Evening star., 1902-08-23
WAY BACK MEMORIES
l
An Oldest Inhabitant Tells of
Washington 70 Years Ago.
JUDGE EDGAR H. BATES
TALKS ENTERTAININGLY OF OLD
SCENES ON THE STREETS.
The Visitors to the Capital and the
Men of History Whose Homes
Were Here.


used seventy years ago as they are now
many "snap shots" of what would appear
to be village scenes might be found among
the personal effects of almost everybodv's
grandfather and the names of some of the
pictures would surprise US of the present
day.
For instance, one labeled Cor. 7th and G.
SITS. N. Wa tan yard on a country road
the low sheds covering huge yats and
strip fence surrounding the grounds. One
marked 10Th and f ts."-A rural view.
with creek percolatng from the direction
Of the present English Lutheran Church
corner 11th and H, toward the snot whore
Masonic Temple stands, where in the in
terests of enterprise and with due regard
for the probable future of F street ths
creek was persuaded to pursue its course
to the southwark in a less consnicuous
manner, and from beneath the street oozed
out toward E and 10th, having swerved a
little in its Checked career"
A picture of a lonely common with small
stone slabs protruding above the damn
earth, like ghosts of the stricken cholera
victims. who lay buried beneath them
would have been marked East side of Tth
st. between L and NJ SITS. n w, or if
lettered in those days-"Ye countva roada ;,
for 18th street from G street to BOUNDARY
was the country road, and at the northwest
corner of Boundary, Or as we know If
Florida avenue-the amateur photographer
OF an old inn or tavern, with the
words, The Crossed Keys" in large letters
across its front and two huge iron KEYS
crossed and suspended above its doorway
in the most approved English style.
A snap shot Of Judiciary Square. thread
ed by narrow, uneven foot paths the
court house." a small stone building hut
half the size of the present city han to
the south and as if destiny had always
entertained a grudge against the northern
half of this particular lot, a iail. gloomy
and forbidding, upon nearly the identical
spot, where, in these later years, the pen
sion office perpetuates, in dismal outlines
the sadness and despair born there so MANY
years ago. On the hill to the northeast
of the court house" struggled few monde
script houses the settlement being disnified
by the name of McGeetown. But as the
kodak man and his fellow-inyentors had
not been thought Of and photography, in
Its earliest and most expensive stage was
yet many years in the future our sires
dld we'll to store away, in the recesses of
thelr retentive minds, the scenes of their
youth, so that after the passing of MANY
years they might show their questioning
children a few of the pictures of mem
ory,' many of them perpetuated in no
more substantial form. Possessed of a
vigorous intellect a retentive memory and
remarkable health, Judge Edgar TT, Bates
for many years a resident of Washington,
though now residing in BROOKLYN. recalls
with wonderful accuracy the scenes, events
and people of this city seventy years ago
He IS now visiting his old home and to his
"reminiscences is the writer Indebted for
these interesting facts.
A Vigorous Man Yet.
Judge Bates, for many years MAGISTRATE
here, was called to serve upon the iury
that decided the fate of Gen. Sickles after
Of
lenged, having formed an opinion regarding
the case He is cighty-five years old has
Travelled alone between Brooklyn and Wash
Inston several times a year for several
years, and, from his appearance one would
Judge that he would continue to do so for
many more. He has seen every President
except four viz, Washington John Adams,
ent at the Inauguration of every one from
Jackson to Mckinley. He recalls many of
the pecullarities, not to say idiosyncrasies,
or the Presidents and other public men as
Wen; Gen. jackson, during his two presi-
Dental terms. was an attendant at the
Foundry Methodist Episcopal Church then
and until recently on the corner of 14th and
u streets; now, alas, like Mahomet's coffin,
suspended in mfdair. Judge Bates has often
seen President Jackson at the church. He
occupied one of the pews directly In front
or the pulpit. and was in the habit of walk
ing the entire length of the aisle with his
nat on, not removing it till he reached his
seat.
The scenes of Washington, as it was IN
1870. are as clear in this octogenarian's
mlnd as II they We're but yesterday Then
W ashington city proper extended north
ABOUT as far as II or l street, above that
broken only by few slaughter houses at
about 10Th and l. streets and underbrush
and undergrowth, known as ''the slashes,"
east of 14th street