Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11
tories of 50 Years Ago Center About Old Building

nice looking woman, though her face
wore a sad look, as recall ia sort
OF Madonna face. She was stout, and
did all the whipping for the building
and she could do 1t to queens taste.
Her experience was no doubt largely
gained In connection with her own son.
| Frank, who was one of her pupils by
the time / entered her grade. Not like
some thoughtleSS teachers, who would
box the boys over their ears, she never
forgot Just where to administer the
punishment, and few boys were ever
able TO squirm out o. ..er grip once they
we're doing the iack-knife over her knee.
One character connected with the
school whom the boys all loved--or
| "loathed" would be more correct--was
John. the colored janitor. He was
about the color Of the stove. and when
any Of the teachers desired to send a
/ note TO the home of one OF the boys
! telling his parents OF his miSbehavior
John always took the note. and John
was always looked upon rs an enemy OF
mankind.
Upon one occasion. recall. the late
| J. Ormond Wilson, for many years
superintendent of public schools. Wis
tied our class. and. to test how bright
We were asked the pupils what kind
Of articles were made out of elephants
hair. Innocently, many of the boys
told of various articles from artists
brushes to whitewaSh brushes. When
all had been given a chance. he en-
barraSSed us with the statement that
elephants had no hair. at least not suf-
fiCient for commercial purposes and the
laugh. of course. was on the boys
Those were the days of medals and
diplomas, and each good boy was en-
pected 10 get at least copy OF the lat
ter. Many of the names recorded among
the first grade honor roll of 1873 ] am
quite sure will be familiar to you. Here
they are: The highest honor. silver
medal. went TO Albert Rheb, and diplo-
Movers. David E. WILDER, Fred c. LOTUS,
Harry French. Charles A. Devers, Rob-
ert Dorsey. Charles Hurdle, Arthur
Lewis. Walter Lockhead. George Nc
Duell. Martin H. Donaldson, Charles
Behrens and Fritz Burnett.
Since no one should be sighted. per-
haps 1t would be best to include the
names of the other boys in the three
other grades of that year who. dis
tinguished themselves in department or
studies. In the second grade. William
Moran was given the silver medal and
Wilmer Bowen. Horace Beall, Charles
Order, George Wylie. Jacob Bookbinder,
Charles Merillat. John Sinsel. William
Martin. William Perry. Herman Fentner
and August Dahler were those to receive
diplomas
In the third grade, George NJ. Kent
carried off the highest honors, while
John L. Lang. Walter H. Stevens. James
w. Tubman. Robert A. Wind Robert B.
Webb, Joseph NJ. Prather. Arthur NJ.
Donaldson. George E. BayliSs. Stanley
Baker. William A. FURNACE. Charles H.
White and Thomas J. Martin were rec
ognized with secondary honors.
Edward Woltz carried of the medal
in the fourth grade, and those who were
second best included William E. Wise,
Ira K. Moore, William McCristal,
Franklim Henry. Robert w. Talks, Theo-
dore K. Nelson. George NJ Dorsey,
Maurice Heilbrum, Oscar Nauck. John
Preinkert. John c. Weidman. Henry E.
Amos, Henry Neumeyer and John e.
Nelson.
Theodore K. Nelson became a drug
glst. and for years conducted a drug
store at the northeast corner OF Ninth
and p streets northwest. oscar Nauck
the lawyer. probably everybody remem-
bers. William E. Wise-called Billy by
those who know him well enough
became great base ball player in his
time In the American and Union
Leagues. with the Washington and Bal
nmore clubs; kind OF Win Mercer
Walter johnson sort of pitcher. When
he started playing. in the Autumn
of 1879. as a l7-year-old kid, he had
as companions on the team such old
time notables as Sam Trott, James Me-
Kinney. Aben Kipp. Lusk. j. Hollings-
mead Piiny Hough and Oscar Bielaski.
Billy is nov the assistant recording Sec
rotary OF the Association OF Oldest In
habitants and looks good for so more
years.
SPEAKING about base ball reminds
me that a popular base ball field in
those days was in the next block north
west OF the school. or between Ninth
and Tenth and 8 and T streets This
block also served as a circus ground for
years and here I saw O'Briens Circus
one-ring affair. and the first OF the
many I afterward witnessed In this
block
I remember this particularly. because
they had monkeys riding ponies around
the ring. Forepaugh and Barnum al
ways occupied this block with their
circuses. In the early eighties, and when
their shows needed more ground the
block 10 the east was also used. It being
entirely vacant property In those days.
There was always a poor attendance In