davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

again be held in ccnlmen,oration of those
of 1873 years before This program has
been arranged by William Shields Nc
kean of Washington. national secretary
of the descendants of Sieners.
The blood of the signerS flows today
In the veins of many men of attainment.
Who these are is shown by an extensive
catalogue, privately compiled by Mr.. Nc
kean, of persons eligible for membership
to this new patriotic society.
-.
Thomas jefferson, author of the sa-
cred instrument, is survived by no de-
scendant having his surname. HIS only
children living to marriageable age were
three daughters, from whom are descend
ed number of Virginia Randolphs. Epps-
es, Andersons. Burkes, Ruffins and Mel.
kiehams. also the Massachuset $ Coo
lidges. Jefferson's last surviving grand
ham. died in Washington. In the autumn
of 1887 Another of his grandchildren
was Thomas Jefferson Randolph of Edge
HILL Va. who wrote an able work on
eighty-three The next generation also
brought forth an author, Sarah y eholas
Randolph, who died about ten years ago.
4 noted living 5reat-grandson or Jeher-
son is Thomas Jefferson Coolidge. the
wealthy Boston manufacturer and former
president of the Santa Fe road. who was
minister to Paris during Cleveland's last
administration, and who has since been
member of the joint high commission for
adjusting our disputes with Canafa.
John Adams most distinguished de-
scendants have borne his surname. First
there was his son. John Quincy Adams,
the President; then his grandson. Charles
Francis Adams, who was representative
in Congress and minister to England, and
who came near being the third of his fam
ily-in a direct line-to receive nomina-
ton for the presidency.
And now. in the fourth generation, we
have the three brothers. Gen. Charles
Francis Adams. Union veteran and his
storian; Henry Adams, author and former
editor OF the North American Review,
and Brooks Adams, attorney and author.
Their elder brother. John Quincy, was
legislator and candidate for Governor Of
Massachusetts.
In this distinguished family there Is
also the coincidence of husband and wife
being both descendants Of "signers." The
present Charles Francis Adams married
Miss Mary Ogden. a great-granddaughter
of John Witherspoon, the New Jersey
s!gner whose statue was unveiled a few
weeks ago In Washington.
The blood of Benjamin Harrison. the
sgner, has been as prolific OF attainment
as that Of the adams family. for from his
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

became Warehouses of Wellesley: Eliza
beth became Lady Stafford; Louisa be-
came Duchess OF Leeds, and a fourth
married John McTavish. British consul
at Baltimore. Their son married Ella,
Youngest daughter of Gen. Winfield Scott
The widowed Countess Esterhazy, late o.
Washington. but now living abroad. was
a Miss Carroll, and is a direct descendant
Of the signer
Two distinguished novelists whose veins
pulsate with signers' blood are F. Hop
kinsOn Smith, author of THE Tides OF
Barnegat," 'Col. Carter of Gainesville"
etc. who is the great-grandson Of Francis
HopkinsOn the New Jersey signer. and
Thomas Nelson Page. author of Red
Rock ''Marse Chan etc. who is the
great-grandson of Thomas Nelson. signer
from Virginia. Joseph Hopkinson. the
Philadelphia iurist who wrote the words
of the national song. Hail Columbia"
was the son of Francis Hopkinson and
the confidential friend OF Joseph Bona
parte. ex-king of Spain. during the lat
ter's exile at Bordentown. n. j., where
Hopkinson managed Bonaparte's affairs
during his absence. Thomas Mexican. tho
Philadelphia author, who wrote 1.-THE
Vortex is the descendant of Thomas
Mexican, one of the Delaware signers.
Indeed. that ink and signers' blood
should flow together seems to be almost
a law of nature. Bayard Tuckerman.
biographer and author OF the History
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

