davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-14

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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-14
tis&Ahis, Woodward s LOthrOp saAfi;
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$50 Booklets Novetss-Main 49,
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The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21
By VILLA f. POE.

Once the social center OF the country,
and romance. the home of the most
beauteous colonial bellies and beaux. west
Of Rock Creek stands Georgetown-to-
day, a mere shadow OF IT'S former self.
The landmarks and traditons-the CO.
lonial mansions and their stories OF ro-
mance-have practically all disappeared
under the pressure OF the work-a-day
progressiveness Of the twentieth century.
Only a few remain. silent reminders OF
the eventful history Of the quaint old
town
Neglected and uncared for. the man
sions Of other days fell to ruin. The
beautiful velvet lawns-scenes Of many
a festive gathering 70 de war"-were
overgrown with weeds and bramble.
Then came the ruthless hand of mod
ernity and swept away all traces OF
romance and history IN favor Of business
and progress.
The old town is there. to be sure. It's
sleep is stirred only by the restessness
Of the young life that has entered its
hallowed boundaries.
Traces Of Business Activity.
To-day one may see trace Of the old
towns position as a business center. The
Potomac and the canal are fitfully busy,
even now. as the merchant marine ply
the waters. But years ago this. too. was
different Georgetown was the port
known 10 every trader in the country.
There the European, the East Indian, the
South American found a market for his
wares, and Il grew to be a wonderful
shipping point Daily would several
foreign sailing vessels nose their way to
the Georgetown quays to deliver cargoes.
But It is not as a commercial port, but
rather as a social center that George
town became known through this world
Her social leaders were arbiters for the
country. To Georgetown. just as people
now visit New York and Paris. went the
colonial DANES in quest Of fashions. g"
From Virginia, from New York, they
focked to this wide-awake center of so
ciety and commercialism.
It was this fact alone that brought the
town 70 a position to gain the promi-
hence that Il held until a comparative
ly few years ago. Through the streets
that are now crowded with the electric
cars. automobiles. and other signs OF
modernity. rolled the gay coaching part
les. preceded by out riders and the blare
OF trumpets. They were come to George
town to be among the socially elect
Georgetown the year round then as are
social functions uncommon in Washing
ton in summer nowadays. The guests
were not week-enders, but month-end-
ers-and beginners. II was not uncom-
mon 10 entertain a guest for a whole
year. and to let one depart with less
than a months stay was unheard Of
In Upper Bridge street. now NJ street.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

forth after lessons. the little girl OF six
teen was watched by the baron Of hfty
He grew TO love the little girl and the
romance eliminated in our first intesna-
ti0nal marriage
And, speaking OF institutions OF learn
ing. Georgetown had a dancing school,
too, conducted BY Mrs Abigail sturgess
at Gay and Washington streets. now
Thirtieth and NJ streets. The good Mrs
Sturgess invited every one with the
words: ANY person who is civil and
polite may dance IN my rooms from 9
until 6, except on assembly night" As
sembly night was the big night when the
young bloods OF Georgetown. who sub
scribed to the fund. had a gaia time 70
themselves in the eity's first dancing
school
superstition surrounds the house OF the
Calhouns. one OF the Few colonial relies
Of the town. Even in the twentieth cen
tury folks assert the mansion is
''ha'nted-" On the first day Of February
superstiuous residents watch a kitchen
window for the ghost Of a faithful serv-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

