The Washington times., 1912-02-29
ARE
CELEBRATING THEIR
BIRTH ANNIVERSARY
Persons Born on Extra Day
of Leap Year Making
Merry.

. DOoSt VI having Deen porn on tnat eX-
ira day given February every four
years by the Gregorian calendar-come
into their own today for the first time
since 1903. Persons who have nearly
reached the half century mark will
celebrate the twelfth anniversary of
their birth, and together with others of
their exclusive set-for persons born on
February % are rareties in the Dis
trict-will mark the quadrennial AFFAIR
with an eclat that will make up for
lost time.
To the health of a few women at
least who have passed into the years
OF "oldmaidhood' wine will be slipped
tonight in celebration of birthdays
others of their age celebrated back
In their teens"
Third Birthday.
SiXteen-year-old Anna May Lucas,
daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. John Lucas,
of 1H Thomas street northwest, says
she is the only maid of sweet sixteen in
the District who is just celebrating her
third birthday. Miss Lucas, who is a
pupil in the seventh grade of the Emory
Public School, was born February 29
1896. Not only was she robbed of
right to celebrate annually, but the
opening of the new century decreed that
she could not have birthday until 1904
Consequently she was eight years of
age when she celebrated the first ami
versary of her birth.
Miss Lucas will celebrate the occa-
sion at her home tonight with a party
and dance. Many of her classmates and
nearly all the children living in the
neighborhood of the Lucas home who
have heard the story of the unique
birthday celebration have been invited
to attend.
-Henry Philips, SIS Eleventh street
northeast, who was born shortly after
the civil war. Is only at his twelfth
milestone II birthdays count. Mr.. Phil
Ups was born on February %, 1864. He
celebrated his first anniversary in 1885,
and would have made this his thirteenth
birthday had it not been for the prank
Of the new century. which made Feb
ruary as short as it is in the ordinary
years of the calendar.
Henry Voight, a lifelong resident of
the District, who lives on Riggs road
takes the matter of being born on the
k"extra' day. philosophically. and de-
cIares that 1t works economically in
some families, especially where the GUS
tom of giving birthday presents prevails.
Few Birthdays.
FAilHOusH lie is GlSnl-IOuf years old to-
aday, Charles NJ Javins, OF $50 Eighth
street southwest, a former Confederate
officer, for thrce-score years one of the
stanch business characters of the city
and one of the earliest importers Of
fish and oysters into the District, has
. celebrated but twenty birthdays. He
was born on the last day of February in
the leap year of 1898. and hence at the
best can celebrate his birth but once
in four years.
Mr.. JaVins apparently does not feel
the weight OF his years. Asked for the
secret that has enabled him to live far
beyond the scriptural three-score years
and ten. he replied: There Is no secret
about it, 1 simply did the best I could,
attended to my work every day, took
plenty OF fresh air-and lived"
Throughout his long and busy life Mr..
Javins has had his full share Of ex-
Citement and adventure. Born in Alex
Rndria, when that city was in the Dis
trlct of Columbia, and one of the most
thriving business points on the Potomac,
Mr., Jayins literally grew. up in the
marts of trade. and a business career
was the only natural one for him.
He loves to tell stories Of the Alex
sroria of old, when huge wharves
Of every sea, and whom wagon trains
came from as far distant as Pennsyl-
Vania to trade there
In those times. Mr.. Javins relates,
sugar was ole of the leading articles of
Importation, ard merchantnIrn flying
tho penuants OF the D'Itch traders were
not unknown. He tells of times when
troops of buyers from all over the
South and East would follow the auc-
toncerS ahCLt the " harf markets, to be
present at the sales, which usually
NSre by public aGc;ion. He relates that
often as many as forty and fifty ve5-
sells were anchored at Alexandria.
Celebrates Today.
One of the City's most interesting
men, and one Who will today celebrate
his ouaGriennial birthday is Eugene
KEENAN,, better known as 'nusIiC"
Herman, the veteran theater owner and
theatrical manager, who has manage
the New Lyceum Theater for the last
twenty-five years
\ typical soldier of foretune, whose
early life reads like a Capt. Mayne
REID venture Mr.. Kernan will. at the
Close Of the New Lyceum performance
tonight. meet 8 score of his intimate
friends at the theater. and while glasses
are clinliing, and good wishes are being
showcred on him. he will recount some
of his experiences.
Born in Baltimore seventy-six years
ago, Mr.. Kernan's life, until a few
dents, He formerly was In the United
States Navy, and 1t was while he wore
the jauntY little cap and the wide-legged
trousers and blue blouse of the Federal
Government that he made name for
himself, and later, while cruising in
Southern seas, was picked to do some
adventure work for the Government. a
little island in the Caribbean sea be-
tween San Domingo and Cuba. was
landed OH by the little band led by
Herman and the Stars aud Stripes put
high on palm tree, to the great terror
of the half-Clad natives. 1t was the
first flag of any kind they ever had
seen. They liked the looks Of the Stars
and Stripes floating In the tropical
breezes, and t. show their appreciation
they made Herman their governor and
wanted to make him king.
He sailed the seas for twelve years. In
1855 he determined on leading a the
artiCal life. In 1872, with Matt" Morgan,
Mr. Herman went on the road With a
Giving statuees' show, the first thing of
its kind ever seen i'm America. II proved
10 be a good venture. He engaged in
various theatrical enterprises and
twenty-five years ago decided to settle
LOCAL MENTION