The Washington times., 1912-03-07
OLD INHABITANTS
HEARSTORYTOLD Of
L|NCOLNS KINDNESS
9. w. Evans Relates How
the Civil War President
"a Aided Him.

The kindness of Abraham Lincoln and
his continued interest, amid all the bur-
dens of the civil war, in a poor boy
in the blue uniform" was the personal
reminiscence given bysG. w. Evans, of
BIS Nineteenth street northwest at the
meeting of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants last night. A card in Lin
coins handwriting, "Give this boy a
job. A Lincoln is treasured b., Mr.
Evans along with the memory of the
monthly reports he made to the Presi-
dent. Prior to hearing this and other
"reminiscences, the association received
four new members. named some Off
GERS, and did other business.
The Oldest Inhabitants were called
to order by Vice President A. IL. Ragan
in the associations quarters in the old
engine house at Nineteenth and IL
streets northwest.
The deaths of William II. Hocke, on
February %, and Walter b. Williams, on
March l, were reported. Both were
members of the association.
New Members Received
Applications for membership were re-
ceived and accepted from Enoch l..
White, of 1853 CorCoran street north
west; Alexander Dallas Tucker, of 1853
Willard street northwest; j. G. Wede,
OF 5R East Capitol street; and Robert
e. Boyd, of 1895 Eighth street north
west.
The vacancy in the office of chronic
Ter, caused by the death of r. V. Moo
nan, was filled by choice of c. w. Evans
to the post Washington Topham was
appointed by Vice President Bundy to
the vacancy in the finance committee
left by the promotion of DIR. O. d.
SUNNY to the treasurership
Members were reminded that Harry
X. Willard bespeaks the presence of all
members OF the association at recep-
tion and banquet in honor of his late
father s birthday anniversary, on
May IA.
A steel engraving of John Howard
Payne, author of Home, Sweet Home
was presented to the association by G.
W. Evans, the chief disbursing officer
of the Interior Department. A vote of
thanks was extended for the gift. Sec
retary j. 3. Mccarthy spoke of the fact
that c street, between Four-and a-half
and Third streets had once furnished
homes to the writer's of the worlds two
and the "Star-Spangled Banner" by
Francis Scott Key.
Call To Architects.
A call to architects to furnish plans
d
the President, that appeared in the
Georgetown Weekly Record of March "a,
1892, was reported to the association by
DR.. J. II. Yarnell. The. Government Of
fered $500 in gold or a gold medal or a
lot in the city of Washington as reward
to the architect whose plans for the
Capitol chanced TO be accepted. Cash of
$3.50 or a medal was the prize offered for
the house plans.
The growth of the idea OF sumptuous
social affairs In the city in the old days
was recalled last night by Secretary J.
r. Mccarthy. Senator Luke Gwynn,
back in the early COS, he said, expended
5000 on a single reception; then RO-
nero, a Mexican ambassador. expended
S15,GO: and finally the expenditure of
$4,000 at single reception by the widow
of the late Senator Hearst capped the
climax OF "eXtravagance" before the
days of the modern multi millionaires.
Several OF the members recalled Incl
dents connected with the Sickles-K Kew
shooting affair and trial and acGuittaI
of General Sickes.
Abraham LinColn's special kindness to
Mr.. Evans came when the latter was
forced to come home from the war ow-
ing to the illness of his father. Mr..
Evans, as a lad who scarcely measured
up to the age requirement when he en-
listed, went to the White House 20 ask
the President for sob"
Refused admission to the presence Of
the Chief Executive. Mr. Evans sat in
the corridor near the Executive office,
determined to have a word with the
President. Lincoln finally came into the
hall and in an instant noticed the for
lorn lad in a blue uniform. Laying his
hand on Mr.. Evans shoulder, Lincoln
asked, what can l do for you, my
lad?"
"Give This Boy a Job"
After Mr. Evans had ma lie his request
for a Job the President took him into
his private office. SCribhling the order,
directed to the Interior Department.
Give this boy a Job" Lincoln turned
to tho lad and asked: "If I get YOU this
job will YOU promise me that yuu'n keep
on going to school AMI that you'll take
care OF your mOthCr?'
Mr.. Evans assured tho President that
he would not only COrtinUn in the lower
schools, but would go to college anl
would look after his mother through 1t
"very we'll, then" said the President
in zee that you get the job. Eat
want you to come to the White House
once a month ard report to me how you
are getting along"
Mr.. Evans closed his narrative last
night by saying: From the time ] got
my job until the assassination of Lin.
coin ] did not once fail to make my
report to him His kindness to me and
his interest In me, poor forlCrn lad,
are the most precious memories that l
have"