Sophia Gordon Taylor, vas grand
daughter Of George Taylor, the Pennsyl-
vania signer.
The legal talent Of William Hooper,
inherited by his lineal descendant, Hannis
TAYLOR who was our minister to Spain
under President Cleveland and who now
is special counsel for the government be-
fore the Spanish treaty claims commits
sion.
Also gifted in the professional calling
of an illustrious signer ancestor Is Chief
Justice Simeon E. Baldwin of Connect
cut, who is professor of international
law at Yale and author of many learned
law books. To this progeny OF Roger
Sherman also belonged Senator George
F. Hoar and Secretary Of State William
NJ. Evarts.
The spirit of leadership which imbued
Connecticuts st anch signer, Oliver VOL
colt, lives again in the breast of his lin
cal descendant, James Wolcott Wads-
worth, jr.. the able young politician, who
lately served as speaker OF the New York
assembly,. His father, Of the same name.
was for ten years in the House, where he
was chairman of the committee on agrf-
culture when he became involved with
President Roosevelt in the meat bill con-
troversy, which resulted In MS oefeat Tor
reelection. And In this connection men
ton of the ex-President recalls that
his name is borne by two of Oliver
Wolcott's descendants, Lorraine and Oliver
Wolcott Roosevelt. This Wolcott blood
was good and red. The signers son.
Oliver, was ten times elected Governor of
Connecticut and succeeded Hamilton as
Secretary of the Treasury.
One Of the few cases where a living man
Of note bears the exact name of a signer
ancestor is that of the distinguished
Boston pfliianthropist. who Is q great
grandson of Robert Treat Paine the Mas
sachusetts signer. The present Robert
Treat Paine, ex-legislator and one-time
candidate for Congress, has for thirty
one years been president of the Associated
Charities of Boston, for the workingmen
of which city he has organized an insti-
tute, a cooperative bank. building as
ISOLATION and loan association. He and
the late Mrs. Paine endowed, with $2OO,-
COO a trust for other charitable purposes.
Only small handful OF grandchildren
of signers survive, and one Of the most
distinguished Of these is Elbridge Thomas
Gerry. the New York humanitarian. who
is the grandson of Elbridge Gerry, the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

of English Prose Fiction and his
brother Alfred, also ali author, although
better known as photographer. are
among the posterity Of George Walton,
who signed for Georgia. And two other
literary brothers, Ellery and Henry Sedg
wick, have in their veins the blood Of
William Ellery. who helped declare in
dependence on behalf of lthode Island
Ellery SedgWick, author of the Life of
Thomas faine." was editor of Leslies
Monthly and the American Magazine, and
now Is one Of the editors Of the At
lantic Monthly. His brother. Henry
Dwight, is the author of Essays Of
Great Writers" and five other books. in
GLIDING a history of Italy. And among
the numerous offspring of Carter Brax-
ton. one of Virginia's signers. is AL
fred Brockenbrough Williams, editor-in-
chief of the Richmond News-Leader. who
thirty years ago as an enterpriSlng re-
porter for the Charleston News and
Courier acame noted for a number Of
journalistic enterprises, including a voy-
age to Liberia with sailing ship full
of negro emigrants, and a pedestrian
expedition disguised as tramp. The
Liberian trip resulted In his exposure of
the horrors and mismanagement of the
colonization enterprise at that time, and
his tramp excursion got him into the
South Carolina convict camp. and his ex-
posture OF its iniquities led to the destruc-
ton of the convict leasing system In the
state. Another Richmond writer Of this
pedigreed category is William Gordon
McCabe, the educator, lose mother, nee
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

General in 1896 and the action Of the Sem
ate in 1902 are both evasiye. The Attor-
ney General. WHO was Judson Harmon,
now Governor of Ohio. stated that the
following points should be considered. in
his response to the resolution Of the Sem
ate. adopted December IT, 1886:
First. what proportion the present
holdings Of the United States in the state
of Virginia and within the former limits
of the District Of Columbia bear to the
whole territory originally coded by that
state to the United States; second, by the
virtue Of what legislation the Virginia
portion Of the original District was retro
coded to the said state; third whether
the constitutionality of such acts of re-
PROCESSION has been judicially determined:
fourth, what legislation Is necessary TO
again secure to the government exclusive
jurisdiction over either the whole or part
of such territory originally included in
the District of Columbia as Is now EN-
braced in the state Of Virginia.
Taking UP the matter further, the At
torney General stated that the whole mat
ter rests with the fact that the acts of
retrocession have never been fully deter
mined. Mr.. Harmon stated that his re-
Spouse was In no wise an opinion Of the
case. inasmuch as the inquiry appa emily
assumed the validity OF the act of retro
cession. He made no statement as to
whe. her the act of retrocession was con-
stitutional.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
Thing of the Past.

