Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-16
Chapter From Early Life of
D. C. Commissioner Fred
eriCk L. SiddOnS.
GRANDMOTHER THE NOTED
MRS. SARAH SIDDONS
Intended He Should Follow in Foot.
steps. But the Law Claimed
His Career.

Who would have suspected that District
Commissioner Frederick L. Siddons pre-
pared himself in early youth for dra-
matte career?
He did just this, and was figuring to
follow In the brilliant pathway blazed by
his grandmother, Mrs. Sarah Siddons of
the English stage, who inspired Sir
Joshua Reynolds to paint his master
piece, THE Tragic Muse when the
death of his father caused him to take up
other effort calculated to produce the
coin of the realm forthwith
1.-The stage has lost a great actor and
fear the law has gained poor advocate"
said the Commissioners mother, when he
announced to her the Remuneration OF his
theatrical hopes.
Mrs Daisy Fitzhugh Ayres, III her
Washington social correspondence to the
Louisville Courier-J ournal, tells all about
the new Commissioner
Government of Capital.
las every wise mans son doth know
she SAYS. the mayor of Washington Is
| triplets. He is three separate and dis
tinct gentlemen, being, after the manner
of "all Gaul divided into three parts.
United States.
I'm plain language, the municipal au-
thority of the capital of the nation is
vested in a trinity of Commissioners. Two
of these gentlemen are civilians. The
third is always an eng.neer of the United
States Army. The latter happens to be
Col. Chester Harding just now.
Now of this imposing trio the most
interesting and romantic parsonage Is
Commissioner Frederick l.. Siddons. who.
| like his colleague, Commissioner Q. +.
Newman, was only appointed to his job
| last June.
"Of course. Mr.. Siddons is very large
potatoes on his own account.
Few men have been SO Worthily and
Enthusiastically identified with the well
| fare of Washington as he and few have
done so much In every way toward the
| interests of this city.
Mr.. Siddons has achieved more fine
| things than you can count. and chief
among these was having such famous
grandmother and such fascinating sis
ter.
Grandmother Sarah Siddons.
Sarah Siddons, the most celebrated
actress Of her time. perhaps of all times.
| the powerful Tragic Muse Of the eight
zenith and nineteenth century. was the
paternal grandmother of our new Com
missioner and of his charming sister.
who also lives in Washington, Miss Vic
toria Siddons.
Brother and sister both inherit the
genius of their noted ancestress. MRS.
Siddons has made her mark upon the
stage and in dramatic teaching
She has chosen instructinS In dramatic
expression for her career in life since
the death of her mother.
"Mr. Siddons also has an attractive
wife and son and daughter, and a lot
OF other nice folks.
The Commissioner was born in Lon
don, his sister In Ireland, but both have
spent the greater part OF their lives In
Washington.
Mr. Siddons is member Of the Amer
lean Bar Association and of many other
eminent organizations.
ELLEN Terry and her sisters. who were
neighbors Of the Siddonses In England
have been lifelong friends OF the fam
lily.
1.-The residence both Of F. l.. Siddons In
| Biltmore street and the esthetic apart
ment In Chaplin street. Of his sister. Miss
| Victoria Siddons. are full Of priceless me-
mentos of that beautiful grandmother
| of theirs, unrivaled in the histrionic
world
Not only did the brother and sister
inherit many of the possessions of the
famous Sarah Siddons, but souvenirs OF