Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-31
PLAN TO CELEBRATE
ON PATRIOTIC LINES
Commemoration of Purchase
of Montrose Park as Pleas
ure Place.

uTG TIdCc.
Within the last few days a movement
was quietly set on foot. led by Miss
Louisa Rittenhouse Of 1921 q street
| northwest, to hold a public celebration
in Montrose Park next Wednesday. Miss
R1ttenhouse hopes to bring about cele-
bration. In which all Georgetown may
participate, concentrating the fact
that after many years of effort the park
has finally been acquired by the govern
ment for the use of the people.
Miss Rittenhouse was q caller at the
White House today in an effort to see
President Wilson and invite him to at
tend the ceremonies which are to be held
II the Secretary OF War will grant the
necessary permit. Owing to the Presi-
dents absence we'll as the absence of
Mr.. Tumulty. her request for an oppor-
tunity to personally invite the President
to the proposed celebration could not be
laid before him. and she decided to send
him a written invitation.
Miss Rittenhouse said today that if the
celebration is held William A. Gordon
attorney at law. Will deliver an address
In the park on "Old Days in Georgetown =
She also hopes to have present a promi-
nent government official to read the
Declaration Of Independence, and she has
addressed a letter to the Washington
Saengerbund. asking its members to sing
In addition. she Is today preparing let
ter to the Secretary Of the Navy, asking
that the Marine Band. or a section OF II,
be permitted to give concert In the
park on the occasion of the celebration
II 1t Is held.
Petition Presented to Congress.
January IL 1904. a petition signed by
ZIG District woman property owners was
presented to Congress by a delegation of
the signers. It urged the reclamation Of
the banks of Rock creek. the prevention
Of pollution Of tho creek. the building of
bridge at Q street. and the acquisition
OF the sixteen-acre tract In Georgetown
known as the Boyce estate. for park
purposes.
This estate. which had then been unoo-
cupied for thirty years, was for SALE The
owner. a nonresident. had kept the
grounds In splendid condition.
More than $50 old oaks. with hum
dreds or other forest trees on the estate,
the petition urged, could be secured
forever to the residents Of the ancient
capital city OF Georgetown, II the gov
eminent were to purchase the estate
Georgetown had enjoyed the use Of
these grounds for 100 years. The
petition closed with the words:
Besides the purchase and the neces-
sary care. the removal Of the old houses
and the placing Of benches are all that
will be needed to complete the park.
The land Is there. with trees and grass.
ready for use as park. and our little
children are here. Give them the grass
and trees they need. and enhance the
value Of the whole District by max
ing public property what Is one OF the
most beautiful and picturesque tracts
within its boundaries"
Finally Approved by Congress.
A park bill similarly worded passed the
Senate during the Fifty eighth Congress
and every succeeding session Of the
Senate until the Sixty-frst Congress.
when the House also passed it.
Miss Rittenhouse was one Of the prin-
cipal signers Of the petition. and from
Congress until the bill became q law
thirty women who had signed the Pc
dtion had died, and many have died
since the acquisition Of the park without
seeing = celebration aSo held . on the ., old
wishes.
There are said to be 1S1 Of these wom-
an petitioners still living. many OF whom
are expected to be present Wednesday.
IL the celebration planned by Miss Rit-
tenhouse IL held that day.
Miss Rittenhouse and many OF the 9TH
ers who signed the petition and urged
the acquisition Of the park are opposed
to the use Of the grounds by the larger
boys who play base ball there, as they
think little children are kept from using
the grounds because OF this feature. They
advance the argument that there Is a
large playground In the neighborhood.
two squares west, equipped with q
swimming pool. base ball grounds. tennis
court, etc. where the larger boys could
play. The woman petitioners urge that
wooden see-sAws, swings in the oak
grove. etc. be placed in the park for the
smaller children. and that the larger
boys be prevented from playing base ball
near them.
They want the old rose garden Of the
estate restored, and flower beds placed
where the old residence OF the estate
now stands. as they say the old house Is
unsightly and should be torn down.
In the hope that they could bring about
these changes and regulations the
GEORGETOWN women who are interested
In the movement have delayed arrange
ments for q patriotic celebration until
now.
It Is planned to have music and ad-
dresses. and also to have the Declaration
OF Independence read, as was done In
early celebrations, in recognition OF the
fact that in 1888 Washington and JEFF
ferson, who had SO much to do with that
document decided that Georgetown was
so beautifully situated 1t should be the
home OF the nation.