Evening star., 1912-03-07
DISCUSS OLD TIMES
"reminiscences Interest Oldest
Inhabitants Association.
new CHRONICLER ELECTED
Washington Topham Placed on Fl.
nance Committee-Four Mem
bers Elected.

"reminiscences of personal experiences
with Abraham Lincoln and jefferson Da-
Wis and general discussion of events
which occurred in Washington half a GEN.
tury ago. together with descriptions of
certain buildings, streets and parks of
the capital as they existed at that time.
Kept members of the Association Of the
Oldest Inhabitants of the District in ses-
sion for nearly two hours last night at
their March meeting. Inclement weather
did not have the effect of preventing a
fair attendance or lessening the enthu-
siasm when the story telling Of the days
before and Immediately after the civil war
began.
In the absence of Theodore w. Moves,
president, Andrew H. Ragan called the
meeting to order. Judge Charles S.
Bundy. who arrived few minutes later.
succeeded Mr.. Ragan as presiding officer
George w. Evans was elected chronicler
of the association. succeeding T. " Moo
nan, deceased.
Chosen to Finance Committee.
Washington Topham was elected a
member of the finance committee in the
place Of DIR. Benjamin w. Summey, who
recently was made treasurer of the asso-
citation. 1t was announced that since the
February y meeting two members have
died. William II. Hoeke, who died Feb
ruary IS, and Walter B. Williams, whose
death occurred March I.
New members elected last night include
Robert r. Boyd of 1885 Sth street north
west, j. g. Weide of 5O2 East Capitol
street, Alexander Dallas Tucker of 11jo
Willard street and Enoch L. White of
1903 Corcoran street.
Mr
bers of the association are invited to a
reception which Harry K. Willard is ar
ranging in honor of the birthday OF his
father, the late Henry A. Willard The
reception will be held in the Occidental
Hotel May IA.
Personal "reminiscences.
George w. Evans related one of the
most interesting "reminiscences of the
meeting, when he told how President
Lincoln had obtained for him his first
government job. The President, he said,
made him promise that he would go to
school while he held the position and re-
port to the White House once a month
on the progress he was making in his
studies.
The speaker declared that, although he
was a mere boy. his love for President
Lincoln was so great that he always at
tended every meeting where 1t was ad-
vertised the President was to appear
This. he said. was responsible for his
being at the theater the night Lincoln
was assassinated.
THE one regret of my life said Mr..
Evans, lis the fact that Lincoln did not
live, SO that ! could report to him that I
had finished my schooling, in accordance
with the promise / made him."
D. J. McCarty told Of Jefferson Davis
giving him a chew of tobacco when he
was a young man just learning to chew.
Mr.. Davis said it was fine Mississippi
tobacco" the speaker concluded. but it
made me so sick that 1 have not chewed
any SINCE
Mr. Evans presented to the association
a portrait of John Howard Paine, author
of Home Sweet Home for which q
vote of thanks was returned him. The
presentation led up to discussion of the
residence in this city of Mr.. Paine when
he was employed in the pension office, in
1845
DR.. T. H. Yarnall told of seeing a COPY
of the Georgetown Weekly Record. pub
lished March "a, 1892 which contained
bids for plans for the Capitol and the
White House.
Frank III. Walker, introduced as the
Junior member of the association, and
several other members participated in the
discussions and "reminiscences, which con-
tinued until nearly 10 o'clock.