Evening star., 1924-12-14
WASHINGTON Families Which Have Been AS

ment sent The Star by Eddie and
Carl Di oop, in which it was written:
'On the occasion of this anniversary
we express heartfelt thanks to our
many friends and patrons for their
steadfast loyalty and generous sup
port, at the same time renewing our
old pledge of most careful attention
to and guardianship over all business
matters intrusted to US"
The Rambler knows that not so
many persons will read this story as
read that advertisement. Merchants
have a persua sive literary style which
hypnotizes more readers than mere
fellow whose trade is writing can
hope to do A merchant writes 81
can save you dollar" Gowns that
cut your age from As to 49, Shoes
that make big feet look small" and
more subscribers will read those
lines with keen anguish mean Keen
interest-than any line of gorgeous
English. with Latin quotation
thrown in, that rambler could write.
A young man came to Washington
late in the Sumer of 1S5i-67 years
ago. He was Edward f. Droop. He
was 20 years old and had landed at
Baltimore a few months before, hav-
ing come from Germany, where he
was born in the town OF Osnabrueck,
January 4, 1887. His first job at Bal
timore was with tobacconist, and
after getting a grip on our language
he left the tobacconist and found en-
ployment with the Wilkins Hair and
Bristle Co. After learning good deal
about hair and bristles, he went on
the road for his firm. He came to
Washington. Here he had an uncle,
Conrad Finkman, who kept restau-
rant and hotel at 25S (old number)
Pennsylvania avenue.
Looking for chance to conquer
his part of the New World, he met
William Gustave Metzerott, who kept
the music. store at the southwest
corner of the Avenue and Eleventh
street, and became an employe of
Mr.. MetZerott.
Mr.. Metzerott, when 18 years old,
had come to the United States in 1S49
from his home, Heilburghaussen,
Duchy of Meinwen. and after working
in New York City for about seven
years, settled in Washington in 1855,
buying the music store which had
been run for u good many years by
Hilbus & Hitz, at s27 Gold number)
D street. George IIilbus, who con-
tinued the business after the death OF
Mr. IIitz, lived at 353 e street and
Francis Hilbus lived at. 502 Four
teenth street.
First OF the directories in the
Washington Public Library giving tho
name Of Edward Droop is that OF
1860 and Mr.. Droop is recorded as
clerk at corner Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Eleventh street." and
boarding at 2S7 L street" (between
Fourteenth and Efficiently. He was
an athlete with dumbells, clubs and
the horizontal bar and at bowling,
| and joined Bradys Gymnasium. Also
| singer, he Joined the Washington
Choral Society and sang bass in the
old Arion Quartet. He was a genial
| young fellow and made many aac-
| quaintances In the village of Wash
| ington, was one Of the founders Of
! Arminius Lodge OF Masons, and be-
came member of Concordia Lu-
! theran Church.
I, It was probably in 1866 or 1857 that
! he became a partner of Mr.. Metzerott
| under the firm name of w. G. Metze-
| rott & Co. I have not the date. but In
! looking for the deed to the old Droop
| home, 726-72S Twelfth street. which
did not find between the years 1867
and 1873, the Rambler found the first
/ reference to Mr.. Droop in, the record
book. Deeds and Releases, No. ii.
| 1867" 1t was a trust from H. n.
Scarf to- Edward Droop ct all, and on