davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1917-01-07

ly in 1912 the box and high-backed
pews were changed to low-back. seats,
the brick pavement disappeared with the
form Of the old aisles, the chancel was
moved. it's delightful escapades linger-
ing in the memory of old communicates.
Originally there were eighty-six pews
in the church; now there are $50 sitttngs,
which is the limit of accommodate tions,
as the entire plot of ground on which
the church stands has been utilized.
The waiting list is a long one. and ex-
travagant prices are paid for the pews,
$4,000 being the price for one at auc-
ton several years ago.
The first rector Of the parish was Rev.
William II. Wilmer. who came from his
toric Christ Church. Alexandria, Va, to
take charge of the little church. He was
assisted, at his request by Rev. Mr..
Hawley. and the salary was fixed at $1,000.
to be equally divided between them.
Rev. Mr.. Wilmer resigned to become
president of William and Mary College
Of Williamsburg. Va, and on May
rector, a charge which he held for more
than twenty-eight years, or until his
death.
The late Justice Alexander R. Hagner
has described in a delightful way Rev.
Mr.. Hawley In his black silk gown and
white bands. shorts and long stockings
and black gloves. He says: He walked
from the chancel through the winding
aisles of the old church to the vestry
room. near the west door, in his sur
cel attired in the becoming black gown,
wearing black kid gloves and one finger
of the right hand split to facilitate the
turning of the leaves of his sermon.
ly fixed on the brick door. his appear
ance still present to my recollection
seems more impressive In its modest
simplicity than that OF many Of the
Evening star., 1917-01-07

Andrei executed sculptural work in Bal
timore for the chapel of ST. Mary's Semi
nary of st. Sulpice. and his connection
with Giuseppe Franzoni in the execution
of a medallion for the home of Thomas
Jefferson at Monticello is shown by =
letter from Jefferson to Latrobe in Janu-
ary, 1912.
The, Franzoni brothers founded families
in Washington and numerous Washing
tonians trace their ancestry back to those
early artists in marble. Giuseppe Fran
zoni was the elder of the brothers. He
was born in 1879 and died in Washing
ton on April 6. 1915. A daughter OF
Giuseppe served as model for the fig
ure of History in the work known as
the Car Of History now located on the
gallery front Of Statuary Hall The
sculptor Of that work was Carlo Fran
zoni, uncle Of the model.
Mr.. Fairman. in his researches. finds
that. according to Wyeth. who COM
piled three pamphlets in the sixties re-
lating to the Capitol. all the works of
Giuseppe Franzoni were destroyed by
the British in 1914 From various
sources. says Mr.. Fairman. 1t is learned
that he executed an eagle for the frfeZe
of the hall of the House of Represent
atives, figure of Liberty and four
other figures, the modelling OF which
was completed in 1908.
In 1909, according to a letter from
Latrobe to Thomas Munroe. Giuseppe
FranZoni was engaged in modelling a
room, now the law library of the Su-
preme Court, and it is possible. Mr..
Fairman says, that the bas-relief of
Justice now on the west wall of the
law library is the work of Giuseppe
Franzoni, although it is sometimes at
tributed to his younger brother Carlo.
From a letter of Thomas Jefferson to
Latrobe. written at Monticello. Janu-
ary 25, 1912. 1t is learned that Franzoni,
in connection with Andrei. executed a
medallion for Mr.. Jefferson to which
reference is made in highly compli-
mentary terms. Franzoni also execut-
ed work for Maximillian Godefroy of
Baltimore, the architect of the chapel
of st. Mary's Seminary, and of the
Battle Monument at Baltimore, but the
character of this employment has not
been determined. The widow of Giu-
seppe Franzoni married his fellow
sculptor. Francisco Iardella, and died
in Washington about 1928.
Carlo Franzoni, younger brother OF
Giuseppe, was born in Florence, about
1886. and died in Washington, May IL,
1919. Mr.. Fairman, who obtained many
facts about this man from his descen-
dants in Washington, says that he was
six feet four inches tall. and that he
dressed in the prevailing style of the
gentleman Of his day-that is. in knee
breeches. silk stockings and low shoes
with silver buckles. His biographer
says that he was a highly educated
man and began. his LIE work ~ .
Evening star., 1917-01-07

