Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-04
Mr.. W. II. Dennis Grafton.

We are met here to celebrate, in the good,
old-fashoned way, the beginning Of the
127th year of the independence of these
United States. By the kindness of our
hosts, we celebrate it in most appropriate
and significant surroundings. The scenes
which our eyes behold, not only in their
grand features, but in detail, are suggestive
Of the wonderful past and present of our
beloved country.
This house of Mr.. Small Is upon part of
the tract of land or manor known as
Queensboro' belonging for many years to
the worry family named Queen, whose
ownership dates back to colonial times.
From them, and not from any toadying
to royalty, the little glebe Of Queens
Chapel to the east of us also de-
rives its name Tradition tells that the
structure upon it, the actual chapel, has
been a martyr or victim, If anything in
animate may be so termed. of the three
wars of which l will say more presently.
Originally built before the revolution, 1t was
burned or ruined during that long struggle.
Devout Roman Catholic hands restored 1t
for purposes of worship, but during the
war of 1872 our British cousins came back
to see if there was anything they had over
looked when they were here before that,
and being in the vortex between the two
armies, the chapel was again destroyed.
Again 1t was restored, and two generations
later, toward the close of the civil war 1t
was set on fire, it seems, under even less
eXcuSable circumstances, when there was
no foreign foe to be charged with the van
dalism. But We all know what General
Sherman said war is and 1t very naturally
vents its spite en- church edifices whenever
it has a chance.
The Revolution.
Let US revert to the great and bitter
struggle of the revolutionary war, which it
is the special function of this day to keep
wildly in our memories. At that time, of
course. the site of our now beautiful city
Of Washington was only an expanse of
woods, fields and marshes between the two
noble streams of the Potomac and the Ana
costa. Good old Georgetown. however. was
in existence, and was Bladensburg at
the head of easy navigation ON each stream
respectively, and the main road between
them, we are told, ran near this spot
There was then neither the Bladensburg
turnpike into Washington nor the present
Brentwood road. which it is said ought to
be called the Gales road for Mr.. Gales
gave his share of it to the public without
cost.
When one OF the new roads recently made
hereabout was in progress, the excavations
brought to light the corduroy or logs laid
by the French army engineers when part Of
the French troops. under Lafayette. were
marching this way after the victorious
siege of Yorktown and glorious capture Of
Corvallis The meandering western part
OF Boundary street, or Florida avenue, Is
part OF this old road to Georgetown, and
Il
house which was occupied by the French
officers for time during this march
He then referred to the assistance render
ed us by the French during the revolution
and to the attack on the capital in 1914 and
then continued:
On Historic Soil.
1t is reasonably certain, therefore. that
around us is the very soil trodden by the
retreating feet of our countrymen In the
hour of disaster. as II had been earlier trod-
den by them and their allies in the season
of triumph. We need not blush more at
one record than the other. The men Of
Bladensburg were Americans, endowed
with courage as amply as those who on
more suspicious fields won fame NAY.
and his brave sailors sustained to the full
est degree the honor Of the American name.
The difference was in the training and lead
ership. The lesson was the old one 40
often neglected, In time Of peace prepare
for war"
For years after 1914 smiling peace did
prevail. The charms Of this countrysIde
the lead of Samuel Harrison Smith of the
old Intelligencer. who lived north of here
near the present site Of the Catholic
University. Joseph Gales of the Intelli
gencer, as we all know, bought the estate
which he named lexington, and on July
1854, he was presented there by SUNDAY
school children with handsome Bible. as
a token Of respect and in gratitude for the
free use of the beautiful groves on MANY
successive anniversaries of American In
pendenee." So. too. Gen. Hickey, in this
same region. threw open his fine estate for
patriotic gatherings and the martial eyer
else OF target frings The spirit of our