birth and death Of Benedict Arnold. No
body forgets that particular tablet.
One Ungunrded Moment.
Concerning the death Of President Nc
Kinley, there was one bit OF significant
evidence given by Ireland, a secret
service man, showing the precautions
that were taken to guard the President,
and how the omission OF lust one of
them was an important factor In the
tragedy Of nine years ago at Buffalo
1T has been my custom" said Ire.
land. Ito stand back of the President.
and just TO his left. so that I could see
the right hand of every person approach
ing when he was far down the line. but
yesterday ! was requested to stand op-
posite the President. so that Mr.. Mil
burn could stand to the left and intro
duce the people who approached. In
that way I was unable to get a good
look at each mans right hand until he
was close to the President.
"A few minutes befors Czolgosz ap-
preached, man came along with three
fingers Of his right hand tied I'D In a
bandage and he had shaken hands with
his left. When Czolgosz came I'D I
noticed ne was boyish-looking fellow
with an innocent-looking face. perfectly
calm. and I also noticed that his right
hand was wrapped up in what appeared
to a bandage. I watched him closely.
but was interrupted by the man in front
Of him. who held to the Presidents hand
an unusually long time. This man ap-
peared to be an Italian and wore short,
heavy black mustache. He was per-
sistent and It was necessary for me to
push him along So that others could
reach the President.
How Mckinley Was shot.
Just as he released the Presidents
hand and as the President was reaching
for the hand Of the assassin. there were
two quick shots. Startled for an in
slant, 1 looked and saw the President
draw his right hand UP under his coat.
straighten up, and, pressing his lips to-
gether. give Czolgosz the most scornful
look possible TO imagine. AZ the same
time I reached for the young man and
caught HIS left arm. A big negro, stand
ing just back of him. and who would
have been next to take the President
hand. struck the assassin in the neck
with one hand and with other reached
for the revolver which had been dis
charged through the handkerchief"
There was a marked similarity in the
motives for the attempt TO take the life
Of Mayor Gaynor and for the killing Of
Mayor Carter Harrison, of Chicago
~.
der aboard the German steamship at
Hoboken. did SO because he had
been ousted from his place In a. city
department after being found guilty Of
unftness, and because Mayor Gaynor
had refused TO act in hts behalf Prem
dergast. the man who killed Mayor Har-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21
Former Social Center of Amer
lea, and Landmarks and Ira
ditions of this Interesting
City Will Endure
for Centuries.

was the fashionable residential section
1t was Georgetown's Connecticut avenue
and parade boulevard. Stately danes
in powder and puns crowded the
thoroughfare in pleasant weather. The
street then presented a scene OF unusu-
al gayety that contrasted forcibly with
its present-day hum-drum of a busy life
as a suburb Of the Nations Capital.
It was in upper Bridge street that
George Washington made his headqusr-
ers. To-day a sign painter has esconced
himself in the building where the Father
Of His Country took his first step toward
military fame.
In the quaint Observation-Disclosures
structure Gen. Braddock. commanding tn ,
British forces met George Washington
when he landed at Georgetown. in 1755. IN
this same building the Georgetown
Blues" were organized by washington 10
aid the British in the fight against the
French and Indians. Here it was that the
articles were signed that eventually led 70
Washington's supremacy as q general
and the colonies supremacy over the
mother country.
And to-day a sign painter plies his trade
within the same four walls. The pity Of
It, Iago. the pity OF IT,
Washington n Visitor.
Washington's visits TO Georgetown
when young man were numerous. Had
he lived to-day. society editors would
doubtless speak Of him as the most en-
gaging bachelor Of the season" He was
seen at many OF the functions given
amid all the pomp and splendor of the
colonial days.
During this period. one OF the leaders
OF the Colonial 400 was Mrs. Hare.
wife Of Capt Hare, collector OF the port
OF Georgetown. Capt Hare built the first
row Of houses and. according to tradl-
ton. leased them only to the Socially
elect" Northerners who wlntered south
occupied many OF them.
Among these were Commodore Morris.
of the United States navy, whose daugh-
ter. Miss Harriet was beauty OF the
early days. The Williams family also
occupied a house in the first row built
in the city
Alter Washington was established as
the Capital Of the nation, 4 was still
considered the smart thing 70 live in
Georgetown. Most OF the socially IN
clined followed the edlct OF the older resi-
dents and went TO that section to live.
Strange as it may seem to-day. Wash
ington was a mere undeveloped suburb
at that time, and Georgetown was fully
seventy-ave years ahead Of the Capital
How time does change the complexion
OF cities as well as OF faces!
Elect Reside There.
With the Nations Capital so close at
hand, Georgetown's aspirations in the
social world rapidly became fulfilled.
Upper Bridge street became thickly popu-
lated with the elect. as did several high
ways adjoining. Throughout the year,
it was a grand social swing -around-the
circle in the little old town. Luncheons
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

