Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-11
PASSED IN REVIEW
Historical Incidents Connected
With the National Capital.
ADDRESS BY MRS. MUSSEY
Topic Discussed Before Association Of
History Teachers.
SYSTEMS OF STUDY OUTLINED
Organization Secretary Declares
Facts in History Are Too Obscure
to Furnish Sound Premises.
SYSTEMS OF STUDY OUTLINED

Historic Washington" an address de-
livered by Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey.
dean of the Washington College of Law
and vice president of the board of edu-
cation. vas the only feature OF the ses-
sion Of the convention of the Associ-
alton of History Teachers in the
lecture hall of the Public Library, this
morning.
Beginning with the preliminaries that
led to the cession Of the territory for
the present site Of the National Capital.
Mrs. Mussey traced the early history of
the District down to its present form
of government, cursorily reviewing the
several forms Of government that have
been provided by Congress, and re-
ferring to the difficulties following the
franchise act of January 8, 1857. and
the virtual bankruptcy Of the District
under inefficient management by Con-
gress until the present form Of govern
ment was provided.
Details, from the laying Of the corner
stone, September is, 1898, to the COM
pleted structure and its interior deco
ration were given of the Capitol.
Supreme Courts Limited Quarters.
ut is, indeed, to be regretted" SAID
Mrs Mussey, that our Supreme Court,
the august body to which appeal is made
from the highest courts Of forty-six SOW
erign states, as we'll as from the appellate
federal courts, has for so many years
been obliged to deliberate in crowded:
badly lighted and badly ventilated
chamber such as it NOW uses.
Mrs. Mussey touched upon the cnurches
which the various Presidents ATTENDED,
from John Quincy Adams down to Presf-
dent Taft, as we'll as to the historic DeIls
of Washington, including the bell OF 81.
Johns, the bell Of old st. Matthews, at
18th and II streets northwest, and the
bell at All Souls Unitarian Chapel, 1of-
merly at 9th and D streets.
Her story of the White House touched
upon the interesting women who had
presided there and 1t also covered the IN
augural balls.
Speaking of the White House itself
Mrs. Mussey said: For many years the
west colonnade was surmounted by
but that has been removed,
and at the western extremity, now fac
ing the War and Navy building. is the
Presidents office, a one-story structure,
which is disgrace to its purpose and
surroundings.
Mrs Mussey was listened to with in
terest by a fair audience, and at the close
of her address was the recipient .of ap-
plauSe.
Members Visit Points Of Interest.
At the close Of the address the men,
bers of the association took an automo-
bile tour. embracing the points Of his
toric interest in the city and ending at
the Library of Congress-, where lunch
con was rendered them by the WASH
ington members of the association and
friends of the association.
During the luncheon and Immediately
afterward reports of committees were
read, some business transacted, and
names were presented by the nomination
committee for election as new officers
System Of instruction in History.
That historical facts are not we'll
enough established to furnish sound
premises for economic conclusions, and
that therefore the presentation OF eco
nomic theories in connection with instruc-
ton in history, as injected into courses
by the average instructor, is not justified,
was a declaration made by j. Franklin
Jameson, secretary Of the American His
torical Association last night. at the ninth
annual dinner OF the Association OF HIS
tory Teachers at the Ebbit House.
A discussion ensued. James Sullivan,
president Of the teachers association.
agreed in the main with this proposition.
Prof. ]. T. Shotwell Of Columbia Univer-
sity also expressed the view that it would
be wiser to delve no deeper than abso-
lutely necessary into the economic phase
Of history.
Prof. John L. Tildsley Of De Witt Clin-
ton High School, New York city. was OPP
posed. He could not comprehend how
history could be taught without an expo
sition Of economics.
Express Opposing Views.
Il should roughly say that three
fourths Of the things that are told the
classes about economics are utterly I'M
reliable" declared Prof. Jameson. There
FORE why try to teach such things? 1t
doesn't seem 20 me to be instruction at
ALL
Il cannot feel that the objection is
valid" replied Mr.. Tildsley. Il cannot
see how one can be taught history with
out being at the same time given
knowledge of economic questions. I
deny that real economic facts are not
accessible for the purpose"
Prof. Shotwell was the principal speak
industrial history of Europe.
In the course Of his remarks he refer
red to newspapers. declaring that the
newspaper of London is printed with
something like an approach to pure
literary STYLE" but he was sorry he
could not say this of American papers.
Those present We're President Sullivan.
Prof. jameson. Prof Shotwen. Miss r.
H. Abel, Baltimore: Miss Banta, Miss
Brewer. Miss Katherine Brown, Miss
Campbell. Miss Cochran. Miss Cooke.
Miss F. NJ Clark, Miss Susan Coyle.
Miss Grace Dunn Of Trenton. n. j.;
Miss Marsh, r. A. Mauer. p s. Noyes,