-HE hand of Italian carvers, sculp-
tors and painters is upon the
Capitol of the United States.
q Among those men who gave
their talents toward the adornment of
the majestic building were Louis
Amateis, Giovanni Andrei, Constantine
Brumidi, Antonia Capellano, Enrico
Causici, Vittorio A. Ciani, Filippo Cos
taggini, Giuseppe Fagnani. Carlo Fran
zoni, Giuseppe Franzonl. Francisco
Iardella. Luigi Persico, Antonio Salviati.
Dante Sodini, Gaetano Trentanove and
Francis Vicenti. The service which
these artists rendered in making the
Capitol beautiful is treated Of in some
Of the pages of Works of Art in the
United States Capitol Building" which
was compiled under the direction of
the superintendent of the Capitol build
ing and grounds by Charles E. Fairman
and published as Senate document.
In Washington today are many Of the
descendants of those old Italian ar
lists who came to Washington when
the seat of government was small
and widely scattered village. Some of
these men brought their families from
Italy and others married here.
Giovanni Andrei was one Of the early,
if not the earliest of the group of Ital-
ian sculptors employed on the Capitol.
He was born in Carrara in ITO and
came to the United States in February,
1906, under an agreement to do sculp-
tural work at the Capitol Mr.. Fair
man says that Andrefs services were
secured through the aid of Philip Maz-
zei, q friend and correspondent of Presi-
dent Jefferson. Andrei modelled the
capitals for the hall Of the House Of
Representatives destroyed by the Brit
ish in August, 1914.
In that month and year he was COM
missioned to return to Italy to engage
sculptors and carvers for the work OF
rebuilding the Capitol and also to make
arrangement for the carving in Italy of
the capitals for the hall of the House
of Representatives. now Statuary Hall.
Andrei returned from Italy accom-
panied by Carlo Franzoni. a younger
brother Of Giuseppi Franzoni. and Fran
cisco Iardella, for the work at the Capt.
tol. He continued in charge of the
sculpture until his death in Washington
on October p. 1924 His wife. who came
to America with him in 1906, returned to
Italy after the death of her husband.
Charles Bullhnch. architect of the Capt.
tol at the time Of the death of Andrei.
says in his report Of December 8. 1924.
that "his ability and refined taste are
fully evidenced in the ornamental parts
Of the Capitol. modelled by him and ex-
ecuted under his inspection" Mr.. Fair
man says that between 1901 and 1S0al
Evening star., 1917-01-07
ate Centenary of St. Johns Episcopal Church

son, James Monroe and Martin Wan
Buren, a beautiful stained-glass win.
dow, representing the alteration Of the
Magi. Fianking this and a companion
subject is the flight into Egypt. another
beautiful window sacred to the memory
of Presidents William Henry Harrison.
John Tyler and Zachary Taylor. Be.
sides these there are others of equal
merit to the memory of the great naval
and military heroes of America.
When the old bell in the steeple rings
out on January IL to summon to the
Church Of the Presidents the distin-
guished men who are to take part In
the commemorative service. the pecu-
liarly romantic significance will find an
echo in the hearts of all of the citizens
of Washington. While but a compara-
lively small number can be present.
owing to the limited space in the
church. the event is one of national
interest.
Evening star., 1917-01-07

was appointed to wait on President
Madison and offer him his choice Of
pews. The President declined, leaving
the selection to the committee. He was
assigned one of the four large pews.
which he occupied during his presi-
dency. After his death at Montpelier.
Va, Nm 1886. his widow returned to
Washington and, though a Quakeress.
was devoted to ST. Johns. was baptized
there by Rev. Mr.. Hawley, confirmed by
Bishop Whittingham and buried from
that church.
In March. 1919. it was resolved by the
vestry of ST. Johns that the pew set
apart for the President and his family
should be for the use of his family for
the time being free of rent. Since then
many of the Presidents have attended
services in the old church, among them
being Andrew Jackson.
In 1885 the vestry of the church
erected to the memory of James Madi-
Evening star., 1917-01-07
Sentiment.

