Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-24
.REM|N|SCENCE CLUB.
Another Gathering Of Some
Of the Old Timers.
DAYS THAT ARE GONE
FAIR IN THE PATENT OFFICE
BACK IN 1853.
Caused Great Local Enthusiasm-A De-
tense Of the Marines-Boys Who
Personated the Devil.

The members of the old "Reminiscences
Club, of pleasant memory, the gatherings
of which at various periods have been duly
recounted in The Star, got together last
Saturday evening at the usual meeting
place in the rear of the cigar emporium.
1t was the first reunion of the old cronies
since the end of the winter season, the
inclemencies and storms Of which had kept
the patriarchs close to their homes and
firesides. The storekeeper, despite his de-
feat at the recent primary election, was
affable and cordial, and downright glad to
meet his venerable brethren. Tuscora, the
major domo of the guild, as he sat, tilted
back, in the ancient arm chair which was
once the property of General Lee, was
about as amiable as possible for him, and
pleasant evening for all was assured at
the start.
Speaking of fairs and expositions," said
the member from the old fourth ward
though 1t doesn't appear on the records
that anybody just at that juncture was
talking about fairs-'I wonder how many
Of you old fellows recollect the great fair
OF the Metropolitan Mechanics Institute,
the patent Office away back in 1853. That"
he said, was great fair. 1t opened just
about the close of the Fillmore administra-
ton and continued for nearly month.
Jonn w. Maury was mayor OF the city at
that time, and, taken altogether, 1t was
about the biggest concern Of the kind that
ever happened in Washington. 1t was a
credit to the city, and everybody said so.
Among the exhibits were manufactures of
every description, from homemade bread,
jellies and preserves, to all sorts of marble
designs, patent legs and samples of won
derful horsepower and threshfng ma
chimes, and so forth. One of these was the
invention of Mr.. Cathcart, a master me-
chanic of this city. 1t attracted great at
tention, particularly from farmers and
agriculturists, who attended the fair in
large numbers from neighboring states, for
the city was full Of strangers then, it be-
ing about the inauguration time Of the
new President, Mr.. Pierce.
Features Of the Fair.
1.-THE great fair was opened with much
ceremony, the main feature of which was
an address by Joseph r. Chandler. Just
about the entrance to the fair were two
marble lions and among other features of
the display were countless array of works
of art and a revolving piston engine-in
fact, pretty near everything. All the lead
ing merchants, mechanics and manufac-
turers of the capital had something on ex
hibition and there We're also displays from
elsewhere. A notable feature consisted of
some fine castings by the Union foundry
in the west end of the city.
Another pretty show was a collection OF
thirty birds shot in the District of Column
bia and arranged for exhibition by Mr.. r.
J. Pollard, skillfui taxidermist of Wash
ington. A straw chair made by colored
man from Richmond was an object of much
attraction and I can almost see now the
beautiful piece of statuary representing an
Indian maiden, who, being forced to marry
against her WILL is attempting to end her
existence by leaping Into the Falls of st.
Anthony.
Nearly all the government offices were
represented in the great pageant of wonder
full things; the Washington arsenal, the
naval ordnance bureau and the coast sur
vey, and lots of things l can't begin to
enumerate or recollect
Some Of the Prizes.
There were many awards, some of which
I recall very well. Mr.. Cathcart, remem-
ber got gold medal for his threshing ma
chine; c. H. Munck, the locksmith and
gunmaker, whom many of us recollect, had
a medal for fine dueling pistol. The late
Rear Admiral Dahlgren received a prize
for a cannon lock. A well-known marble
cutter of that day, much of whose handi-
work is noticed every day in the graveyards
and cemeteries about Washington, received
a medal for q tombstone made of Amert-
can marble and a Baltimore man whose
name 1 have forgotten was awarded
similar prize for marble coffin.
"And the ladies! They had a share in
the awards. l think many of them must
i d
awards among my papers, and find there
that Mrs. Benjamin Cuttings was awarded
a cream spoon for pickles. Mrs. Kibbey
got a silver portemonnaie for fine branded
peaches. Mrs A. e. King received silver
cup for picture of Henry Clay worked in
worsted, and Mrs. DR.. Wallace obtained a
card basket for an imitation basket of
flowers Miss M. Gilman got pair of sill
yer butter knives for a creation of yarn
stockings Mrs c. E. Fitzpatrick gathered
in a silver cup for a worsted picture of
Moses delivering the law. and Mrs Will
lam G. Flenner was awarded a solid silver
napkin ring for the excellence of her home
made bread.
"All these ladies were Washington wo-
men and members of the best-known and
most-respected families of the city. OF
course, nearly all the prominent business
men received prizes. Everybody recollects
Falconer, the shirtmaker. He had on ex-
hibition shirts that a monarch might envy,
and. of course, got prize.
There was one accident during this fair.
An inquisitive little fellow named TAYLOR,
whose father was clerk in the second
controllers office climbed under one of the
machines on an exploring expedition, to in
vestigate the machinery. 1t cost him his
arm.
1.-THE fair closed with an address by To-
seph Henry. and many predictions were
made by the people of other fairs to come.
One or two did follow, but the fever for
such local attractions in time died away"
Disappointed Politicians.
Il don't know anything about fairs ex-
cepting the county fairs we used to have
up in Pennsylvania" said another remi-
niscencer. but recollect little incident
about that time that amused a number of
people and made many others very angry
1t was just after the Inauguration of Presi-
dent Pierce, and delegation of citizens
from my state were In Washington to call
on the President. My father was member
OF the delegation and he brought me on
here with him. OF course, they were to
talk about offices. and they gathered at the
Presidents house early In the morning
Word was brought down that the President
would see us at IL o'clock. You can bet
we were there and, Great Scott, what do
, you think, when we got there 1t was q
public reception, and the party couldn't
get word in edgways about the 1oavcs
and fishes.'"
Tell that to the marines" chimed in
one of the old boys, whoever heard of q
President turning down lot of politi-
cians?"
Defense Of the Marines.
I'D like to know" said the gentleman
from the first ward, why anybody wants
to slur the marines. I've heard just enough
of that. used to be marsne myself once
and tell you old cranks (the member was
becoming excited)-I tell yor that but for
the marines this city on more than one oc-