rison. explained that the mayor had
failed to keep a promise 10 make him
corporation counsel.
Charles Jules Guiteau. who fired the
fatal shot az President Garfield. as the
latter was about to leave washington,
on July ?, 1881, was disappointed Office
seeker.
Woodrow wilson's Comment.
The poisonous influences sayS Wood
row Wilson. in his History of the Amer
lean People which had long been
gathering about the system of appoint
ments to Office, the spirit OF intrigue and
personal aggrandizement. the inslstent
scheming and dictation OF members OF
the houses TO force their preferences,
and the arguments Of their private IN
terest upon the acceptance OF. the Presi-
dent. the brazen. Indecent clamor Of the
meaner sort Of partisan for preferment,
seemed OF sudden TO work with fatal
violence upon affairs.
Mr.. Garfield asserted a will Of his
own in the matter. and the two Sena-
tors from New York, Mr.. Roscoe Conk-
Z,
signed their seats as II upon some
wefghty quarrel in matters Of state. be-
cause he would not heed their wishes
and choose their nominee in naming a
collector for the port OF New York.
Ofice-seekers swarmed about the Presl-
dent with quite unwonte6 arrogance, and
before he had been four. mcnths In his
r1noacxs v,IoNa 80 avtho-s4,- - - 49,
crowdfng throng whom he had disap-
pointed wreaked foul vengeance upon
him. On the morning of the ID Of July.
1881, as he passed through a railway
station at Washington on his way to
the seaside. to seek a much-needed re-
spites from the harassments of those
first few months OF bitter wrangie and
discord, he was shot by Charles Jules
Guiteau, a man maddened by disap-
pointed vanity because he had not OBJ
tanned the Office ne sought. For eighty
days the President fingered between life
and death. but on the 18th Of Septem-
Der the end came"
Not Always InfaIIible.
That guardians Of rulers are not in
fallible was shown. fortunately without
serious results, at Oyster Bay. when
Theodore Roosevelt was President It
was on the occasion OF the visit OF Prince
Chen. OF China, 10 the Presidents sum-
mer home. Two guests. who failed to
catch the government yacht Mayfiower.
on which the party made the trip from
New York, went down BY train, and
then, instead OF going to the house by
the main road In carriages, they took
launch across the bay to the Roose-
velt boat landing and walked up through
the woods by back way. Never having
been there before, they did not know
the presidents house when they came
to 1t, but, seeing a man sitting on a
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

ant to appear with light at o'clock
in the morning. Many believe the story
70 be true. and each February sees
delightfully."- disappointed lot leave the
neighborhoOd Of the house shortly after
3 a. m.
Gave Four Annual Balls.
Mrs. Calhoun. the mistress OF the man
sion, vas a most popular hostess. It was
her custom 20 give four brilliant balls
each winter and garden fetes during the
summer months. These affairs achieved
distinct social prestige for her
Georsetown's Coney Island. or Atlantic
City. in the early days was none other
than Analostan Island. Hundreds Of
pleasure-seekers thronged the resort dur
ing the summer. and innumerable Wash
ingtonians can to-day tell OF the many
house parties that have been held there.
The home Of Francis Scott Key. the
author OF the Star Spangled Banner, f."
still stands on n, or Bridge. street.
Another place in Georgetown that is
visited with superstition" is the home
built by Mrs. Z. D. E. y. Southworth. on
the banks OF the Potomac The spirit OF
the dead writer may be seen on the We
randa at midnight. writing. while lying
prone. her favorite writing position, say
the superstitious ones.
The Southworth home IS surrounded by
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21