IT HoMAs MOTT OSBORNE. former
warden of Sing Sing prison. was
criticizing in New York the honor
system" Of Great Meadow rt
This system is sentimental" he d.
said. "absurdly sentimental In fact,
1t is like the millionaire.
"A millionaire one Christmas day lis
tened to the hard luck story of a beg
gar who had somehow or other wormeA"
his way into the house. Finally the
millionaire rang for his butlsr and
said. wiping tear from his eye: -
breaking. my heart"
Evening star., 1917-01-07

high ecclesiastical dignitaries one sees
in pompous professions in the splendid
cathedraIs in foreign lands The re-
mains of Rev. Mr.. Hawley were inferred
beneath the chancel. and a monumental
tablet placed on the wall to his memory.
Rev. Mr.. Hawley was succeeded by Rev.
Smith Pyne. who was succeeded by Rev.
John Vaughn Lewis, who resigned in
1880, after which came Rev. Mr.. Nor
William A. Leonard became sixth rec
tor, remaining for nine years. when he
was elected Bishop of Ohio. Bishop
Leonard was succeeded by Rev. George
William Douglas, who resigned in 1892.
when Dr. Alexander Mackay- Smith was
chosen rector, remaining until elected
bishop coadjutor of the diocese of
Pennsylvania, when he was followed by
the present incumbent, DIR. Roland Cot
ton Smith. in 1902.
In 1916 a committee of the church
Evening star., 1917-01-07

placed at the extremity of the main
aisle.
John Quincy Adams occupied one of
these large pews, which had previously
Adams declared in his autobiography
that he belonged to the Independent
Congregational Church, ''in which l
was bred. and in which l will die" he
was a constant attendant at st. Johns.
Within the chancel was a simple COM
munion table of wood. above which was
the wineglass pulpit. reached by light
spiral staircase, Bishop Leonard. who
is to preach at ST. Johns on the 14th.
relates an amusing story of this pulpit
sippi. The wineglass pulpit was sup
ported by slender legs. terminating with
wheels on casters. working on the floor
in metal grooves, that the position of
the pulpit might be changed when de-
sired. 1t was usually well behaved
pulpit, resting stationary while its occu-
pant indulged in fights Of oratory.
But on one occasion when Bishop
Ravenscroft. with a great deal of fervor,
was preaching to distinguished audi
ence, the pulpit began to act queerly.
and he felt it gliding farther and farther
away in the direction of the side wall.
rapidly accelerating its speed. much to
the dismay of the congregation. who
were showing visible agitation. When
the situation was becoming desperate
and the risibilities of the younger mem
bers Of the congregation uncomfortable.
the pulpit stopped as suddenly as it had
started.
From time to time there were changes
made in the plan Of the church. and final
Evening star., 1917-01-07

mortal were the subject Of long and oarss
full study for more than two years. and
finally met the approval Of the commission
of fine arts. When these are completed
they will furnish a very imposing setting
for the memorial itself. The latter II set
upon SO broad a base, itself unobservable,
as to give it a height which enables II to
be seen from every vicinity. Around the
memorial runs a circular roadway. fur
nishing access to the building on all sides.
The approaches will be laid out with
trees, so as to give the best architectural
effect. Last autumn we planted fve hum
dred field elms. These are already be.
ginning to frame in the vista between the
Washington monument and the Lincoln
memorial
I'm all this work for the beautihoo-
tion of the capital of the United States
it should never be overlooked that this
office has had the invaluable assistance
of the commission of fine arts. the ohSsf
advisers in every one of the steps
taken for the development of the city.
To their patriotic devotion to WASH
ington we owe the dignified progress
which has been made. and the wisdom
of their advice in the direction OF pro.
viding correct standards of landscape
architecture has prevented us from
making blunders, and we go forward.
with the assurance that all money
available for the work is devoted to
the best uses"
In reply to a question as to WASH
ington's actual rank in respect to beauty
among world capitals. col. Harts said:
"Cnquestionably Washington ranks
first SO far as the future Is concerned.
When Earl Gray was shown the park
commissions plans. he said that II
America could build capital In 40.
cordance with the plans laid out for it
by its designers, IL would easily come
first in point of beauty In the whole
world. This is what we are striving
for. and this the end we have in view in
our process Of construction"
Evening star., 1917-01-07

