The Washington times., 1917-12-11

been in the youthful year Of 1922, anS
a consultation of the city directory o.
ninety-fiye years ago would not hay,
helped bit more. For perusal of
well-preserved copy of that most in
teresting book, about the size OF q
primer, shows that the fiourIshine
Washington City" boasted just 1924
souls, slaves and free, and that suct
things as northwest, northeast, OF
street addresses hadn't been heard OF
any more than aeroplanes or grape
juice.
Has Old Directory.
But few of these little yellow.
backed volumes, gotten out by an en-,
terprising party named Judah Deiano,
whose print shop was on the south
side OF F street north, second door
west of Sixth street west" remain in
existence. Ono OF them is the prop.
erty Of a citizen, whose hobby is the
collection of rare books.
To the present day dweller in the
Capital, the "facks and figgers" as
well as the lads" contained in Wash
ington's first official directory, are "a
scream"
The most glaring example Of
things to lose sleep over" IS found
IN the gravely impaired information
that the latitude OF the Presidents
House (which may not have recov-
ered sufhciently from fits scorchinK
by the British in 1914 to be termed
Whitley is 20 degrees Il minutes and
1913 seconds west from the Paris oh
servatory." One Is at loss TO un-
derstand this seagoing note unless
mariners were wont to take their
bearings from the Executive Mansion
when sailing up the Potomac
Ads Are Interesting.
The ads are warming to the heart.
Soloman Drew, keeper Of the Column
bian tavern, near Center Market. in
forms gentlemen travellers that he can
accommodate them with good Beds
and Boarding and with n variety OF
liquors." and that "dinners are dressed
al the shortest notice" Evidently the
city fathers in that good old day Of
the ward. polling place, and vote had
not the horror OF demon rum at pres
ent obtaining, for licenses to tavern
keepers" were but $50 year. rang
ing down TO $50 a year for selling
porter, ale, beer and cider II you
owned a "curricle, chaise, chair, suIky
or any two-wheeled carriage on iron
or steel springs" the tax collector de-
manded 50 a year from you, and yet
If you rode proudly in a "four-wheeled
carriage with frame posts and top
and on wooden spars," 81 let you out
for another twelve months.
There may have been some shrewd-
ly hidden motive in placing after the
names of all bereft ladies the word
widow" though il was not a $3.50
proposition, because no information
is given as to widowers or bachelors.
other Populations.
Georgetown and Alexandria, COM
speaking, each was "a
whale OF place" nearly n century
ago, the population OF the former |
having been 1860 and Of the latter
s.213. And Alexandria was listed as
one OF the principal places in the |
United States" However, the poDu- !
lation OF Philadelphia. then the me |
tropolis OF the continent. was but |
l37 ,O97. New York trailed along with /
I23, ,7O6.
Many families weR known here at |
the present time will ind their pro-
genltors in the directory of IS22. but /
some will discover, II they already |
didn't know IT. that their fortunes
are founded upon such humble occu-
patlons as fishmongerlng. wood turn
ing, and stone cutting.
James Monroe. President OF the
United States. at the Presidents
house." the book democraticAlly sets
forth.
Well, life may have been pretty
In those days. but at least
W ashing tonians had q ballot.