Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-08
NICHOLS CLIPPING THE HAM,"

entrance we were stopped by an arm OF
the law of that particular LOCALITY VINO
dema nded our passports. Only after
giving assurance that we would disturb
neither beast nor bird were we permit
ted to continue on our way
The daily average number OF visitors
at the Zoo is 1909. The park was
created just twenty-five years ago
Uncle Sans board bill for the animals
and other inmates of the cages Is ap-
proximately $4,000 year. In the re-
sonian Institution for 1914 it is noted
that no less a person than President
Wilson donated three live possums, all
in good health.
the park, "Roosevelts rock" where.
when boys, we practiced at mountain
climbing. 1t was favorite diversion
of the former President to scale the old
Rock cliff and laugh at army officers
who frequently accompanied him. but
had to admit that the rock stumped
them"
A little further on, our ears were
greeted by a succession of warlike
noises. The air was thick with mar
tial commands. One voice was raised
in a series of shrill "bo-o-o-ms' and
"ba -angs," while second shouted di-
rections such as Give 'em broadside!
Port tn helm" and Look out for the
submarinew AS we rounded sharp
bend there hove in sight a naval bat
tie. Two young Americans. with an
equal number of dreadnaughts on
strings, were giving battle to one an
other. We were told that the toll of
life had been enormous, and the allies
had just won. The doughty captains
asked us please to take their pic
lures with their battleships they made.
They aspire to the Naval Academy. and
advance the theory that Rock creek
should be well fortified and guarded.
as it is an open approach to Washing
ton
At the foot of the hill on Adams Mill
road there is a waterfall and ford on
the site once occupied by John Quincy
Adams mill. Adams was one of the
few Presidents who owned property in
enthusiastic lover of Rock creek. and
often swan in 1t, even after his Access
sion to the White House.
One day, long before the era of sew
ers, when there was no trace Of the
ash heap upon which Sheridan Circle
was built President Adams was en-
gagged in his favorite amusement in
one of the holes of the creek. He had
left his apparel on the bank and was
bathing as near to nature" as posi-
Bile. A passing stroller appropriated
the presidential garments, SO the story
runs. Adams return to the White
House in clothing borrowed from a
man who lived almost half mile from
the stream must have been rather UNI
dignified.
Leaving the Zoo, we glided under the
heights. We passed the hill where Joel
Barlow, the English poet and artist.
erected his house and named 1T kalo-
rama, for which the section Is now
called In 1910 he entertained there
his intimate friend, Robert Fulton. VINO
made his first ventures in navigation
in Rock creek.
History records how the great in
ventor tested models for his torpedoes
md do n n c
his toy steamboat before wondering
senators and representatives, whom he
persuaded to consider his schemes
The current is very swift in all parts
of the creek and it is well that we were
going downstream rather than in the
opposite direction. We rapidly drifted
by the old holes where as boys we
learned to swim. They were 1uli, as
they usually are at this time of year.
with great crowd of spraying
Youngsters One would never ina CINE
in this wooded valley that he is ac-
tually within stones throw OF car
line. -,
There is A place of interest on the
lower creek worth a special visit. 1t
is Oak Hill cemetery. standing on
green heights that decline in steep ter
races to the water and ravines.
About o'clock of the second after
noon of our journey we passed the
locks of the canal and were soon at the
dam which keeps the creek from run
had taken eleven hours of actual pad
ding and carrying.
Rock creek terminates in historic
spot At it's mouth there once stood a
circular stone stairway where George
Washington made his landings when
he sailed up from Mount Vernon. In
174O an inspection house for tobacco
had been erected on the point. At this
place. too. Braddocks expedition as
sembled in 1865 for that disastrous
campaign which brought George Wash
ington before the public eye. Accord
ing to ancient annals, ather John
Carroll. in 1177. establishes himself at
his mothers house at Rock creek, ten
miles from Georgetown, and makes 1t