gracious illumination. besides adding
to the beauty of the surroundings.
''The office of public buildings and
grounds has recently been authorised
Rock Creek valley and has accepted
the offers of a number of property
owners to the full extent Of the money
available. This is the first step to-
ward the reclamation of that beautiful
natural valley from an unsightly and
insanitary condition to it's becoming
another of the beauty spots of Wash
ington.
still another bit Of parking subject
to regeneration is Rawlins Park. i'm
mediately south of the new building of
the Department of the Interior. This
had been permitted to lapse into a
dilapidated state. but is now being re-
stored by grading and planting shrub
berry, making walks and otherwise re-
constructing it in conformity with new
and modern ideas of landscape treat
ment. The center of this little park
will be decorated with a monument to
Alfred Noble, a distinguished engineer
whose services to the government were
very prominent. Congress is permit
ting the erection of this by private
subscription. The park should be COM
pleted at about the time of the open
ing of the building adjacent to 1t. and
it will afford a pleasant resting place
for the employees of the new depart
ment building.
"On the west side of the Presidents
Park between the Ellipse and the four
splendid new buildings recently erected
on that portion of 18th street the orig
inal design of the park commission is
now being carried out A vista has
been opened directly south of the State
Department, and trees, many Of them
of Towering varieties, have been plant
ed to give this section a more rich and
carefully designed appearance. South
Of this a forest effect is being carried
out by planting panels Of large trees
in the Lincoln memorial grounds.
1.-THE grounds around the Lincoln me-
Evening star., 1917-01-07

views up and down the wider streets
and avenues, especially those that look
glow Of the evening light. Look south
ward down New Hampshire avenue, look
northwestward UP Connecticut avenue. or
even westward along modest N street,
spires Of Georgetown University. and you
have the most charming sylvan views.
As capitals go. few, indeed, are SO
advantageously situated in respect to nat
ural charms as is Washington.
To Rock creek there is nothing COM
parable in any capital in Europe
Fortunate it is for the capital that
its greatness and its beauties and its
the senses of the legislators. who hold
its veal in their hands. and that they
are now realizing that the city must
be made worthy of itself. and that to
accomplish this adequate appropria-
tions must be made.
The task OF carrying on Washington's
development and Identification was
never in better hands than at present,
for Col. William w. Harts, U. 8. A.,
in charge of public buildings and
grounds, has heart and soul pledged
to the work over which he has su-
pervision, and he looks to the year
1917 as that in which greater progress
is to be gained in making Washing
ton the city beautiful of the world
than any which has gone before. In
a recent talk as to what lay before
him in this respect. Col. Harts said:
I'VE have improvement projects in
every part of the city, and we feel that
this year will see a marked advance
in our work. One of the largest things
under way is the Meridian Hill Park.
between Euclid street on the north and
w street on the south. and bounded
east and west by 18th and 18th streets.
This when completed will be ono of
the most beautiful city parks in the
United States.
Situated as 1t is on a pronounced
eminence, 1t commands compre-
hensive view of the city, and the slope
of the entire reservation gives op-
Evening star., 1917-01-07

60HE celebration of the centenary
Ill of st. Johns Protestant Episco-
Ill pal Church. 18th and H streets.
on the 18th of January will
bring together a distinguished company
of men and women prominent in the
religious and secular lift of the capital
and the nation. including the President
Of the United States. bishops. states
men. diplomats. jurists. representa-
tives from both arms of the service.
military and naval. and from social
life
Today the church will be crowded to
the doors to hear the rector. Rev. Ro-
land Cotton Smith. who will review In
his sermon the principal events In the
history and life of the parish since
Its organization in 1914. DIR. Smith
will recall the spirit of its conception.
the Jealous men and women who in
one of the most trying periods of our
national history banded together to
promote a much-needed house of wor-
ship near the center of the new fed
srai capital. Owing to the war with
Great Britain. during which was de-
stroyed the White House. Capitol and
the several executive departments. the
work was delayed. and 1t was not until
December %. 1916. on st. Johns day.
that the church was consecrated by
Bishop Kemp of Maryland.
On Saturday. January Is. at pm.
there will be held in the church a serv-
ice to emphasize the relation of the
dent Wilson will be the principal
speaker. Among others who will speak
At this meeting are Rt. Rev. Alfred
Harding. Bishop of Warrington: Sena-
tor Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachu-
sstts. Admiral Charles H. Stockton. a
vestryman Of the church, and DR.. Wal
lace Radcliffe. pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church. On jan
uary ~ Bishop Leonard Of Ohio. q for
mer rector of the parish. will preach at
IL an. and at AIS pm Rev. George
William douglas of New York. also a
former rector. will deliver an address.
81 Johns 10 called the Church of
the Presidents" and might well be
called the Church OF Statesmen and
Diplomats" for its history has been
largely the history of national life at
the capital from the time when Presi-
Dent James Madison and his Quaker
wife. the sprightly and fascinating
Dolly, drove around from the White
House. II the roads were bad. or walked
through the graveyard. now Lafayette
Square, to sit In ono of tho high
backed pews. down to the present time.
when President and Mrs. Wilson cross
the same square to attend an occasional
service.
Since 1890 the old bell in the steeple.
said to be the hrst bell in Washington
to summon people to worship. has call
ed from the Presidents House across
the way James Monroe. John Quincy
Adams. Martin Van Buren,. William
Henry Harrison. John Tyler. Zachary
Taylor. Millard Fillmore and Chester
A. Arthur. besides the wives of several
of the Presidents who were not regular
attendants at the church. Its time
worn parish register reads like a ros-
ter of the hall of fame. and the democ-
racy and simplicity of the early his
tory of the church is shown In the same
old records. where the marriage Of 'MR.
Gouveneur to Maria H. Monroe. young
est daughter Of President Monroe, et
the President's House." 10 entered side
~ side with that OF "Jamest slave. OF
Evening star., 1917-01-07

