Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-08
'GEORGETOWh'S CLAIM
Reasons Why It Should Have a
Public Park.
HISTORIC CONSIDERATIONS
An Open Letter to Uncle Sam States
the Case.
BAILEY'S TRUE PROPHECY
How Georgetown Helped the Gov
eminent in the Past-Seeks
Small Boon Now.

For several years the people of George
town have been endeavoring to secure
from Congress legislation for the estab-
lishment Of a public park west of Rock
creek. Their claims in this regard have
been vigorously set forth from time to
time by delegations. and they have been
heard with sympathy and in the main
with approbation; but the matter has
been postponed from session to session
without action. Georgetown hopes. how
ever. to secure the necessary enactment
this winter. and plans are now being laid
for a systematic campaign for the park.
In this connection it is interesting to
note that last spriQg. before the adjourn
ment Of Congress, IAN open letter to
Uncle Sam was sent to the Capitol, Wig
orously setting forth the reasons why
Georgetown should be given park. This
letter was too late to have an effect at
the first session of the present Congress,
but 1t is hoped by the Georgetown people
that it will prove serviceable now in
opening the eyes of legislators to the his
toric claims of Georgetown for considera-
ton. The letter, which was prepared by
Miss Louisa r. Rittenhouse. wtho has been
one of the foremost workers in this con-
nection. purports to be an epistle from
Georgetown itself to the United States.
asking for this boon. The letter follows:
Montrose Park Bill.
Dear Uncle Sam: Ny people are in great
perturbation. AS this session of your Six
tieth Congress nears its close they eagerly
scan the proceedings to see If the Mon
trose" Park bill has become an act in
the House also; it passed the first ses-
sions of the Fifty-eightf, Fifty-ninth and
Sixtieth congresses in the Senate. Surely
you cannot wish the representatives. to re-
turn to the states and leave our children
to the blistering asphalt another summer
Let us indulge in retrospect, Uncle Sam,
for it will renew your gratitude to me-
Since you have expanded to the orient
with cares and perplexities multiplied
helped you, step by step. all the years
from the Both day of March. 1911. when
those great men Washington and Jeffer-
son, your guardians, then my guests. is
sued the proclamation declaring your
seat of government was permanently To-
Gated in the District Of Columbia ana
when George Washington stood on my
beautiful heights and pointed to the for
est site east Of picturesque Rock creek,
realized what a stroke of genius it was,
Trenton and Philadelphia outwitted. for
they objected to me when he and Jeffer-
son wrote to George Rogers Clark IN
1888: Georgetown, with its matohless
surroundings. should be your home
Francis Bailey's Prophecy.
You must remember the prophecy Of the
royal astronomer from London. Francis
Bailey, when visiting me in 1906 He
wrote: "Georgetown. beautifully situated
on the lordly Potomac, will soon lose its
name and be absorbed in that of WASH
ington." My first name clings. however
Before continue this retrospective
vision, may / offer a suggestion to one
% great? It IS this: AS soon as you order
my 'Montrose'' Park bill before the
rest of ''the boys to name it the wash
ington and Jefferson Park. Georgetown
Heights. 1t would look fine In the guide
books, and no one could find more ap-
propriate name for the only park in my
historic precincts. I read with enthus-
iasm recently Ambassador Jusserand's
address to the Sons OF the Revolution
The brilliant Lafayette" was the guest
of John c. Calhound at Monterey. just
across Lovers lane from Montrose. in
1924. when Mr.. Calhoun gave a great
fete in his honor.
Historic Recollections.
Oh, yes! 1 am historic way back. Grow
ing so old, thoughts revert to the past,
and old times loom up clear and distinct
and that is the reason 1 am refreshing
your memory, for lam twenty-five years
older. and you are too engrossed with
| the present to think Of the past. with
such vast domain from ocean to ocean
and there is no one who rejoices more in
your sturdy manhood and greatness than
your old friend. Georgetown, who aided
you in swaddling clothes. Now, If you
would get up a real patriotic stir, Uncle
Sam, call out the Marine Band to play
your favorite airs in the rotunda and
have the Eagle to flap his wings and
wave the flag. and you make a speech
then. when Uncle Joe and 1.-The boys
come out to know what all the commo-
| ton is about, tell them old Georgetown
wants a park. is tired Of waiting. and
have them listen attentively to all have
done, and they will pass my bill in one
minute
Georgetown's Hospitality.
Please begin at the very beginning in
your speech, relate how my people enter
| tanned all strangers and housed the men,
bers Of Congress and diplomats, and as
1 was a city of homes with beautiful
ornunds tho chaer and cOnf0rt 7 We