wide verandas, and. long ago. a wide
veranda sloped down TO the waters edge.
Just how mysterious spirits can fit
around there now seems almost impossi-
bic, for the untiring progress Of the cen
fury mas turned the front parlor and II
brary INTO a fruit and ice cream standt
Prestige Is Now Gone.
To-day. Georgetown stands absorbed
almost forgotten-as an integral part OF
a great city. No longer does she command
the prestige that once was hers. Gone
are the halcyon days Of colonial danes
and balls and early festivities, They have
passed. but their spirit remains and per-
meates the Obi town
It is no longer the social center OF the
nation II is not even the social center
Of Washington. But descendants OF those
bellies and beaux who tripped the minuet
with our colonial leaders are still there.
But 20 these Washingtonians. who can
claim ancestry over in Georgetown" is
q great legacy left. They form an in
ner" social circle to which the elect OF
other cities have tried unsuccessfully
10 gain entree. They are the arbiters.
Just as their forefathers were IN the days
when sleepy little Georgetown was at its
zenith, and our gorgeous Capital was a
mere suburb
Beigh-ho, GeOrgetowns happy days are
gone. but
The eyes Of memory win not sleep.
It's are open still.
And vigils Of the past they ks7p
Against my feeble viii
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

Not since the simple days before fire.
arms and explosives has there been any
adequate protection or assurance against
assassination. In those early times a
ruler in a dagger-proof shirt was safe
enough. II the courter whose privilege
1t was TO taste the royal food for poison
was faithful.
But no precautions can Offset the pfs-
tol or the bomb in the hands of the
murderer who disarms suspicion by ap-
pearing as one Of the crowd Of we'll
wishers and admirers Of the man whom
he Is about TO slay, says the New York
Post
Gaetano Brescf was waving his hat
and cheering with the crowd that sur
rounded Italy's King before he fred the
three shots that killed him.
Leon CzOlgosz was in a line OF patri-
otto American citizens awaiting his turn
TO shake hands with Mckinley when he
drew the revolver that robbed the United
States Of president. In both cases
there were troops and police present.
Ten times as many would have made
no difference.
Mayor Gaynor was on the deck OF a
ship surrounded by friends and beyond
the circle OF those friends was a larger
group Of admirers OF the man. glad to
avail themselves OF the opportunity Of
seeing one about whom they had read so
much. No one could have asked a safer
place or safer conditions for him an in
slant before he was shot He would
have been no more secure II all the de-
tectives from central. Office had been on
the deck with him and il all the mount
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

rear porch. they went up on the piazza
and ventured to inquire:
Can you tell US where President
Roosevelt lives?"
This is the house. am Senator Bur
rows"
Just then the President himself stepped
out on the back porch. almost running
into the late corners, whom he greeted
with his customary cordfaHty. Then he
asked how they got Up there. They
told him. and the President laughed.
That is a very good joke on my Sc
cret-service guards he exclaimed.
The guards themselves did not think
so. Thereafter they guarded the rear
as we'll as the front OF the house.
One Of the Chinese guests that day
was Chentung Lang Cheng. afterward
Chinese minister 10 the United States
An American guest. who dined with him
at the legation at Washington soon
afterward. commented on the silver with
which all the chop-stcks. whether Of
wood or ivory. were tipped.
silver as a PrecautiOn.
That is merely a precaution. said
the minister, with a laugh. The chemi-
cal action OF poison on silver is quick
and noticeable. Suppose, now, thsS in
China there was some big government
scandal such as you are now having in
the United States Post-ofice Depart
ment. and the Chinese officials were ac-
cusing each other. No dinner guest
would care TO eat the food Of the host
If there was no silver on the chop
sticks"
IL modern times no assassinations have
been so brutal and at the same time so
thorough as those at Belgrade in the
summer Of 1903, when the entire royal
family Of servia was wiped out and a
dynasty ended with swords. pistols. and
an ak.
King Alexander. his Queen. Draga; the
Queens two sisters and brother, the pre-
mier, two ministers. several generals, and
all OF the royal guard were massacred
in the palace between midnight and two
o'clock in the morning.
The country and the army were in re-
volt and an entire regiment of infantry.
led by Col. Machin, a brother-in-law OF
the doomed Queen. participated In the
slaughter. The Queen was slain with an
ak IN the hands of the lieutenant col
onel.
Alexander shoots officer Dead.
Another officer OF the army called upon
the King TO abdicate. He not only re-
fused. but shot the officer dead Word or
the preliminary tragedy was carried TO
the army. Plans for assassination were
quickly made. and q salute from the
artillery was the signal to begin the slay-
ing OF royalty. II was the thirty-hfth
anniversary Of the assassination of
Prince Michael. founder OF the obreno-
witch dynasty. which went out Of exis-
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

