Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-08
REVIEWS THE PAST
Celebration by Association of
Oldest inhabitants.
ITS 46TH ANNIVERSARY
Projects of Local Improvements In
dorsed by Members.
APPROVE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Addresses Made at Function Given
Last Evening Under Auspices
of the Association.
APPROVE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

| lie IOTtS-SlXLh anniversary OF the AS
ISOLATION of Oldest Inhabitants was cele-
| brated last night at 1417 New York ave
nue. northwest. when eighty-nine repre-
sentative citizens of Washington gathered
at an oyster supper, and listened to adj
dresses concerning Washingtonians and
| incidents intimately associated with the
history of the National Capital.
| The remarks of the speakers were not
| all couched in the past tense, however.
| and substantial evidence was given that
despite the weight of years resting on
| the shoulders of every member, the asso-
| citation is not concerned exclusively with
affairs recited In history and achieve
ments chronicled long ago. This was
evidenced when John B. Mccarthy. cor
responding secretary, earnestly advocated
several projects now being agitated for
the Improvement of the city. including
the building of a Lincoln memorial bridge
to span the Potomac and connect Wash
ngton with national highway to Mount
Vernon. the home of Washinston; a
greater Rock Creek Park, and a utillZa-
ton of the power of Great Falls.
PRESIDENTS Annual Report.
Theodore w. Noyes. president, was
| postmaster and preceded the speeches
with the presidents customary brief an
nual report. This report pointed out that
the important event of the year in the
associations personal annals was the en-
largement and Improvement of its meet
ing place and headquarters, stated the
associations present membership as 343'
and said:
1T may be interesting to the associa-
ton itself to know the results of an an
alysis of it's membership in respect to ma
tionality. About three-fourths GAO of the
membership applications on file show the
birthplace of the applicant. OF this num-
Der Al per cent were born in the District
go per cent in the District and Maryland
combined. 56 per cent in the District,
Maryland and Virginia combinedD, 36 per
cent in states of the Union. sixteen in all.
Pennsylvania leading as contributors in
the order named. and % per cent of for
eign birth, with Germany and Great Brit
ain dividing leadership.
mo notable advance has been made dur
ing the year in the status of the Wash
ingtonian. Gradually, though slowly, the
nation appreciates that the people of the
city, over 100000 in number. and the
large percentage of this population who
are Washingtonfans and nothing else,
constitute the real Washington, of which
Congress is the constitutional guardian,
even more truly and distinctively than
the National Capital, the aggregation OF
streets, buildings. parks and monuments
which we are all laboring with enthus- |
iasm to transform into the ideal city |
beautiful.
Material development of the capital
gratifies and benefits indirectly the Wash |
ingtonian; but there Is danger in that |
concentration and monopoly of national
attention upon the nations city which |
neglects the interest, the sentiment, the
welfare Of the people who live in It,
Suggests Public Welfare Committee.
'In this connection 1 repeat the sug
geStion made at the fortyfourth birth |
day anniversary of the association of the |
creation of a strong and representative |
public welfare committee to act or to |
propose action to the association only in
emergencies affecting the status and |
rights of the Washingtonians-
ITO constitute such committee, and |
also to furnish the agency to relieve the
association Of resultless discussions Of
questions of routine and detail, and to
shape matters for presentation to the as
sociation, expediting and adding interest
to the association meetings l propose
that an executive committee be appoint
ed, composed OF the officers and the
standing committees of the association
and additional members sufficient to bring
the total membership up to thirty. The
constitution, powers and duties of such a
committee must, of course. be considered
thoughtfully and In detail in the discus
sion of a proposed amendment to the by
laws, which will be submitted in due
course to the Judgment of the associa
ton"
The POSTMASTER pointed out that the
occasion was the anniversary of an as
sociation of Washingtonians. organized
solely on the basis of Washingtonlanism,
and throughout all the speeches the
thought of Washington, past. present and
future and enthusiasm in its hebalf were
conspicuously in evidence
Correcting Historical Myths.
NJ. I. Weller who. in addition to being
a member of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants, is prominently identified
with the Columbia Historical Society,
took occasion to correct number of err
rors in local history. One of the myths
exposed by Mr.. Weller is that bricks
made in England and imported to this
country form part Of the construction
material of a Washington church, and an
llx- 1ooA 1fah