Evening star., 1921-04-27

Ever hear of the *. F. r.? What
do those mystic initials mean?
Well, nobody except the members
themselves know what the letters
stand for, but a half century ago a
group of lively Washington boys. now
rather distinguished elderly men,
formed a club by that name. which
has so we'll withstood the test of time
that. with thirty members present out
of thirty-nine living, its fiftieth ami
versary is to be celebrated tomorrow
night by a banquet at the University
Club. The magic letters mean lot
to them and to any of their relatives
and friends who have heard of the
club throughout the years. Here's
how it all happened:
Shortly before Christmas, 1871,
Jesse Grant. son of President Grant.
and his cousin, Baine Dent, met "Al''
Paris (now Albion X. Paris of the
banking firm of Crane. Paris & Co }
and asked him if he wouldn't like to
start club. Thousands of boys
clubs have started in the same offhand
way and have enjoyed a short and tu-
multuous existence. But this one is
different. 1t has stuck and for near
ly forty years with the same member
Siiip, save lie lUeNitdDit loss
death.
Other Members Enrolled.
But to get back to the historical
preached, these being Harry Cults.
Walter Chew and Frank Bolles. The
six had their first meeting on Christ
mas day in a little shed on the White
House grounds. loaned by Gen. Grant
to his son as a playroom. 1t had "A
stove. table. some chairs and few
candlesticks. Jesse Grant became its
first president. Next Len" Chew.
Wexford Harrison, Gus" and Will
Almy. Laurie" Riggs and Blair Lee
applied successfully for membership,
and the organization was off to a
flying start. Its history. compiled
from the old record books and his
own keen memory by Rev. Charles Nor
ris Addison Of Cambridge. Mass. is an
amusing yet inspiring chronicle of boy
ish embftions. boyish accomplishments
and boyish exuberance.
What did the members do? What
didn't they do? Their records exist
in unbroken form since 1872 and are
the first design for the inevitable
badge, said to weigh couple of
pounds; of the constitution and of the
incorporation of the society. which
was as illegal as it was well-mean-
ing, inasmuch as all were minors. A
circulating library was started: also
a debating society that handled burn
ing questions without gloves, and an
amateur magazine was inaugurated.
Guests ut the White House.
The X. F. r. was entertained at
lunch by the President and Mrs
Grant. and the White House ran
an lad" in it's journal, the text of
which consisted of Gen. Grants Office
hours. Dramatic entertainments were
staged and in the severe winter of
1867 successful altruistic efforts
were made for the care of the poor
ganization's efforts a Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Children
of the District of Columbia was es-
tablished. Meetings were not al
ways orderly. even after the aging
club moved to 1927 F street. where
sometimes the presiding officer. when
fines were scoffed at, hurled kindling
wood at the heads of recalcitrant
members.
vidually and collectively in mental
and moral culture, and to encourage
them in their attempts toward lit
erary and mental success" is the
high sounding phraseology in the
preamble to the constitution used to
describe the purpose of the X. F. r.
The members living today claim that
the club did just that, and those
who know the men are not inclined
to dispute them.
Pass From Active to Honorary List.
AZ boys left Washington they were
transferred from the active to the
honorary list. The last active" was
elected in 1888, the list closing with
seventy-six names, and since then all
have been in effect, "honoraries." ex-
cept A. K Paris. who has lived here
continuously and whose many years
faithful service as corresponding sec
rotary has made him the connecting
link between them all. The first
death. many years ago, drew all the
rest closer together and succeeding
deaths have intensified the bond.
Decades ago the boys had plans all
made for a dramatic performance to
aid the Children's Hospital. Some
thing unforeseen prevented the pres
entation, but the X. F. r. never COM
pletely lost sight of it's original
project and in 1902 the surviving
members endowed a bed in that popu-
lar institution. This is but one of a
number of worthy objects that the
club has accomplished.
At present the boys" keep together
by annual reunions in memory of the
frequent meetings of their youth, and
are looking forward to their fiftieth
with all the keen anticipation that
they experienced when they received
the long-ago not beginning The
President and Mrs. Grant request the
pleasure of your company" etc.
"Old Boys" Coming to banquet.
From out of town are coming the
following old Washington boys:
Joseph II. Adams. New York: Rev.
Dr. Charles Morris Addison. Cam
bridge Mass. Col James w BrnE;
Watervliet, y. Y; Col. G. s. Bingham.
San Antonio. Tex: Murray NJ. Dun
can. Ishpeming. Mich: Col. John p.
Finley. New York; Judge Robert o.
Harris. Boston; Capt. II. Wexford