The Washington herald., 1909-04-19
WASHINGTON CHAT.



teresting he was. and his big, strong fig
ure stands out in bold relief among the
men Of his time. He was In appearance
heroic figure. tall. above the ordinary,
heavy in weight, with keen blue eyes, and
a face in every line Of which determina-
ton was written
Mai. FEnfant. as told in this column a
few days ago. was dismissed from his
position for destroying Daniel Carrolrs
mansion. which stood in the way Of his
projected Improvements, and Shepherd
three quarters OF century later followed
his example. but Instead of razing one
house 10 the ground ne demolished every
house and every other obstruction that
interfered with his plans, and pathetic
tales were told Of his ruthless conduct;
out he had taken a lesson from FEnfant
and when he could not prevail on the
property holders whose buildings inter
fered with his plans 10 remove them
peaceably he went as did rEnfant, in
the middle OF the night and pulled the
offending houses down.
This high-handed course raised a great
hue and cry al the time. but who remem-
bers now what the making Of this beau
tiful city cost, or. II they remember 1t.
who cares?
Mr.. Shepherd was so radical in his
methods IN carrying out the plans for
the betterment Of the city that he doTni-
nateo those with whom ne was associated
and received the blame and the praise for
the building Of the new Washington. but
he was only one OF a board Of four,
known as the board OF public works.
which was appointed by President Grant
In the early '70s TO improve the city.
The other members OF this board we're
A. B. Mullett. S. P. Brown. and James a.
Magruder. and the labor performed by
them cannot be imagined By any one who
was not familiar with the condition OF
the city when they took hold Of II, and
the amount OF opposition they encoUn-
tered. an opposition that was organized
and persistent and finally resulted IN an
appeal 10 Congress for an investigation
which was granted. the board being &C
quilted OF every charge made against Il.
The head and front" OF this board. "a
use an expression OF a writer OF that day,
was A. r. Shepherd. He was its young
est member, the most enthusiastic. and
absolutely fearless What his colaborers
hesitated at he dared 10 90. and ne in
spired them with his own enthusiasm. At
the time he was appointed a member o.
the board Mr.. Shepherd was only thirty.
eight years Old and he was a self-made
man. His father died when he was q
lad of ten. and from that time he had
maintained himself. working first at the
carpenters bench, and finally entering the
plumbing shop Of John ". Thompson
where his industry and ability secured
him partnership in the house. and upOr
Mr.. ThOmpsOn's retirement he took Over
the whole business. But Mr.. Shepherd
was not only a successful business man
he was a loyal patriot. the leader OF tbs
Union party IN Washington in the early
days OF the war, when he enlisted as q
private soldier and for three month.
carried q musket IN defense OF the Cap
ital
Mary Clemmer Ames describes him al
about the time he served OF the board
OF public works as "a tall noble-lookine
man. with a large. well-formed head
sharply defined features. massive under
jaw and square chin, Indicative OF the
indomitable perseverance and frmness
which are the most prominent traits OF
hts character" which IS as accurate de.
scription as can well be imagined OF HI,
personal appearance; and she sums u
his character equally well Although Z
self-made man" she says. he has &C.
quired a fund OF information which many
collegian might envy. His mind L
thoroughly disciplined. his perception.
keen. his decisions rapid. and his languag,
vigorous and terse In private life he /.
universally respected and esteemed. HI.
benevolence is Unbounded. and beside sub
scribing literally 70 every public appeal
he performs innUmsrable acts OF privat,
charity which few know save the crate
ful recipients All OF which high prais,
those who knew Mr.. Shepherd in life vii
attest. but there is much more to b,
said OF him than Mary Clemmer Aue.
set down, for with all his force ant
strength anc energy. he was the tenderes
Of men, and would 60 far out OF his wa,
20 DO a kindness. A woman who was
little girl when Mr. Shepherd was a
the zenith OF his fame has many storie.
20 tel OF his sympathy with children. an,
the pains he took 20 make them happy
On one occasion he met this child. VII,
Was looking very depressed and downcas,
and as though she were about to dissolv
into tears.
What ever has happened 10 you. Ittl
girl?' he asked. You look as though
you have lost your best friend"
This unexpected sympathy was TO,
much for the bereaved youngster and sh
began 20 cry. II have" she admitted be
tween her sobs. You remember Queer
Victoria, my biggest and beautifulles
doll? Well. I smashed her all 10 piece
this morning. comm comm down tn
steps here frantic weeping interrupt
ed her tale OF woe.
"Of course I remember Queen Victoria.
said Mr. Shepherd, taking his smal
friends wee hand in his own big one
let US 80 and find her; perhaps she
not so badly smashed after alI;'' and al
though he was one OF the busiest men Il
town that morning. he went down on tn
Avenue. which was then the popula
shopping street. and bought her anothe
"Queen Victoria" bigger and handsome
than the smashed one. And. It was no
the doll that made his small friend s
happy. but the charming sympathy, III
appreciation Of her sorrow.
This little friend Of Mr. Shepherd live
in the country-at least It was couutr,
In those days; Il is very much city now
an1 she rode 10 her school IN town an,
/ from her school home with her father
meeting him OF an afternoon at his Of
/ fee. But one unhappy day she misSe
I him He haG quite forgotten her. III
/ clerks said. and had gone home. Tn
/ child was seriously alarmed. Il was
/ sad thing that her father had forgotte
| her, anG. then, how was she TO get home
/ She was IN the midst OF a collocuy wit
( the ONCE staf when Mr.. Shepherd hap
| pened IN.