T EONORA O'REILLY, the vice presi-
- dent of the Womens Trade Union
League, was praising this organizations
work in New York.
And it has great future before It,"
she said. IT have no doubt that CEN
fury hence the members of the league
will regard the woman of today as We
now regard the farmers wife Of the
early '41's.
"A Maine deacon of the early '+o's
was talking to the minister. He sniff
fed and whined:
"'Oh, yes. Job suffered some. ! amt
denyin' that parson. But job never
knowed what II was to have his team
run of and kill his wife right in the
midst of the harvest season. with hired
girls wantin' two dollars and two and
a half a week.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

upon the Declaration affixed .'of Carroll
tom to his signature to distinguish him
from a kinsman. barrister of the same
name, was the last surviving Signer.
When he died, in his ninety-s.xth year,
late in 1882, his great-grandson, the future
Governor of Maryland. was last two
years old. Charles Carroll, the signer's
son Charles, married the beautiful Harriet
Chew, daughter of Benjamin Chew OF
Philadelphia. 1t was she whom Gen.
Washington took with him to Gilbert
Stuart's studio that she might, as he said.
give to my countenance its most agree
able expression" One of the signer's
daughters married Maj. Gen. Robert
Goodloe Harper. who was senator from
Maryland and candidate for Vice Pres-
dent The beautiful Mary Carroll, younger
daughter of the signer, married Richard
Cation, an English merchant and geolo-
gist, who settled in Baltimore and made
a fortune in cotton manufacture. OF
their daughters, Mary was greatly adj
mired by the Duke of Wellington. and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
The Twins,
FRANK WORK. the aged New Y

Z RANK WORK, the aged New York
millionaire. was talking to a reporter
about international marriages.
II can't understand" he said. why a
beautiful American heiress will marry
one Of these fortune-hunting. empty
headed foreigners when she might have
her pick of hundred strong. clean, in
dustrious American men.
THE girl who makes an international
marriage" said Mr.. Work, frowning,
misses the real thing as widely as the
Homer twins missed II.
THE Homer twins aged about four,
got their morning bath. and then were
dressed In clean white suits and told to
go out and play.
AT the end Of an hour or SO. their
mother went to look for them. She found
them in the back garden. IT had rained
the night before, and certain favorite
hollow under an elm tree was one soft
mess of ankle-deeo mud. In this mud.
on their stomachs, lay the twins, kicking
out their legs and brandishns their arms
with vigor.
What on earth are you doing?' the
mother cried.
Were learnin' to swim, mother the
twins answered.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04
Poor Mother Eve.
unR. EMIL REICH is nc

NNR. EMIL REICH is now saying
- that the American woman can't
understand genius. That doesn't pre-
clude her from understanding him."
The speaker, Colony Club woman
frowned.
DIR. Reich" she said, lis anything but
a genius, though abroad the women do
fawn on him. Here we treated him as q
lightweight with slight gift OF humor
He didn't like 1t. Hence his structures or
u.s.
Il admit she resumed. that DR.
Reich is now and then rather funny
Once, for example, ] heard him say a
a dinner, apropos Of woman's vanity
Mother Eve must have been terribly
put out not to be able to hold a small pa
OF water in front OF her when she stool
with her back to a pool and tried to see
ii her hair was properly done up be-
mind
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

The following resolution was introduc -
in 1902 in both houses and was killed in
the judiciary committee Of the Senate:
Directing the Attorney General to
bring suit to determine the constitution
ality of the retrocession Of that portion
of the original District Of Columbia which
was ceded to the United States by the
state of Virginia.
Whereas for purposes OF military de-
Tense. public parks, sanitary safeguards
and improvements, police protection. con-
troll Of river shores and the general well
fare OF the city and suburbs Of Washing
ton. 1t Is desirable that the city and coun-
ty of Alexandria should be restored TO
the control of the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia: and
Whereas the interests Of the United
States a so require that the establish
ment of the seat Of government snail not
be subject to be permanently modified or
impaired by the action OF any one or two
Of the coordinate branches OF the gov
eminent; and
Whereas it Is just and equitable that
'he state Of Virginia may be compensated
for the loss of revenues incident to the
restoration of Alexandria city and county
to the exclusive jurisdiction OF the United
States: and
Whereas 1t is also desirable that the
Supreme Court may speedily determine
the legality of the cession Of part the
seat of government OF the United States
to the state Of Virginia, the Supreme
Court having decreed that such cession
can be adjudicated only in case between
the United States and the state of Viz
ginia: Therefore, be 1t
Resolved by the Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the United States OF
America in Congress assembled. That the
Attorney General be. and he is hereby.
directed to bring such suit or other pro-
ceeding at law or in equity on behalf Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

