The Washington herald., 1913-07-21
HISTORY MAKING
STONE REMOVED
Contractors Take Up Boulder
Where First Presidential
Interview Was Granted.
LANDMARK FOR YEARS


In clearing the ground for some i'm
provements in Potomac Park the con-
tractor some time ago removed a stone
| that for nearly q century was q quaint
landmark. It 10 called the "Anne Royal
stone" and lay on the bank of the
4 river Just opposite the White House.
about twenty feet back from the water :
edge, at the top Of q grass covered
knoll.
It was on this stone that Anne Royal
sat when she had her famous inter.
view with President John Quincy Adams
at least. so runs the story that has
been handed down for three generations.
And. according to that story. Il would
appear that the good lady for whom
the stone was named was not only a
person of energy. but was endowed with
considerable grim determination as we'll
She evidently had good. strong win
OF her own and an active mind of her
own. and when these two started to
work in concert In deadly earnest re-
suits were bound to follow. Whether the
good lady's sense Of humor was cramped
or extensive the reader must determine
for himself
Anne Royal was In a sort the mother
OF modern journalism. She was the origi-
nator of the Interview" She first In
the little sheet that she published in
Washington In the second and third dec
ades of the last century. departed from
the dry forms that had always character
.zed newspapers.
Womaa Started Innovation.
She did not confine herself to a mere
summary OF current happenings. even
spiced with careful essays on abstract
subjects, after the manner of Steele or
Addison. She struck firmly the personal
note" She wrote and printed things
about public men as they were in their
daily lives-an innovation. the startling
effect Of which we cannot realize today.
Her paper was called the Washington
Paul Pry. and afterward the Huntress.
During the administration Of John
Quincy Adams Congress passed q GER
tain bill. the signing or veto OF which
by the President was a matter Of in
tense public interest. In thosc days the
interview of the President by Q news
paper man was unheard of, and no one
had the temerity to ask Mr.. Adams what
he would do in the matter.
But there was one exception among the
timorous journalists OF that day. II was
Anne Royal. She dared to apply at the
White House for a conference with the
President, the avowed object Of which
was to learn from him his intentions con-
the bill.
Poor Anne, however, was kept at q dis
distance Day after day she
the President. only to be foiied !,
by his attendants. But she did net grow
discouraged. She learned that every |
morning. Immediately after rising. the l
President walked to the bank of the Po-
.omac. some half q mile in the rear Of |
he White House. and there. after taking
m his rlnfhaa tasa L. 4
or a swim.
No TalkB No Clothes.
One morning when the President, after |
far out into the stream. turned |
% make his way batk toward the shore
lie was astonished to see sitting upon his |
clothing. which ne had left upon a stone |
,r the bank, q spectacled female with a 4
ook of great determination. 1t was
Anne Royal. and beside her were a pen
Ind bottle of ink. and in her hand was a
heet OF paper.
woman. DEPART" sputtered the Presi-
lent as he swan up into the shadows |
where he could touch the bottom a-tiptoe.
You know who I am. Mr.. President"
aid the woman, .'and you know what 1
want. I'm going to sit here until you
ell me what you intend doing with that
Indian bill"
Go away, womanr' shouted the Presi-
lent. This is scandalous,"
Its scandalous" Anne is reported to
lave said. that the people OF a free
country have to resort to such extreme
measures to find out what their servants
re going to do. You give me the infor-
nation that 1 am entitled to: then I'll
i've you your clothes. Otherwise I'll
tay here-and you'll stay there,'
There was only one outcome to such
struggle. The shivering President told
Inne what he expected to do and why he
Fould do it. Then, and not until then.
i'd Anne. armed with copious notes,
ise from the stone that she had made
amous and hasten to her little printing
flee. where she lost no time in getting
hat first and most famous PRESIDENTIAL
Interview into print.