenditures for building and
salaries, 1t is now above 100000 The
institution has been well managed. 1t is
officially stated that the value of books
distributed, down to 1895, was nearly a
million dollars Eight years We're con-
sumed in debating in Congress upon what
should be the character of the institution,
but during these years the fund was grow
ing at the rate of per cent per annum.
The city directory of 1852 shows that
there were then about nine hundred clerks
and employees IN the public offices. Their
pay was on an average % per cent lower
than is now paid by the government for the
same class of duties.
The city government was then under a
mayor, aldermen and common council all
elected by the people There were circum-
stances of those times which should make
the people Of the present day envy them.
For instance, during the year there were
but six murders, and only one suicide We
should do well nowadays to compromise on
six murders and one suicide per month, al
though the population is not fourfold
greater.
Growth of the Capital.
At the end Of 1s4s there were 6150 dwell
ngs in the city, of which $500 were brick.
At the end of 1852 there were 1893 dwell
ings in the city, Of which 1850 were of
brick. The Congress library was destroyed
by fire in December, 1851. 1t had occu-
pied only the middle Of the three apart
ments which were afterward, and until the
present time. appropriated to that purpose
The shelving was all of wood which ac-
counts for the complete destruction Of all
books. The burnt shelves were afterward
replaced by iron. And now we have the
grandeSt library In the world
A directory of 1858 contains some verses
of ex-Presdent John Quincy Adams. as an
ode ITO the Sun-Dial under the window OF
the hall of the House of Representatives"
1t was said Of Mr.. Adams that he was the
most learned man who ever welded execu-
tive power over a nation, whether as king
or president; and he was, in many respects
great man. But he was not great poet
He was fond Of writing verses; and he pub
iished one work in rhythmic verse of con-
siderable length AS l recall l.. the title
was 'Dermott MacMorrow." He was an
anti-Mason, and l think his poem related
to that question. The verses on the Sun
Dial are as follows:
Thou silent herald of Times ceaseless flight.
Say. couldst thou speak, what warning voice
Shade who only show how others shine.
DARK. sulen witness of respondent light