Evening star., 1921-03-06

has been traced by the Rambler
from the grant to Capt. RAN
dolph Brandt, in 1880, through
it's ownership by Margaret and Frlscls
Hammersley. George Mason. his son.
George Mason of Gunston Hall, and
his son, John Mason of Analostan, to
the time when the island passed to the
owenrship of the Branch Bank OF the
United States through foreclosure
against John Mason. There are sew
eral chapters in that history which
the Rambler cannot write because the
necessary information is not IN his
possession, but he feels little doubt
that he will come upon it.
This is a confession that some writ
ers would not make, because the pos
session Of necessary information is not
always required. But the Rambler be-
lieves that stories to be OF immediate
or future value ought to contain at
least a few facts and that the facts
should be facts. 1t ought not to be
necessary to write the word facts
three times in that short sentence. but
it often happens that things presented
as facts are quite the contrary. Very
often some Of our best citizens will
say "as a matter of fact" or Il know
as a fact" or .'let me make a state
nent Of fact" or the facts in the case
are," when they are about to present
statement quite the reverse of fact.
And that phrase best citizens" does
not satisfy the Rambler's desire for
exactness Of speech. In the first
place. in a grammatical sense, there
cannot be more than one best citizen.
But we will pass that. for what's the
use bothering about such a linguistic
refinement when a Chicago educator
insists that He don't" and IT'S me"
are all right? Best citizens" Is
difficult phrase. What Is the standard
by which one can measure the relative
merits Of citizens and give judgment
as to who, or which Of them. Is best?
Most good citizens have no press
agents and are unknown except to
their families and friends.
And there we run into another diff
ficulty in that clause their families
and friends" because a good citi-
zen, or what you and l cali a good
citizen. generally has only one fam
lily, and yet in another sense he may
have two-his own anu his wife'S.
1t is rare to find a man who is con-
sidered a good citizen both by his
own and his wife's family.
Now, if we should write "the best
known citizens" instead of the best
citizens" that would not help mat
ters much. because The best known
citizons'' are sometimes not really
well known, and II they are we might
not call them the best citizens"
THE best citizens" are only known
for what they say in public places
and not for how they act at home. A
man may become one Of the best
known citizens and be president
emeritus Of the association for smok-
ing out the devil and transforming
the shoulder blades into angels
wings, and yet be ill-natured toward his
wife and owe for the gasoline that runs
his car.
But. perhaps. as this story pro-
fesses to deal with the history of
Analostan Island. it might be we'll
for the Rambler to return to his
text.
In the narrative last Sunday it was
told that Gen. John Mason mortgaged
the island to the Branch Bank of the
United States in 1925. executing deed
of trust to secure his notes In the sum
Of $2S.500. He gave another trust on
the island in 1929, to secure his indorse-
ment Of notes made by John w. Bro
naugh, John Cooke. William Brent. jr..
tho fine home Of Gen. John Mason on
the island were sold at trustees sale
in 1888. The story Of the financial ven-
lures which ruined. or deeply en-
barrassed Gen. Mason is one of the
chapters of this series which the
Rambler hopes to write. Analostan
Island remained in legal possession of
the Branch Bank Of tho United States
until 1912. By a deed signed on August
I. and recorded September II of that
year. the island passed to John Carter
Of Georgetown. The deed names Rich
ard Smith of Washington as of the
first part: William S. Nichols of George
town. of the second part. and John
Carter Of Georgetown. of the third part.
1t recites that the president, directors
and company Of the Bank of the United
States, had conveyed the island to
Richard Smith and his heirs for certa in
uses. trusts and purposes. The island
passed from Smith to Carter. the price
Being set down as $500. The wit
nesses to the deed were w. f. Cross
field and c. F.. Rittenhouse. and
acknowledgement was made before