and often went on fishing expeditions to-
gether on the river
Two institutions Of learning were the
boast OF Georgetown's early life. One.
the old Rogers Academy. still stands at
Thirtieth and n streets, and has the
distinction of being the place where
George Washington spent a real restless
night According 20 the story, Washing
ton went TO the academy 70 enroll his
stepson. Parke Gusts. as a student.
When Washington started TO leave, the
lad set up a wall that could be heard
almost TO Mount Vernon, and the step
father was compelled 10 return to the
school. He stayed with the boy all night
soothing him and administering cures for
nostalgia, leaving early in the morning.
Loves Little school Miss.
Opposite the academy stood the Ladies'
Seminary building where were educated
the debutantes ard future social leaders
Of the city. Miss Williams. who married
the Russian Minister. Baron Nabisco. at
tended the school. In her trips back and
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

dinners. drives. boating-what more could
one ask for? and all were forthcoming
way back years ago IN Georgetown.
A few OF the mute reminders CT the
hey-dey Of Georgetown stiu stand -
warning to those who would make cheap
Jest at the quiet. sleepy little suburb OF
the Capital
Prominent among these is the Foxall
house. situated between the canal and
the river A true colonial structure to-
day it stands just as It stood when John
FoxaH conducted HIS iron works close BY.
His own ships sailed up 20 his own
wharves TO carry or his own goods-and
John Foxall became rich. His name is
engraved high upon the American roll Of
honor, as the man who made every can
non used in the war Of 1872
Foxall was a philanthropist His little
iron works or the Potomac was the envy
Of the British, who tried unsuccessfully
to destroy It. At the close OF the war.
as thank Offering. Foxall built. at his
own expense, the Foundry Methodist
Episcopal Church.
One Of the few colonial mansions that
stu stand in their true originality OF
architecture and landscape gardening, is
Tudor place. Through the sweeping lawns
winds long roadway TO the entrance OF
the mansion The design Of the house is
truly colonial. with it's small window
panes and stately white columns.
Spacious grounds surround the mansion.
Shrubs and bushes. trees and plants set
out by Martha Washington and Mrs.
Wellington, still flourish in the gardens
III the house Is a great armchair. pointed
out with pride as the favorite resting
place Of George Washington on his many
visits 20 the home The house is occupied
by Rev. and Mrs. Beverly Kenyon Mrs.
Kenyon was a Wellington and was born
in the stately home she now presides
over
Georgetowns celebrities are as varied
as its own career. In a house IN NJ street
that still retains all it's ancient grandeur
lived John Wilkes Booth, the actor, and
assassin Of President Lincoln. His father.
Junius Booth also an actor loved George
town and spent much Of his time within
its historic limits. Close by the Booths
resided the late Joe Jefferson. the famous
creator Of the role OF Rip Van Wrinkle"
The Booths and Jeffersons were friends,