Evening star., 1922-01-15

Supreme Court room of the Capitol.
Although the board held it's initial
meeting in August. 1905. it probably
was not until late in December of
that year or January of the follow
ing year that the first schools were
opened. These schools were known
as the Eastern School. sometimes
called the Eastern Free School. and
the Western School.
The pioneer teachers were each to
receive a salary of $500 a year, but
were required "out Of this sum to
pay for the rent of a schoolhouse,
for the fuel consumed, for all other
expenses incidental to a school, and
for such assistant teachers as may
be necessary" The first principal
of the Eastern Free School was Rev
William Bentley. while Richard
White headed the Western School.
After a brief struggle with adverse
conditions. Mr.. White resigned. at the
same time petitioning the board to
furnish him with money to enable
him to remove his family from WASH
ington.
1t is said that in the first twelve
years of the life of these two now
historic schools not. fewer than
twenty different principals were
elected and successfully retired after
a short but discouraging tenure.
In 1903 the board put on record
their opinion that "the Institution for
the education of youth could not be
supported in anything like state of
respectability, for the reason that no
teacher possessing requisite talents
and character could be induced to
take charge for the sum produced
from the grant of the corporation
and the fees of pay scholars" and
suggested as the only mode Of pre-
serving the institution the merging
of the two schools into one.
the erection of two school build
ings for the eastern and western
parts of the city, to be built upon
ground owned by the United States.
The only known specifications for
these two primitive schools were
feet in length and twenty feet in
width and to cost not more than
$1,000 each. The western school
house was located on a site now oc-
cupied by the dwelling at 100 I
street northwest The exact location
of he ocfo 60
In 1915 a committee was appointed
to obtain from the President Of the
United States for school purposes the
use Of the building at the corner of
14th and G streets, then occupied as q
stable. At the next meeting the
reported that his answer was "that
the stable would be otherwise oc-
cupied during the remainder of his
term"
The board apparently did not re-
linquish it's efforts to get possession
of the property, and in 1921 similar
application to President Monroe was
favorably received and on July 80 Of
that year the building was formally
occupied, with impressive ceremonies,
including an address by the president
of the school board, who congratu-
lated the assembly on the immense
benefits promised, particularly to
the poorer classes of society" 1t
was in this schoolhouse, known for
years thereafter as "Jefferson's
stable" that many citizens who are
now past the meridian OF life sat at
the feet of the stalwart Scotch mas
ter, Strong John Thomson. Mr..
Stuart was a pupil Of Thomson,
whose methods Of enforcing study
were not always cordially approved
by the pupils.
On the walls Of this building hung
a banner Of silk, behind which the
pupils proudly marched on festal days
and on which was inscribed the stim-
ulating motto. "Ad astra per aspera,"
while below was written another
equally Characteristic legend, "The
roots are bitter. but the fruit is
sweet"
During the first forty years of the
existence of the public school system,
although many of the city's best citi-
Gems were enlisted in their manage
mont, growth was retarded BY the
want of proper provision for their
support. The act of 1904 gave them