Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-24
Capital Sidelights

self, ana perhaps JeHeTSOn, tieHLy
was tho greatest figure produced in
those heroic times. Indeed, he pre-
coded both Washington and Jefferson
in advocating independence, and no
man exercised such q dominating In
nuence IN tho steps that finally cul'
minated In the Declaration Of lnde
pendcnce and tho Revolutionary War.
This statement Is merely prelim
mary TO disclosing the fact that this
unmatched patriots grave is sadly
neglected when 1t should be one OF
our great national shrines. and that
many of those who esteem Henry
most highly are undertaking to cor
rect this situation.
After the Revolution Henry went
to Charlotte County. Va. and there
established his home. There he died
| and today his grave is unnoticed and
unhonored by the Nation he helped
tn freedom and glory unequaled among
the great powers of the earth. His
homo place embraces about 1900
acres, about 20 miles from Lynchburg
! easily reached in a days auto trip
from the Capital. His grave is In a
neglected condition, marked by slab
that Is deteriorating. When monu
, ments are being lavishly erected to
others whose services as compared to
Henry's are as a candle to modern
searchlight 1t is high time for fit
ting memorial to our first great Amer.
lean orator patriot.
* \ X
In the National Press Club, head
quarters for the best newswriters in
the country, lively discussion was
started regarding our pioneer press
and the early newspapers. Bill
Gavin, Boston loyallst, and one of the
most CONSCIENTIOUS Of the Washington
correspondents, contributed some very
interesting information on the sub
ject. He pointed out that in 1889 the
first printing press was brought to
Massachusetts Bay from England. In
1890 the first newspaper was printed
in America at Boston. of which the
editor was Benjamin Harris-Publick
Occurrences-which contained three
printed pages, two columns to a page
once q week.
In 1904 newspapers became pretty
well established in the New World,
with the Boston News Letter printed
in sheets about IL by inches, two
columns to.a page. The printer was
Bartholomew Green and the proprie.
tor John Campbell, a Scotchman and
postmaster of Boston. This was pub
lished weekly for about rs years, but
ceased during the Revolution.
In 1919 a second Boston paper came
into existence and in 1925 one In
New York. In 80 years there were
nine being published.
Philadelphia held the honor Of pub
fishing the first daily newspaper in
1884. At the beginning Of the nine
teenth century there were 200 news
Hot ~ lev
four or five cities. The first Ameri-
can newspapers were reprints of Eng
lish papers, with some local news,
time tables and lists Of sailing yes.
sells.
Compared with the speed with which
important newsstand much that is
unimportant -- Is almost instantly
transmitted by telegraph and cable
all over the world today, 1t is inter.
esting to note that the Declaration of
Independence, heralding the birth of
a nation, first published in a little
paper in Williamsburg, Va, and pro.
mulgated to the world on July 4. was
not published in a Philadelphia paper
until the 18th and in Boston paper
until the 22nd.
The telegraph was first used for
transmission Of news between Wash
lIlSLOn anu wilmington.
y X ~
The recent letter Of Chairman
Moore Of the Commission of Fine Arts
to the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission regarding
careful program of tree planting along
Washington streets has evoked a
hearty cooperation and is echoed by
strong public sentiment. The elders
among us are recalling the days when
the late Public Gardener Saunders of
the Department of Agriculture pleaded
with Congress and the Commissioners
to plant oaks. Forestry specialists
point out that we have rs varieties of
oaks within 100 miles Of the Capital
and this climate and soil conditions
seem especially favorable for their
growth.
Attention is called to the fact that
Sargent describes more than 60
American oaks, most, If not all, Of
which could be grown in Washington.
Credit is given to the late Senator
Newlands for the first extensive plant.
ing Of oaks in the Capital City.
X y
An interesting old document has
been found in the Office of the auditor
for the District which throws side
light on the battle Of Bladensburg in
1914 and which shows the antithesis
between those times and these prohi.
bition days. 1t shows that by order
of James II. Blake, then mayor of
the City of Washington. on March
"a, 1915, Henry Whitcroft. the
municipal treasurer. paid 1851 to
Gen. John p. Van Ness for a barrel
of whisky he had bought from Thomas
Sn@ 6fNtx 4.
the District troops on their retreat
on the day of the battle Of Bladens.
burg. The barrel contained 35% gal.
Ions and the price paid was So cents
per gallon. The said Hughes kept a
grocery store on the south side of
Pennsylvania avenue near the Center
Market.
In these days when medals Of honor
in great profusion are being bestowed
by most of the more important
nations upon Lindbergh, Chamberlin,
Byrd and other aviators-and with
Congress pledged to bestow its
treasured medal as soon as 1t as.
sembles in December-there has been
considerable speculation as to where
the medal Of honor originated.
Research discloses that the first
medal issued as q reward for military
service was struck off by order Of
Parliament to celebrate a victory Of
English troops over the Scotch.
When the news reached London that
Cromwell had defeated the Scots at
Dunbar on September 8. 1850, the
House Of Commons instructed Thomas
Simon. chief .engraver to the mint.
to proceed to Edinburgh and design
a. rnedal in honor of the event, Of
which a principal feature should be
a. portrait of the victorious general.
This medal was given to all, officers
and privates alike, who fought in
Scotland. but this democratic prac.
tice was soon discontinued, until re-
vived in 1915 at the suggestion OF the
Duke of wellington for troops under
his command at Waterloo.