manifested in the case from many quar-
ters and has been greatly stimulated by
the remarks made on the subject at the
recent citizens banquet. both by Justice
Stafford OF the District Supreme Court
and by President Taft The Washington
Chamber OF Commerce has taken the
matter up. by appointing committee to
make Investigations. but the commit. ee
can make no report until fall. the cham
Der having adjourned during the summer
months. But In TIE meantime the COM
NIT ee will doubtless give It's attention
10 the subject.
In 1902 bill of the same kind was placed
before Congress and joint resolution was
introduced to both houses directing the
Attorney General to bring suit to deter
mine the constitutionality of the retroces-
sion of that portion Of the original Dis
trict Of Columbia which was coded TO the
United States by the state of Virginia.
This resolution was then referred to the
judiciary committee OF the Seua,e, with
Senator Hoar OF Massachusetts as chair
man, and the report was adverse, and the
recommendation made that the resolution
be postponed indefinitely. This killed the
first action In The matter. and UP TO tn :
present time, until the introduction Of the
bill fathered by Representative Hayes,
little has been done.
!.
The history of the District line goes
back 10 the First Congress Of 1890. waen
The subject OF the location OF capital
was taken up. There were many places
10 select from. but July 10. 1880. Congress
provided for location on the River Po-
tomac. The act did not specify on which
side of the river the District should De
ioca ed. and neither did II say that 1t
should be on both Sides but the Constitu-
ton provided for the acceptance of ter
ritory from particular states, the latter
word in the plural form. Washington
chose the frs, location for the District
and took In Alexandria. probably feeling
that Congress would Tatify his action.
The first efforts for retrocession were
me by Georgetown In 1903 In 1915
started the movement for the retrocession
OF Alexandria county. many of the resi-
dents claiming that the District did not
need that section. as all the public build
inss were erected on the north side OF the
river II was also claimed ~ resi-
dents % Alexandria that they had FAILED
10 benefit from the advantages given the
citizens OF the Maryland portion OF the
District. Congress then enacted q law
granting the return Of the land on the
south side OF the Potomac TO the state OF
Virginia holding that the land was prac-
ricauy unnecessary as held by the Dis
.rtct This retrocession was mainly for
the benefit of the citizens of Alexandra,
and the new plan Tor the taking back OF
tns land DOES not include that city.
An interesting paper on this subject By
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

A RE Making a Pilgrimage
"A This Fourth of July to
independence Hall, the Cradle
of Liberty-Who the Most
Distinguished of These De-
scendants of Signers Are
Living Progeny of Jefferson,
Adams. Harrison and Frank
lin Carroll Of Carrollton's
Great Grandson the Ex-Gov-
ernor-Novelist Hop" Smith
and Thomas Nelson Page
Also Scions of Signer Stock
Many Other Authors in
Same Category; Also States
men. Philanthropists and
Some Women of Note-The
Few Grandchildren Of Signers
That Are Left-Oldest De-
scendant of Signer Is Ninety
two.
fa1a hv John Elfreth Watkins J
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

scientist, Alexander Dallas
Bache, was superintendent of the United
States coast survey during the civil war
and one OF the incorporators of the
Smithsonian Institution. The aforemen-
toned brother. Benjamin F., had two
sons-Franklin, professor Of chemistry In
the Jefferson Medical College. Philadel-
phia, and the late Brig. Gen. Hartman
Bache. Engineer Corps. U. s. A.. who
built the Delaware breakwater. The we'll
known correspondent and magazine
writer, Rene Bache, Is also q direct de-
scenaant Of Franklin.
A distinguished great-grandson Of Mary
lands signer, Charles Carroll OF Carroll
ton, is John Lee Carroll. who, In the seven
ty-ninth year Of his age. lives upon his
estate. Doughoregan Manor, at Ellicott
City. Md. He was Governor Of Maryland
for four years in the late seventies. and
Is now the president general of the Sons
of the Revolution. These Roman Cath
Ole CAROLS were formerly OCarrolls. and
their sept. one Of the most ancient and
powerful in Ireland. sprang from the
Kings OF Munster. Charles Carroll, who
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