William Writ. to Martha. slave Of Mrs.
Elzey. by the rector at his home.''
1t has been the scene Of many ma
tional and international marriages.
brilliant among them being that of
Lord Curzon and Mary Letter. the first
American to become vicereine of India,
and one of the three Letter sisters, all
of whom married titles abroad. At the
time of Miss Mary's marriage Lord Cur
zon was the Hon. George CurZon, un-
der secretary of the British legation
here. The Hon Lillian Pauncefote,
daughter of Sir Julian and Lady
Pauncefote. then British minister to the
United States. was married to her cou-
sin, the Hon. Robert Bromley. now Lord
Bromley. at st. Johns. Mary Endicott,
daughter of William Crowninshield En-
Cleveland's cabinet, was married to Jo-
seph Chamberlain, later England's
great imperiahstic premier. at old st.
Johns.
The romance of Mr.. Chamberlain and
Miss Endicott was very pretty one.
beginning from the hour when they sat
vis-a-vis at a dinner at Justice Mat
thew's. and the distinguished English
man. charmed by her girlish dignity
and perfect manners, asked to be pre-
sented to her. Three weeks later, at
the Chamberlain -Endicott wedding,
President Cleveland and Sir Lionel
Sackville-West had. perhaps, their last
meeting before Sir Lionel was recalled
for being too indiscreet in his letter
writing during the Cleveland cam
paign. ...-.
The sometime minister from the
Netherlands. Jonkheer r. de Marees
EUf
daughter of Charles c. Glover; Robert
Taft. son of the former President and
Mrs William Howard Taft, and a score
Of others equally distinguished pledged
their vows before the altar of st.
Johns
At the memorial services of Queen
yietoria statesmen, cabinet officers.
diplomats and army and navy ofiicers
formed brilliant cortege which nled
up the afs1es of the old church and
took their places back of the Presi-
oenrs @ pew. which President Mckinley
copalian, President Mckinley remarked
to g. friend on one occasion that he
loved to wheel his chair before the
window at the White House where he
could see the steeple OF ST. Johns
Church. because 1t gave him a feeling
OF peace and restfulness after q busy
day.
The memorial services to Edward
VII. when the diplomatic corps in q
body appeared for the last time toseth-
or at a memorial service, made the old
church look like the chapel royal of
England on a gala occasion, so re-
splendent were they In their court
dress. gold lace and jeweled orders.
The plans for St. Johns Church had
their inception in the war of 1914 be-
tween this country and Great Britain;
she saw many Of her distinguished
members. among them Gen Winfield
Scott, depart for the war with Mexico,
and during the bfoodiest civil war of
history she was silent witness of the
sorrows and struggles and suffering OF
the great Lincoln in the White House
across the way. She saw her parish
scattered to the battlehelds, brother
fighting against brother. and now she
10 to celebrate her Tooth anniversary
during the most horrible war among
the nations Of the earth.
The parish Of which 81. Johns forms
q part was created by the Maryland
legislature By the act. Of December @2s.-