0W that Represent
alive Hayes Of Cal
ifornia has a bill
before Congress for
the retaining OF a
portion Of Virginia
which was at one
time a part of the
District Of Column
bia and was ret
roceded to the Old
Dominion state. in
tereSt has been
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

case it is a political case and not a ju-
dicial question, and that it has been set
tied by the political authorities alone
competent 10 decide it.
IF it is desirable that Alexandra be-
come part OF the District of Columbia
again, the only way to accomplish 1t will
be 10 open negotiations with Virginia and
obtain her consent. The committee, there
fore, report adversely and recommend
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

whole or In part, the Virginia portion OF
the District, they disagree as to the
proper or practicable method for attaining
that end, Mr.. Hayes insisting that the
proper method is to have the Supreme
Court declare the act of 1916 unconstitu-
tional. Concerning the two methods sug-
gested, 1t is wor.h while to notice that
efforts similar to those proposed by Mr..
Hayes have already been made and fall
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

ESCENDANTS of
the signers of the
Declaration OF In
dependence are, for
the first time In
history, making a
Pill grima & c this
year to old indie
pendence II a ] |,
where Sunday, the
Fourth of July,
they will meet in
the historic cham
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

ed. The judiciary committee Of the SEN
ate In 1902. composed OF very eminent
lawyers. in reporting adversely the joint
resolution above referred to. said:
1T seems TO the committee that II is
not expedient that this act OF retroces-
sion should be set aside by Congress.
even IL Congress has the power to do so,
without the consent of Virginia.
LAS to the suggestion that the retroces-
sion vas unconstitutional, II seems to us
the answer il that from the nature Of the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

er part of the country citizens at that
time were opposed to the retrocession OF
the Virginia land.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-04

the United States against the state OF
Virginia or otherwise as may, IN ms
judgment, seem appropriate to ascertain.
and determine If the cession OF paIt OF
the District of Columbia to the state or
Virginia in 1916 was lawful and constitu-
tional and IL said cession shall ba de-
creed to be unconstitutional. and Alexan,
dria city and county are thereby restored
to the Jurisdiction of the United states.
to ascertain and report to Congress what
sum will, In his judgment, be falr ano
Just amount to be paid by the United
States to the state OF Virginia IN lleu anu
place of the revenues said state now re-
ceives for the support of the state gov.
eminent from the said city and county.
Mr. Casselman has prepared map
showing the portion Of Virginia which he
thinks should be taken back into the Dis
trict.
He recommends one Of two lines from
the mouth of Four-mile run. One OF these
would run parallel with the old lire. and
would thus exclude Alexandria and FAILS
Church and would take In somewhat less
than one-half Of Alexandria county. The
other proposed line extends from the same
point Of beginning to its intersection with
the old line near Fla rfax Theol' cal Sem
inary, and Won embrace the whole coun-
ty. including Falls Church, excepting
only the corner extending from Four-mile
run to Alexandria
Casseiman, desire to come back into the
District. The Washington Country Club
members also favor the plan for the re-
claiming OF the territory.
Up to the present time it is not thought
that Washington has been in need OF the
Virginia territory. but it Is only matter
of time, according to Mr.. Casselman, I'M
til the property will be badly needed.
Many new buildings have been construct
ed In the last few years, and more GROUND
will be needed for expansion. II the
land is reclaimed 1t will be only matter
OF years until public buildings Will be
erected on the south side of the river ana
new streets made. together with many
other improvements.
On the other hand many Virginlans
stronfl" disapprove the measure, one or
two Virginia congressman having alreaay
expressed themselves on the matter.
Their slogan is Virginia for Virginians.
and they do not want to give up the ter
ritory. Many fai; to see how their loss
OF suffrage can be compensated. por-
ton Of the residents Of Alexandria coun-
~. living outside the town. were opposeu
to the retrocession in 1876, and after the
election filed with the legislature OF Vlr-
ginia a memorial protesting against the
constitutionality OF the act. Their pro-
test was unavailing. 1t was signed oy
Anthony Fraser, Wesley Carlin, Henry
Hardy. Richard Sothoron. Nicholas rep
rey, Walter S. Alexander. Sanue! birch'
Horatio Ball and Washington T. Harper.
These men were a committee OF nine.
acting by order and in behalf OF the citi-
zens OF the country part Of Alexandra
county. This protest was made out De-
eember :, 1876, and shows that the great